By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists released its 2019 annual survey and the Bloomington Police Department finished in the top five.

The survey showed BPD made 349 DUI arrests last year, a 43% increase from 2018, and landed the department fifth best for municipalities. BPD also had the fifth best arrest rate with 2.81 DUI arrests per sworn officer.

“Our police department has always had an emphasis on protecting our community however we can,” said BPD spokesperson Officer John Fermon. “Over the last 10 years we’ve had a couple tragic DUI accidents, which is more than what we want.”

Fermon said DUI’s are difficult cases that take lots of training.

“It isn’t just something you show up and about five minutes later you can make an arrest,” he said. “Normally, the report is three to five pages, they usually go to court and have a couple appearances if they fight it. You’ve got to be almost perfect with those investigations to be good at them.”

Additionally, BPD Officer Brandt Parsley was recognized with a “Top Cop” award for making 118 DUI arrests, which was sixth overall in the state.

Neil Doyle can  be reached at [email protected]