Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Another Valuable Security Forces Tool

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant Judson D. Heckerman
  • 911th Airlift Wing Security Forces Squadron
PITTSBURGH IAP ARS --  Staff Sgt. Lee Crusa, 911th Security Forces controller, performs a Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test on Tom Sivewright (seated), Moon Township Police Department dispatcher, during the three-day Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) training course here at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Jan. 29 - 31, 2014. The training was provided by the Pennsylvania DUI Association in conjunction with the West Hills DUI Task Force, and was attended by Staff Sgts. Lee Crusa and Raymon Bouyer and Tech. Sgts. Chris Vargas and Tana Sanchez from the 911th Security Forces Squadron.

The course was also attended by first responders from numerous local agencies including: the 171st Security Forces Squadron, Robert Morris University, Coraopolis, Hermitage, Leetsdale, Ohio Township, Avalon, North Fayette, and Sewickley Police Departments.

"The class taught students how to recognize signs of impairment and conduct SFSTs using live volunteers who consumed controlled and measured amounts of alcoholic beverages," said Tech. Sgt. James Hindinger, 911th SFS training manager. "This was an extremely demanding course that included hours of self-study and practice to ensure proficiency."

The HGN test is one of three common field sobriety tests and is administered by asking an individual to use only their eyes to follow a stimulus (usually a first responder's pen or finger) as it is moved from side to side in front of them. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus occurs as part of the body's natural ocularmotor reaction to alcohol consumption when a disturbance of the inner ear combined with a hindrance in the brain's ability to control the eye muscles results in a jerking or bouncing motion of the eye as they track the stimulus from side to side. It is this unnatural movement of the eye that indicates to first responders that an individual is likely impaired.

"The HGN was a pretty easy test to administer and the nystagmus became more and more pronounced as our volunteer drinkers consumed greater amounts of alcohol," said Staff Sgt. Crusa. "Being trained on how to properly administer SFST has given me one more valuable tool to help me do my job, and will be very beneficial the next time I work with one of the local police departments while responding to an incident involving a likely impaired individual." (Photo courtesy of Tech. Sgt. James Hindinger, 911th Security Forces training manager)