City of Locust Police Department issued the following announcement on June 30.
The Locust Police Department maintains a consistent philosophy emphasizing community policing through a focus on family, communication, and community. We achieve this philosophy by consistently engaging with the Locust community by building and maintaining positive law enforcement/community relationships through regular interactions and events, promoting maximum transparency where legally authorized, assuring department and officer accountability, and providing the greatest possible service and protection to Locust families, all residents, travelers, and visitors.
Despite these best efforts, it is inevitable that the nature of the law enforcement profession will result in the fact that our department is not going to make every resident or visitor happy all of the time. The majority of the instances where this unhappiness occurs is related to our department’s enforcement of North Carolina traffic and speed laws.
Our department believes strongly in the regular enforcement of these laws for numerous reasons. One, the enforcement of traffic laws can result in the finding of other criminal offenses such as the trafficking of dangerous drugs, impaired drivers, or in locating/identifying wanted and dangerous individuals. Note that Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was identified and apprehended for his horrible act of domestic terrorism due to a routine traffic stop for driving without a license plate. Two, the enforcement of speed laws is necessary as speeds traveled greatly above the posted speed limit can result in increased incidents of traffic crashes with more severe consequences particularly when those around you are traveling at lower speeds. We will also always note that our department does not decide what the posted speed limit is on streets and highways, and our responsibility is only their enforcement.
For your information, understanding, and clarification, the Locust Police Department is providing the following reminders, notes, and statistical items:
Locust officers have the authority to use broad discretion in regard to the enforcement of traffic/speed laws and any applicable enforcement actions when the traffic offenses are infractions or misdemeanors. Particularly related to speeding offenses, the higher over the speed limit you are visually assessed, and RADAR confirmed to be traveling, the greater the possibility that a speeding citation will be issued.
If you believe a Locust officer has acted inappropriately or discourteously to you during a traffic enforcement encounter, you have the option to file a formal complaint against the officer which will trigger an internal investigation of the encounter. We assure that the involved officer(s) will be held accountable if it is confirmed that they violated department policy as it is in the best interest of the City of Locust, our department, our officers, and in preserving the trust and respect of our community to hold our officers to the highest standard of accountability. You can file a formal complaint by emailing Chief Shew at jbshew@locustnc.com or by calling 704-888-4744.
Per Locust policy, officers are required to activate issued body cameras during all traffic stop encounters. If complaints are filed, body camera video is vital in confirming or refuting allegations. Please be aware however that video related to traffic stops is not required to be kept permanently in all incidents and may only be available for a period of time particularly in incidents where citations were not issued, so if you are choosing to file a complaint, do not delay.
In 2021, Locust officers issued 1,279 citation charges (3.5 daily) and issued 1,517 warnings (4.2 daily). 314 citation charges were for speed related offenses (Less than one per day). The majority of warnings issued were for speeding offenses.
In 2022 through May, Locust officers issued 453 citation charges and issued 618 warnings (30.6% more warnings than citation charges). 113 citation charges were for speed related offenses, and a considerable number of warnings issued were for speeding.
The Locust Police Department’s involvement in the Locust community is daily, promoting strong department/community relations through our community policing efforts. We are proud of the support we have earned from the Locust community through our efforts and performance.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/LocustPoliceDepartmentNC/
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