Editor, On Saturday, April 3, my son was stopped and cited by the Hinesville Police Department for failure to obey a stop sign (layman’s terms: a rolling stop). Simple enough right? Wrong! An unnecessarily embarrassing, emotional and degrading search ensued that involved four squad cars — including members of the Crime Suppression Unit — the K-9 unit and a very stoic supervisor with a camcorder. After a complete search of his vehicle, my son was given a ticket for a rolling stop and a warning for an open container (they found and confiscated a dusty, empty miniature brandy bottle in the console after a 25-minute search — the contents of the bottle would not alter a new born baby).
I don’t know what warranted the K-9 unit nor do I know what warranted this much attention, but this appears to be “a lot of sugar for a dime.” With this being a holiday/payday weekend, one would think the city’s resources could have been better utilized by going after bad guys. When I arrived on the scene (which was in front of my home), I was told by the officers to stand back while they did their “protect and serve” thing, and I did.
One officer said he requested my son to hand over his keys because they have had “a rash of fleeing incidents” of late and he did not want a chase to ensue that would cause danger to citizens (a story that can be verified I’m sure). Having been asked to stand back, I did not hear what was being said. But a few minutes later, the K-9 unit arrived and the vehicle search began. I later asked the K-9 officer why the search was necessary and he said the dog had “a hit” on the driver’s side door (this hit is subject to interpretation). I don’t know what “a hit” is in the world of police dogs as Ol’ Yeller did not bark or do anything out of the ordinary; however, shortly after the dog left, two officers clad in navy blue polo shirts got down on their hands and knees to search the vehicle while two others in similar attire stood, posted like the Secret Service. Since they did not find “a doggone thing,” I can only assume that the dog’s nose is highly tuned, the dog experienced a flash back or, God forbid, “Officer Protect N. Serve Sr.” lied about getting a hit (we’re in trouble if this is the case)!
I don’t know the purpose of the CSU (Crime Suppression Unit), but if the name means anything one would think that its purpose is to suppress crime (a novel idea); however, there was no crime here that needed suppressing!
You have a young man (a college student) who came home for the weekend to visit his dying grandmother, and who slowed down at a stop sign (also subject to interpretation) on his way home from his visit with her. It’s that plain and simple!
To take it a step further, when I asked the officer his name he told me it was written on the ticket (not very professional), and when I went to talk to the supervisor to get additional information, he drove off (he was even less professional).
Later, when I discovered that the ticket was written for the wrong date (March 3 as opposed to April 3), I went to the station to check on the validity of the citation and was told that it’s no big deal (like this happens all the time) and that I can take that up with the judge (and I will). And to show that truth is stranger than fiction, in error, my son gave the officer an outdated insurance card but in his eagerness to find that elusive “hit,” Officer Protect N. Serve II failed to notice he was given the wrong card (reading and writing — not eagerness — are fundamentals).
I’m a taxpayer, a contract city employee of 27 years, an elected official and a lifelong resident of a city that I love and support, and I believe that this is overkill (in fact, I know it is). I also know that this is not an isolated incident as there are similar stories floating around town about the CSU (I heard about a guy who got similar coverage for a missing tag light ... it was daytime).
Hinesville touts itself as a progressive city but allowing the Crime Suppression Unit to hand out citations for doing 55 in a 54 is not the kind of progression we need. I know and respect the powers that be at HPD, so I know that something will be done about the kind of police activity that allows cops to institute their version of “protect and serve.”
I will take care of the ticket and I pray that someone at city hall takes care of making sure that the police motto of “to protect and serve” is adhered to and that it is more than just something we see on patrol cars at the scenes of minor traffic stops.
I don’t know what warranted the K-9 unit nor do I know what warranted this much attention, but this appears to be “a lot of sugar for a dime.” With this being a holiday/payday weekend, one would think the city’s resources could have been better utilized by going after bad guys. When I arrived on the scene (which was in front of my home), I was told by the officers to stand back while they did their “protect and serve” thing, and I did.
One officer said he requested my son to hand over his keys because they have had “a rash of fleeing incidents” of late and he did not want a chase to ensue that would cause danger to citizens (a story that can be verified I’m sure). Having been asked to stand back, I did not hear what was being said. But a few minutes later, the K-9 unit arrived and the vehicle search began. I later asked the K-9 officer why the search was necessary and he said the dog had “a hit” on the driver’s side door (this hit is subject to interpretation). I don’t know what “a hit” is in the world of police dogs as Ol’ Yeller did not bark or do anything out of the ordinary; however, shortly after the dog left, two officers clad in navy blue polo shirts got down on their hands and knees to search the vehicle while two others in similar attire stood, posted like the Secret Service. Since they did not find “a doggone thing,” I can only assume that the dog’s nose is highly tuned, the dog experienced a flash back or, God forbid, “Officer Protect N. Serve Sr.” lied about getting a hit (we’re in trouble if this is the case)!
I don’t know the purpose of the CSU (Crime Suppression Unit), but if the name means anything one would think that its purpose is to suppress crime (a novel idea); however, there was no crime here that needed suppressing!
You have a young man (a college student) who came home for the weekend to visit his dying grandmother, and who slowed down at a stop sign (also subject to interpretation) on his way home from his visit with her. It’s that plain and simple!
To take it a step further, when I asked the officer his name he told me it was written on the ticket (not very professional), and when I went to talk to the supervisor to get additional information, he drove off (he was even less professional).
Later, when I discovered that the ticket was written for the wrong date (March 3 as opposed to April 3), I went to the station to check on the validity of the citation and was told that it’s no big deal (like this happens all the time) and that I can take that up with the judge (and I will). And to show that truth is stranger than fiction, in error, my son gave the officer an outdated insurance card but in his eagerness to find that elusive “hit,” Officer Protect N. Serve II failed to notice he was given the wrong card (reading and writing — not eagerness — are fundamentals).
I’m a taxpayer, a contract city employee of 27 years, an elected official and a lifelong resident of a city that I love and support, and I believe that this is overkill (in fact, I know it is). I also know that this is not an isolated incident as there are similar stories floating around town about the CSU (I heard about a guy who got similar coverage for a missing tag light ... it was daytime).
Hinesville touts itself as a progressive city but allowing the Crime Suppression Unit to hand out citations for doing 55 in a 54 is not the kind of progression we need. I know and respect the powers that be at HPD, so I know that something will be done about the kind of police activity that allows cops to institute their version of “protect and serve.”
I will take care of the ticket and I pray that someone at city hall takes care of making sure that the police motto of “to protect and serve” is adhered to and that it is more than just something we see on patrol cars at the scenes of minor traffic stops.
— Gary Gilliard
Hinesville
Hinesville