DUI / Whiskey Unit
Proactive enforcement against impaired driving across DeSoto County.
Our Mission
The DUI Division — known as the Whiskey Units — is a laser-focused, highly driven, proactive unit that specializes in the detection and apprehension of intoxicated drivers. This unit's sole purpose is to dedicate all working hours to that mission, removing impaired drivers from DeSoto County roadways before they cause harm.
Key Responsibilities
- Proactively detect and apprehend intoxicated drivers
- Thoroughly investigate all suspected DUIs while working hand-in-hand with Patrol
- Conduct holiday and event details (Halloween, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's) to deter drinking and driving
- Support Patrol on crash investigations where impairment is suspected
- Process DUI cases through prosecution, including expert testimony in court
Day in the Life
Whiskey Unit deputies work the hours that matter for DUI enforcement — evenings, late nights, and weekends. Shifts begin with vehicle and equipment checks (PBTs calibrated, in-car video tested, blood draw kits stocked) and roll directly into proactive patrol on the corridors where impaired drivers are most often encountered.
Stops escalate quickly: an indication of impairment leads to field sobriety, breath, and where warranted, blood testing. Cases are documented in detail because every DUI is potentially headed for trial.
Training & Equipment
- Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) certification
- Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)
- Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program for select deputies
- Portable Breath Testers (PBTs) and Intox 9000 evidentiary breath instruments
- Phlebotomy-trained personnel and DUI blood draw kits for warrant-based testing
- In-car and body-worn video for full-incident documentation
- Ongoing courtroom testimony and case-law refresher training
Why the Whiskey Unit?
If you want to make a measurable difference in highway safety, this is the unit. Every shift is a chance to remove a drunk or drugged driver from the road before they hurt themselves or someone else. The work is demanding — long stops, detailed reports, and frequent court appearances — but the impact is immediate and the focus is sharp.
Interested in DUI Enforcement?
Whiskey Unit positions are filled from within the Sheriff's Office. Start as a Deputy Sheriff, gain experience on Patrol, and grow into this specialty.
View Deputy Sheriff Careers