Prineville, Ore. – Prineville Police say officers arrested seven drivers for DUII during the Presidents’ Day weekend, highlighting what the department described as a series of preventable risks on local roads.
In a public statement released following the holiday weekend, the Prineville Police Department said the arrests occurred between Friday and Monday.
“From Friday through Monday over Presidents’ Day weekend, our officers made 7 DUII arrests here in Prineville,” the department stated. “That’s 7 situations where someone chose to drive impaired and 7 times where a life could have been changed forever.”
The department emphasized the broader safety implications of impaired driving, citing national crash data.
“According to NHTSA, about 30% of traffic crash fatalities involve alcohol or drugs,” the statement read. “Those aren’t just statistics, those are families, friends and neighbors. A DUII is preventable. A tragedy is preventable.”
Police framed the message as both an enforcement update and a community safety reminder, noting Prineville’s small-town dynamics.
“Prineville is a small community and we care about every person on our roads,” the department said. “We serve this community because we care deeply about the people in it.”
The statement urged residents to make safe transportation choices before driving.
“Please help us protect Prineville by making the safe choice before you ever turn the key. Someone is waiting for you at home. And someone else is waiting for the person you might meet on the road.”
Prineville Police did not release additional details about the arrests, including whether any crashes or injuries were associated with the incidents.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject matter expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
