A Morongo Basin CHP officer received an award Saturday in Sacramento from the California Chapter of Mothers against Drunk Driving. Officer Jake Griffith of Yucca Valley was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his outstanding work as a drug recognition expert, or DRE. A drug recognition expert, by examining a person suspected of being under the influence of a drug, can reliably identify the distinguishing signs and symptoms of seven broad categories of drugs.
The Morongo Basin Area of the California Highway Patrol currently has six officers assigned as DREs. Griffith was one of five DREs in the state selected for the MADD California Hero Award based on the number of drug recognition evaluations he conducted in 2013. Griffith has been assigned to the Morongo Basin CHP office since 2009.
