EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Ahead of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson joined with other local elected officials, law enforcement and community advocates on Monday, May 19 to bring attention to the rising toll of drunk driving in the El Paso region.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has launched a multi-agency DWI Task Force to help fight back against the scourge of drunk driving. The Sheriff’s Office said it made 48 arrests in one recent two-day period.
The coordinated effort, through the task force, brought together law enforcement from every municipality in El Paso County, including the El Paso Police Department, along with Texas State troopers and constables, the Sheriff’s Office said.
In 2024, the City of El Paso recorded 1,337 DWI offenses, averaging more than 25 per week, the Mayor’s Office said.
“Drunk driving is not a city problem or a county problem – it’s a community emergency that demands a united front,” Johnson said. “The data is alarming, and the human cost is unacceptable. I’m proud to stand with leaders across the Borderplex to say: Enough is enough. We’re calling not only on those who drink and drive, but also on those who see it happening to step in, speak up, and stop it. You could save a life.”
Johnson was joined by County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, El Paso Chief of Police Peter Pacillas, El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte, District Attorney James Montoya, City of Socorro Mayor Rudy Cruz, Jr., City of Socorro Chief of Police Robert Rojas and Brig. Gen. Rory Crooks, deputy commanding general of operations for the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss.
The group was also joined by Lupe Hernandez Lucero, founder of SoberStreets Movement, who lost her child in a DWI crash.
“It is almost impossible to express the anguish a parent feels when they lose a child,” Hernandez Lucero said. “But when that child is taken by an incident that is completely preventable, you have no choice but to speak out and advocate so that no other parents undergo the same loss. My hope is that people will become more responsible for themselves, their friends, and their family members — whoever they are drinking with — and take a stand against driving while intoxicated. It is never OK and there is never a reason.”
“Driving while intoxicated is a threat to the safety of our community, and while enforcement remains a critical tool, we recognize that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem,” said Pacillas, El Paso Police chief. “Real change will come through prevention, education, and strong community partnerships. Our commitment is to stop impaired driving before it starts — because every life lost to a preventable tragedy is one too many.”
“I’m incredibly proud of our sheriff for collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to reduce the number of individuals driving under the influence. As a mental health professional, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact a DWI-related death can have on a family. At the same time, the long-term consequences of a DWI conviction — such as challenges in obtaining scholarships or employment — are equally profound,” said Samiengo, the county judge.
“Every DWI is a choice that puts lives at risk. I’m grateful to our law enforcement agencies for partnering with us as we spearhead DWI enforcement efforts across El Paso County,” said Ugarte, who launched the DWI Task Force. “We’re sending a clear message: if you drive drunk, you will be arrested.”
“It’s not a crime to partake in adult beverages. It’s what someone chooses to do after they become intoxicated,” said Montoya, the district attorney. “Drinking and driving is a choice, and it can lead to fatal consequences. My office will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to hold those who choose to drive drunk accountable.”
The El Paso Police Department’s and El Paso County Sheriff’s DWI Task Forces will continue to operate on high alert throughout the holiday weekend and will take steps to fully prosecute anyone found to be driving while intoxicated, the Mayor’s Office said in its news release.
The City of El Paso and the El Paso Police Department urge all residents to take an active role in preventing drunk driving.
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