Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Adding an officer to regular patrols made a difference in Winona Lake this weekend and allowed police to arrest six alleged drunk drivers.
The Winona Lake Police Department used the money from a $100,000 federal grant over the next three years to hire another full-time police officer. The department now employs six full-time officers and one reserve.
Town marshal Malcolm Gilbert said he used the officer for double coverage Friday and Saturday nights. Usually only one officer is on-duty in the town during a shift.
"This makes it possible to have two on a shift on the heaviest hours," usually from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., Gilbert said.
The two officers on the shift were able to help each other, according to Gilbert. While one took a suspect into county jail to be booked, the other officer was still on patrol.
Each of the officers on duty arrested one drunk driver over the weekend, bringing the number of drunk driving arrests in Kosciusko County this weekend to 13.
Gilbert attributed the arrests to "good observation by the officers."
He also said the extra officer will be used for double duty during prime hours throughout the year.
