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Police wage war against lawbreakers
Traffic violators, criminals are targeted by special operations unit officers
By THOMAS MICHALSKI
Article published on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/122707_par-01.jpg) |
| Officer Barry Touart adjusts a television camera on his motorcycle prior to going on the road. |
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PINELLAS PARK – The police department’s special operations unit is about to launch a new attack on criminals and traffic violators that are responsible for death, injuries and thousands of dollars in property damages.
Sgt. Tracey Schofield, special operations commander, said the traffic effort of the two-pronged program begins New Year’s Eve when police take to the streets looking for drunken drivers and other traffic violators.
Previous attempts to curb motorists have resulted in decreases in both accidents and injuries.
Criminal wise, Schofield said a special unit will be formed to investigate old hit and run deaths that have occurred over the years.
In recent times several people have been run down and left on roads critically injured and even dead.
To turn up the heat on traffic violators Schofield said more officer “wolf packs” will be put on the road, new equipment is being purchased and the city will lease used cars that blend in with traffic.
Those vehicles also will be used for surveillance in crime problem areas such as neighborhoods prone to burglaries and parking lots where shoppers often become victims of robbers and car thieves.
Schofield said one of the city’s police motorcycles has been equipped with a test model miniature television system to record traffic stops and other activities. He said the city is negotiating the purchase or donation of 14 radar units from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies are phasing out Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars for Chevrolet Impalas and the dash panels on the new cars disallow the installation of the radar units.
Schofield said there are three major areas in the city where many accidents occur. In 2005-06 45 mishaps happened at 80th Avenue and U.S. 19, 104 at 118th Avenue and U.S. 19 and 129 at Park Boulevard and U.S. 19.
Those figures dropped to 24, 80 and 120, respectively, during 2006-07. Plus, the 80th Avenue and U.S. 19 location was taken off the three most dangerous list and replaced with the intersection of 70th Avenue and U.S. 19 that saw 50 accidents during the 2006-07 period.
The traffic accident hot spots are intersections near Wal-Mart and Shoppes at Park Place Mall.
“We saw a decrease in accidents because of stepped up traffic enforcement,” Schofield said. “There still are too many accidents and too many people being injured.”
During 2007, Schofield said, special police teams conducted from one to three enforcement projects each month. They ranged from DUI stings, seatbelt enforcement to nabbing red light runners.
The schedule for 2008 is just as busy. Schofield said police also will be distributing traffic and crime flyers at intersections and through city utility billings.
“More than 100,000 snowbirds come to Pinellas County during the winter season,” Schofield said. “That means a lot more vehicles will be on the road.”
Police also are concerned over the increase in hit and run accidents. Some motorists simply drive away after an accident rather than face the consequences for the accidents they have caused.
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Article published on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007
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