The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) has awarded funding to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office for a full-time, dedicated DUI enforcement deputy.
Thurston County is matching this commitment by investing its own resources to fund a second dedicated DUI enforcement deputy, the sheriff’s office announced Thursday.
Together, these positions will provide full-time, dedicated DUI enforcement coverage, “substantially increasing our capacity to keep impaired drivers off the road, save lives, and strengthen public safety throughout the county,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
“These new positions will allow for proactive enforcement, a consistent presence during high-risk hours, and increased participation in regional emphasis patrols and local holidays,” the sheriff’s office stated.
These two positions will begin on Dec. 1.
The addition of the two positions comes after the sheriff’s office saw “some encouraging results” from DUI emphasis patrols conducted over the summer.
Between June and September, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office increased DUI arrests by 91 percent compared to the same period in 2024, according to the sheriff’s office.
“While this demonstrates the success of our emphasis patrols, it also highlights the ongoing challenge we face-impaired driving remains a serious concern for both the sheriff's office and our community,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release. “We must continue to focus on enforcement and engagement to make our roads safer.”
Impaired driving remains the leading cause of fatal crashes in Washington state, according to the sheriff’s office.
