The Missouri Sheriff’s Office is offering two hours of free drinks — plus a ride home — to attendees willing to help officers train for field sobriety tests
- The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office offered 12 volunteers up to two hours of free alcohol and a ride in exchange for their participation in officer training
- An overwhelming number of volunteers volunteered within a day for the opportunity to drink free wine, beer or liquor provided by the sheriff’s office
- Field Sobriety Testing Certification is required for officer certification
- Sheriff’s Office officers were responsible for 446 arrests for drunk driving in 2022
While most people under the influence of alcohol avoid the police, a Missouri’s sheriff’s department offered residents free alcohol to get drunk in front of them.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office — about 40 miles southwest of St. Louis — received an overwhelming response to a post looking for daytime drinkers to attend officer training while they practice identifying drunk drivers.
About four different volunteers were selected to take part in the “wet lab” Tuesday through Thursday, and were offered free drinks and a ride home for up to two hours if the participants tested their sobriety.
The department’s social media post looking for volunteers quickly gained traction on Sunday, with nearly 850 shares, as several people were keen to sign up. The 12 vacancies were filled within a day.
‘Is there a waiting list?’ one person wrote.
To which another replied: “It’s like tickets to a Packer game that sells out in 20 years.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office offered 12 volunteers up to two hours of free alcohol and a ride in exchange for their participation in officer training. Pictured: a police officer
An overwhelming number of volunteers volunteered within a day for the opportunity to drink free wine, beer or liquor provided by the sheriff’s office
The officers completed their training Friday, including their standardized field sobriety test certification.
In observing the “drunk” participants, officers were instructed to take note of the behavior and use their tests to determine if they thought the participant had crossed the alcohol limit.
Sheriff’s officers specifically looked for “causal drinkers” with restricted mobility and no prior alcohol-related convictions.
Volunteers chose either wine, beer or hard alcohol.
“While we won’t be offering Pappy Van Winkle, we promise not to serve you cheap wine or liquor,” the department wrote in a post earlier this week.
‘Are the participations paid?’ one person wrote.
“In alcohol,” replied another.
Meanwhile, some pranksters tagged their significant other and suggested a night out.
“Date night,” wrote one woman.
‘Yes!’ added her spouse.
Authorities reassured that the practice has existed for decades but is usually carried out in the evenings when the department’s own members can attend.
Field Sobriety Testing Certification is required for officer certification. Above is an officer attending the week-long training session
The course is a required standard for law enforcement certification and has been an essential part of training for decades.
Officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office were responsible for 446 of the 555 driving arrests.
In Missouri, a first-time DUI/DWI is a misdemeanor. Violators will be fined up to $500, serve 6 months in prison, and have their license suspended for 90 days.
The sheriff’s department assured that taxpayers’ money was used to buy the alcohol.