Uniform Patrol:
3 Lieutenants, 6 Sergeants, 36 Patrol Officers
Traffic Enforcement (Motor Unit):
Addressing traffic related issues is a topic brought up at every citizen meeting that the police and city officials attend. With the population and corresponding traffic on the increase, addressing traffic problems is a very important issue. A group of 4 officers was assigned to work the Boulevard and Bluff Street many years ago. They worked from cars and many times, were unable to get to the offender. Think of this: the car is going 45 and the speed limit is 30. By the time the officer gets his car to the edge of the roadway and waits for an opening to safely enter traffic, the offender is several blocks away. Then the officer is faced with a decision: to try and weave through traffic or turn on the overhead lights and cause all vehicles to move to the right of the roadway, most likely causing more of a hazard than the speeder caused initially. Clearly, there must be a better option.
Harley Davidson motorcycles were purchased and have proved to be very effective at getting through, around and between cars enabling the officer to get to the violator within a few blocks even in the heaviest of traffic. Across the country the rate of deaths at intersections is increasing faster than deaths at any other location. These motor officers are encouraged to ride their motorcycles between cars at traffic signals so they can watch the cross traffic for red-light runners and other violations. Riding between lines of cars would be a violation for recreational riders, but the state law specifically exempts police officers as they perform their traffic enforcement duties. After all, we didn’t buy the motorcycles to act like cars, we bought the motorcycles to do what cars cannot.
In June 2007 a sergeant was chosen to supervise the motor squad and was tasked with reducing crashes in the City of St. George by 20% the first year. There were 2444 crashes in 2006. Half the year was already gone, but the motors set out to do what they could. The causes, locations and times of the crashes were analyzed and the traffic enforcement began in these areas. By the end of the year the rate had been reduced and there were 2355 crashes in 2007, almost a 10% reduction of crashes. More could be done. Continuing their efforts of selective enforcement, the motor squad made a reduction of 22%, with 2008 registering 1858 crashes. At the end of the first quarter of 2009, there was an additional reduction of 19% compared with 2008. As of July 2009, there has been a 13% reduction over 2008. The motors will continue to work where and when the traffic is at it’s heaviest and crashes are most likely to happen.
In April 2009 two cars were added and the motor squad became a traffic unit, with 6 motorcycles and two traffic cars. The officers were assigned an area of town and the school cross walks in those areas. They work with the crossing guards and monitor the school crosswalks watching for motorists that violate the laws associated with these school zones.
Currently the traffic unit includes the following officers:
Sgt. Craig Harding has been with St. George Police Department since 1982, and has supervised the motor squad since 2007. Certified as a motor officer, he recently went through the Northwestern University instructor course as taught by the Utah Highway Patrol and is now a motor instructor for the St. George Police Department.
Officer Chad Pectol has been an officer since 1997 working with the Hurricane and Washington Police departments and came to the St. George Police Department in 2000. He has been a motor officer since 2003 and became a motor instructor in 2004. Pectol is currently the training officer for the motor squad.
Officer Shawn Carter has been with the St. George Police since 2003 and has been a motor officer since June 2008.
Officer Jordan Minnick has been with st. George Police since 2007 and a motor officer since June 2008
Officer Jonathan McInnes has been with St. George Police since 2003. He worked in investigations for 3 years before applying for the position of motor officer in June 2008.
There were two cars added to the traffic unit in March 2009 and these officers were selected from many because of their abilities and expertise in the areas of traffic enforcement and accident investigation. They are tasked with being the first responders to the crashes happening on our streets.
Officer Tyrell Bangerter has been an officer with St. George Police since 2004 and has been trained in accident investigation and reconstruction.
Officer Jamison Hale has been an officer since 1994 working with Dixie State College and came to St. George Police Department in 2002.
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