WKU police officer recognized for making DUI arrests

Dustin+Lee%2C+42%2C+from+Bowling+Green%2C+Ky.%2C+has+worked+as+a+WKU+Police+Patrol+Officer+for+the+past+two+years.+He+prefers+working+the+night+shift%2C+also+referred+to+as+third+shift%2C+because+he+enjoys+DUI+enforcement.+From+the+time+he+graduated+from+the+police+academy+in+October+2015+to+Sept.+30%2C+2016%2C+Lee+made+11+DUI+arrests.+%5BDUIs%5D+kill+and+injure+a+lot+of+people+every+year+and+every+one+you+get+off+the+road+makes+things+that+much+safer.+Brook+Joyner%2FHERALD
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Dustin Lee, 42, from Bowling Green, Ky., has worked as a WKU Police Patrol Officer for the past two years. He prefers working the night shift, also referred to as third shift, because he enjoys DUI enforcement. From the time he graduated from the police academy in October 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016, Lee made 11 DUI arrests. “[DUI’s] kill and injure a lot of people every year and every one you get off the road makes things that much safer.” Brook Joyner/HERALD

Rebekah Alvey
January 31, 2017

A WKU police officer was recognized for making a significant amount of DUI arrests last year.

Officer Dustin Lee with the WKUPD won the Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Award. The award is given to a representative in each district, each of which is recognized at a ceremony.

The winner of the award is determined by the officer who makes the most DUI arrests between Oct. 1 and Sept 30. Lee made 11 out of the 54 DUI arrests in the police department.

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This is Lee’s first year in the WKUPD. He worked in the Warren County Regional jail prior. He was inspired to make the switch after working with WKUPD at special events like football games. 

“WKUPD is a really good place to be, and I’m glad to be a part of it,” Lee said.

Lee said there was an additional challenge during the qualifying time for the award because it was his first year.

“I was still learning things,” Lee said.

Police training lasted from October to February for Lee, after which he was assigned to earlier shifts where less DUI arrests are made. The time frame for the 11 arrests was actually April to October.

“It was also harder because I was trying to learn as much as possible,” Lee said. The additional challenges makes it more impressive and special, he said.

“It’s a credit to the officers who trained me,” Lee said. A lot of his DUI training was completed by Officer Rodney McMillin, who Lee said is an “excellent DUI officer.”

“He is very inquisitive and a really good officer,” McMillin said about Lee. The pair spent a lot of one-on-one training together over the span of four weeks as well as Lee being assigned to McMillin’s shift. 

McMillin said he just tried to share his experiences and advanced training with Lee. 

“He ultimately showed that he has the want-to to hustle and do the work as a proactive officer,” McMillin said.

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The Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Award Ceremony was held Dec. 13 in Lexington. Chief Mitchell Walker accompanied Lee to the event, where police officers from all over the state met for a luncheon.

“I got to connect with people I didn’t know and reconnect with officers I have met before,” Lee said.

Every individual is presented with the award. A list of all the officers represented can be seen in the ceremony program.

“It was a really cool experience,” Lee said.

Winning the award presents officers with a further challenge according to Lee. He will now try to push himself and try to do even more.

“I still view making arrests in the same way,” Lee said. “The bottom line is saving lives.”

Reporter Rebekah Alvey can be reached at 270-745-6011 and [email protected].