MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Faced with fewer sworn officers and plenty of vacant positions, Montgomery County Police have unveiled a groundbreaking staffing strategy: stop having a dedicated unit whose job is catching impaired drivers.

The department confirmed it is disbanding its Alcohol Initiatives Unit, which focused on drunken and impaired-driving enforcement, because of reduced staffing and broader operational needs. Its officers will be reassigned to vacant positions elsewhere. 

Officials insist DUI enforcement isn’t disappearing entirely. MCPD says it will continue holiday and summer alcohol task forces, saturation patrols and checkpoints with regional partners. 

So relax, everybody. The specialized unit is gone, but occasionally there will be a checkpoint.

The Canton Cat has seen this management technique before.

When there aren’t enough cats to guard every dumpster, you don’t hire more cats.

You simply abolish the Dumpster Protection Unit and announce that dumpster protection remains a top priority.

Problem solved.

At press time, county officials had not announced whether burglary investigators would next be reassigned to pothole duty.

Reporting From Behind the Dumpster. 🐈