St. Paul, MN police will end horse and motorcycle patrols
Yea sad and why they disbanding:
The reasons for disbanding the mounted and motors units are threefold, according to the police department:
Injuries to mounted patrol officers doubled over the past four years and motorcycle officers also have been injured.
Police say they want to focus their attention on distracted driving because hundreds of pedestrians and bicyclists have been injured in crashes with vehicles and six have been killed over the last two years. Many of the cases have been attributed to distracted driving..
There’s been an upward trend in calls for police services, and shifting these officers’ roles will allow them to respond more quickly to a wider range of calls.
The highly visible units have been popular in the community and some said they’re disappointed to see them go.
Axtell said he made the decisions “after considerable research and deliberation.”
“As good stewards of the public’s trust and resources, we have to do everything possible to streamline efforts to keep our community safe, reduce response times and engage the community,” Axtell wrote in a Wednesday email to the department. “I also have an obligation to keep officers safe.”
If you read between the lines: Distracted driving is the real reason they are pulling the plug. Fucked up deal, put more teeth in the laws, instead of a simple $50 fine, nail them with a 1K fine and lose of driving privileges.
Agreed! Current fines for driving and texting, are a joke. $1000 for 1st offense, and $5000 for second, Third is license suspension. To many riders are getting hit, by distracted drivers, texting about "useless" bullshit. Apparently, our legislators, don't really take this issue very serious, as most fines are lucky to be about $100, or just a warning! Maybe if they experienced the loss of a friend or family member, due to a distracted driver, they would wake up. Absolutely, this should be a topic for discussion, to all candidates, during the next election.
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