It's not a secret that Milwaukeeans like to drink. They also like to drive, as public transportation and taxis have historically taken a back seat to bar hopping by car. But when drinking and driving mix, trouble starts brewing -- and the results can be deadly.

In 2005, 41 percent of fatal automobile accidents in the state were due to alcohol consumption, and 369 people died as a result of drunk driving.

Accordingly, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation created a special Alcohol Enforcement Grant to deal with the problem. The $25,000 project runs through Sept. 30, and Milwaukee police officers can opt-in for this overtime project.

Officer Bill Hanney is in his sixth year with the MPD. Prior to becoming a cop, he worked as an EMT, and though he doesn't cite a poetic reason for joining the force, he says that being an emergency responder is just part of who he is.

Hanney, 29, says his medical experience comes in handy as an officer, particularly when identifying someone in a diabetic coma. He says he plans on remaining with MPD for the rest of his career, a mandated maximum of 25 years on the force.

Hanney is the cop assigned to my ride-along, a one-night shift with the task force from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The department runs these patrols every Friday and Saturday night. The police department allowed me to join them, to take photos and to ask questions. We hit the road Feb. 15 to spend a night busting drunk drivers. The results were not what I expected.

11:20 p.m. -- During the warmer months, Hanney is an MPD motorcycle cop with the Patrol Support Division. That means he's not assigned to a specific district and can work where needed. Officers sign up for these OWI patrols as overtime shifts. Hanney says he enjoys the job and volunteers for the task force a few times a month.

Because it's far too cold outside to ride a motorcycle, Hanney's job changes a little in the winter. Fortunately, we're riding in a cruiser tonight. Hanney has already been outside, though, helping direct traffic for the "Lion King" crowds at the Milwaukee Theatre. Once he changes out of his cold weather gear and into a standard police uniform, we grab a car in the garage at headquarters at 7th and State Streets and head out.

For this patrol, Hanney can go anywhere he wants in the city, but he usually targets the "pretty easy spots," he says, like Water Street and National Avenue. We're looking for anything suspicious that could indicate an intoxicated driver. For example, someone heading the wrong way on a one-way street. Driving without headlights on, sitting stopped at a green light or squealing tires are actions that catch Hanney's attention.

In this four-hour shift, it's not guaranteed that we'll arrest anyone. "It's either on or off," says Hanney. "It could be 15 stops or no busts."

As we drive down 3rd Street, west on Wisconsin Avenue, back north on 4th, then east to Water Street, Hanney explains what he likes -- and dislikes -- about the drunk driving patrol.

"OWIs, I like," he says. "Though it can be a pain in the butt if I get an argumentative drunk."

He says most suspects are cooperative, though he's had to be more stern on a few occasions.

Maybe it's the cold weather -- it's about 16 degrees right now -- but people seem well-behaved tonight.

11:22 p.m. -- A radio dispatcher announces a chase in progress. A white Toyota Tercel is spotted driving about 70 miles per hour down city streets on 5th and Hayes, on the near South Side. The officer in pursuit follows the suspect into a gas station, where the Tercel speeds away. After a minute or two, the officer calls off the chase, citing speeds too fast and unsafe for these icy conditions.

11:40 p.m. -- We head south into Walker's Point, and again, see nothing suspicious. Hanney has a touch-screen laptop in his car that is running a number of applications, including an internal instant messaging program that lets officers know what their colleagues are doing. Right now, most of the calls are garden-variety domestic abuse calls -- nothing related to drunk driving. Then, the call comes on the radio that the Tercel has been stopped at 5th and Lapham. We're close, so we drive over to see if we can help, but a handful of officers already have the suspect in custody.

11:48 p.m. -- We loop back toward Downtown, and at about Water and Erie, we notice a red Ford Ranger driving without its lights on. Hanney turns on his flashing lights, and the driver pulls over immediately. Before the officer even steps out of the car, he runs the truck's plates and they come up clean. The system uses high-speed wireless Internet and checking information is incredibly fast.

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3 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by MILWIRISH on Feb. 19, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (report)

let the cabbies do thier jobs......it is long hard work.......and time is money........why did you leave out the tavern league saferide program?? bars and drinkers should all call for safe streets

Posted by brunocarlson on Feb. 19, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (report)

I agree with the cabs. Way to reckless. This article was very good and informative. I am glad to know that they have implemented a division that rewards the officers with overtime and gets rid of the idiots.

Posted by upofan on Feb. 19, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (report)

Cops need to start nabbing the taxi drivers now...worst ones on the road. No signals...rolling stops...speeders.