Photos by Mike Maloney/London Community News

London police are updating their arsenal in the fight against impaired driving.

On Thursday (Oct. 27), local media outlets were invited to a training session involving 18 members of the London Police Service (LPS), who were training to become qualified breath technicians using the new Intoxilyzer 8000.  Three of these new units are being purchased and will replace the Intoxilyzer 5000 model that has been in use with LPS for over the past 10 years.

Speaking at the event, LPS Superintendant Ken Heslop said that eventually all of the existing 40 qualified technicians would have their training upgraded to include the new unit

Costing approximately $8,000 each, the first of these new units was purchased by the London chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada and donated to the LPS.

On hand to watch the training session, MADD London Chapter President Dave Pereria said they were approached by their police liaison about the possibility of assisting to acquire the new units and citing their importance, were pleased in being able to help. “The police need the tools to do their job and do it well,” he commented. Pereria also noted that when required, its portability will also be an asset. “This new unit gets them in places a lot quicker, a lot easier with more accuracy not only in the testing but recording as well.”

On behalf of London police, Heslop acknowledged the contribution made by MADD. “The London chapter has done a great service to the community providing this,” he said. Heslop remarked that in these days of fiscal restraint, police budgets are getting tighter and that it is harder to find the dollars to purchase equipment such as this. “If we can find community partners that are willing to step forward (to help), we thank them and encourage that.”