Police officer makes more than 30 drunk driving arrests in 2008

By: Erin Fischesser

Posted: 4/24/09

Oxford Township officer, Constable Patrick Piccioni, received the Top Cop Award from the Southwest Ohio chapter of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) April 16.

According to Andrea Rehkamp, executive director of MADD of Southwest Ohio, the annual award is given to officers in the southwest Ohio region who do a significant amount of work to prevent drunk driving.

"We give the award for the number of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OMVI) arrests or work in the community to prevent drunk driving as well as work with victims," Rehkamp said.

Rehkamp said Oxford Township Police Chief Michael Goins nominated Piccioni.

"He does a good job for us," Goins said. "He had over 30 OMVI arrests in 2008. He's also our OMVI coordinator and a part of the Butler County OMVI Task Force that meets every two weeks."

Goins also said Piccioni had a nearly unheard of 90 percent conviction rate in 2008.

"I was honored that MADD honored me as one of the 'Top Cops' in southwest Ohio," Piccioni said.

Piccioni said drunk driving has been a big issue recently, but he also has a personal reason for his efforts.

"My sister was almost killed by a DUI accident," Piccioni said.

Piccioni said he sees a lot of drunk driving offenses because he works the nighttime shift.

"You look for certain cues," Piccioni said. "We look for those little inconsistencies that a normal person doesn't do."

Piccioni said inconsistencies such as weaving, crossing the center line and inconsistent speed can signal a drunk driver, but sometimes could also be attributed to a medical condition.

Piccioni is alcohol detection and prosecution (ADAP) certified, which means he is certified to conduct standard and field sobriety tests.

As a member of the Butler County OMVI Task Force, Piccioni attends meetings with officers from other departments to plan checkpoints, check statistics, review patrolling techniques and understand new laws.

According to Piccioni, understanding new laws is important because they change so rapidly.

"It seems like they change every six months," Piccioni said.

The task force exists in order to better prepare local departments for OMVI issues, Piccioni said.

"We just help departments and officers better patrol areas and apprehend offenders," Piccioni said.