Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Traffic stops and tickets.

Our job is work towards the safety and security of all persons and property within the city limits of Bloomfield. That being said, I want to let you know that though my officers do make a number of traffic stops a year, they really do not make all that many. In 2006 there were 188 traffic stops according to the Missouri racial profiling reports. The 2007 report should be out soon. I know that this year we have had 248 traffic stops, as we speak. That is 1.67 stops a day. By the end of the year we may log between 500 and 600. More than any year in our history. With 248 stops you would think that we have written a high number of traffic citations but in fact we do not. I checked the stats earlier today and did you know that there have only been 4 citations written for speeding. Most of our citations deal with non-traffic issues such as peace disturbances, theft, tampering, animal control issues, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Traffic stops are made for several reasons:

1. As a courtesy....to advise you of a problem with your vehicle.

2. To ensure public safety.

3. As an investigative tool in the discovery of criminal activity.

About a year ago a gentleman in our town was driving around with defective equipment. One of my officers stopped him and advised him of the violation. He later stated she was rude and hateful and stopped him for no legal reason. He further accused her of "profiling" because he was driving an older truck. I showed him the video of the stop which proved that he was the only one that got hateful during the contact. It also showed his defective equipment.

My officers will NEVER make a stop without a legal reason to do so. If I ever find out and prove that they did then the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

I would like to point out that since we installed a camera in the police vehicle we have only had the one complaint mentioned above. Kudos to the city for such a wise and useful purchase.

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