Anderson officer excels at spotting DUIs

The eye for DUI:
APD Officer Mathew Goodwin was commended by the statewide agency Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his high number of arrests of drunk drivers, 151.

Anderson Police Department Officer Mathew Goodwin has an exceptional nose for finding drunk drivers in Anderson. So much so, that Goodwin said he smelled alcohol on a driver when the driver happened to only test at a .01 blood/alcohol content (BAC) ratio. Although a .08 BAC is the legal limit for alcohol consumption for driving, Goodwin commented that "it's strange, I can actually smell the .04s better than the .08s.

Responsible for 151 DUI arrests in 2008, the third-year officer amassed the arrests during his usual, nightly patrols, according to APD Captain Robert Kirvin.

"He is highly proactive in finding DUIs," Kirvin said.

Goodwin downplayed any praise for finding so many drunk drivers in Anderson.

"You don't have to be a counter-intelligence spy to catch drunk drivers," Goodwin said. "They catch themselves."

Regardless of his humility for hard work, Goodwin was nominated by the APD and recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the annual Statewide Law Enforcement and Community Recognition Dinner in Sacramento.

"I really enjoy DUI enforcement, that's not going to stop," Goodwin said. "It's not a one year thing."

Goodwin said the easiest way to spot a drunk driver was what he called "insignificant weaving." Although he said the two-foot, side-to-side weaving could also be caused by cellphone use or medication drugs.

"The first thing to go is the minute driving corrections," Goodwin said of the deterioration of a driver's skill after drinking alcohol.

Aside from making DUI arrests, Goodwin was also trained by CHP as a Drug Recognition Expert. As a DRE, Goodwin has a better chance to identify whether someone is under the influence of drugs by the person's behavior, situational surroundings, breathing, and blood pressure.

Goodwin's training was useful to him just last week, when he pulled over a driver and noted the following: The driver was very fidgety and sweating. After noting the driver's pupil size as well - "the eye's don't lie," he said - Goodwin searched the vehicle and found a pipe and drugs which the driver identified as methamphetamine.

Goodwin said his training gave him knowledge of behavioral symptoms of all seven drug categories.Aside from providing him with the ability to detect the use of drugs, Goodwin said he has twice been able to identify a reported drunk as actually suffering diabetic shock. As such, Goodwin handles drug testing for the department.

Raised in Cottonwood and graduating from West Valley High School in 2000, Goodwin said he competed in shot put and discus throwing.