Aaron Botts - Season 01, Episode 07

In this episode of Impairment Perspectives, host Joey Jones sits down with Aaron Botts, a Denver Police Department corporal, DRE specialist, instructor, and adjunct professor, for a wide-ranging conversation on impaired driving enforcement, training, and leadership. Aaron shares how his frontline experience and academic work shape his approach to teaching officers how to recognize impairment more effectively and ethically.

The episode highlights Aaron’s “Detection in 60 Seconds” philosophy, a data-informed screening approach designed to help officers quickly distinguish between sober and impaired drivers while improving efficiency and community interactions. He also discusses the challenges of teaching modern students, the role of AI in education, and how officers can go beyond basic training to better understand science, courtroom expectations, and real-world drug impairment cases.

Along the way, the conversation adds a personal side, covering Aaron’s background in music education, scouting, leadership, and even his massive board game collection, making the episode both insightful and approachable.