Which suburbs are making the most DUI arrests?

Two things jumped out at us in the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists’ latest annual report on which Illinois police departments, and which officers, are making the most drunk driving arrests.

First, there was the 51% increase in DUI arrests last year in Naperville. And then there was the West Chicago Police Department making 5.72 DUI arrests per officer in 2024, second in the state only behind the River Grove PD.

Much of that West Chicago stat is attributable to officer Blake Bertany, who made 100 DUI arrests last year, according to the AAIM study. That was good enough for sixth most in the state, and tops among officers in the Daily Herald’s coverage area.

West Chicago Chief Colin Fleury said going after intoxicated drivers has been a focus since he became its chief in 2021.

“I wasn’t entirely happy when I came to West Chicago with the number of fatal accidents (in West Chicago and nearby),” he told us, noting that he previously helped lead Elgin Police Department’s traffic unit. ”(Fatals) always bothered me.”

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