St. Cloud Police Department to Get New Breath Testing Equipment

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud Police Department says it will be getting its own breath testing instrument and equipment from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Now, officers from the St. Cloud Police Department must use the breath testing instruments and equipment at the county jail facility when obtaining official breath test results related to DUI enforcement. Officers say that can create challenges due to jail intake procedures and COVID-19 protocols, sometimes resulting in delays for officers of up to 45 minutes. Officials say having a breath tester at the St. Cloud Police Department would make the process more efficient and save time, as officers conduct over 200 breath tests each year.

The machine would be given to the St. Cloud Police Department from the BCA at no cost to the city. There would be a minimal expense of mouthpieces for the tester, which would be paid for out of general operating supplies.

The city council is expected to approve the measure at Monday night’s meeting.

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