The Architect: Building the Foundation of Drug Recognition with Dick Studdard

In this episode of Impairment Perspectives, host Joey Jones, PhD sits down with Dick Studdard—a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, retired captain, special deputy U.S. marshal, and widely recognized as the founder of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program. Recorded on location at Studdard's home in Prescott, Arizona, this conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the foundational history of drug impairment detection in law enforcement.

Key Discussion Highlights

• The Roots of DRE: Studdard shares the personal tragedy and operational turning points in the 1960s and 1970s that drove LAPD officers to recognize that breath alcohol testing alone was insufficient for identifying impaired drivers.
• Pioneering Collaboration: Exploring how early field studies, partnerships with institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the Southern California Research Institute, and international presentations (such as in Oslo, Norway) helped scale the DRE program globally.
• Overcoming Institutional Hurdles: Studdard details the rigorous process of creating standardized evaluation forms, fighting for rigorous scientific validation, and reshaping how law enforcement handles non-alcohol DUIs.
• Life in Retirement: A look into Studdard’s post-service dedication to safety, including his role as chairman of the Arizona State Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council and his continued advocacy for officers.