The Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office recently took to social media to announce a significant accomplishment within their ranks. Deputy Alexander Nelson has completed the intensive Drug Recognition Expert school and received certification, marking him as one of the few experts adept at handling drug-impaired driver examinations in Wisconsin.

The training that Nelson undertook is no small feat. It demands from its students a total of 144 hours, split evenly between the classroom and the field. In the posts shared by the Sheriff's Office, the field study is described as an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience with suspected drug-impaired individuals, a critical step in preparing them for real-world scenarios.

Nelson's certification places him among the top ranks in the state with this specific skill. According to the social media announcement, Wisconsin holds the fourth spot nationally for housing the largest number of certified Drug Recognition Experts. Nelson now adds to this impressively skilled contingent, standing as one of just 389 statewide holding this expertise.

His recent certification was presented at the Annual Wisconsin Traffic Safety Officers Association Conference. The presence of Sergeant Ronan alongside Deputy Nelson reflected the admiration and professional respect for this accomplishment. Nelson, who has been applying his newly acquired techniques since completing his course in October of last year, received formal recognition among his peers for his contribution to highway safety and law enforcement's fight against drug-impaired driving.