Under the Influence: CCPD cracking down on impaired drivers

The Cathedral City Police Department is cracking down on motorists driving under the influence.

KESQ & CBS Local 2’s Lauren Coronado rode along with CCPD officer Jesse Borrego Saturday night while on the hunt for impaired drivers. During the ride along, CCPD made 8 total DUI arrest.

CCPD have been working with the California Highway Patrol on specific DUI operations.

“It just gives us more eyes on the city, especially the outskirts,” Borrego said.

At least twice a month, designated personnel like Borrego, are on the looked solely for impaired drivers.

The operations are made possible by a nearly $100,000 state grant awarded to CCPD in October.

So far, 33 people have been arrested for DUI since the start of 2018. Police say that number is increasing quickly compared to a total of about 130 arrests last year.

One of those DUIs resulted in a deadly crash. Earlier this month CCPD came close to seeing the same tragedy.

“It happened within seconds. I was able to tell the officers ‘get out of the way, get out of the way,'” Borrego recounted.

Borrego was responding to a DUI-related crash on Cathedral Canyon when a separate drunk driver rammed into the back of a nurse’s car, who was on scene drawing blood from the driver involved in the first crash.

“It was kind of like a rocket coming into our traffic stop. It’s never happened before in 10 years of law enforcement. It was probably one of the most helpless feelings you’ll ever feel,” Borrego said.

The nurse, Cheryln Davies, is recovering from a broken leg and gash to the head. A GoFundMe page has been created to help her with her road to recovery.

But drunk drivers aren’t the only culprits. Officers are concerned DUI arrests will increase with the legalization of marijuana.

“There’s no reason for this day and age, with the invention of Uber and Lyft and cell phones that you can’t just call someone and pick you up. You have to remember, you may change or impact someone’s life,” Borrego said.