The investigation into whether or not the Jacksonville Police Department (JPD) has been operating illegal speed traps in efforts to raise revenue is apparently not a new issue. Douglas Now learned Monday that the department has faced at least one other similar investigation by the Georgia Dept. of Public Safety which, in 2014, determined the agency not only operated speed detection equipment illegally, but the former police chief blantantly lied about the matter when confronted.
A February 27, 2014 letter to former JPD Chief Lee Bell from Public Safety Commissioner Mark W. McDonough, which was obtained by Douglas Now, states, “The Department of Public Safety has conducted an investigation into the alleged improper use of speed detection devices by the Jacksonville Police Department…The complainant alleges that JPD improperly operated speed detection devices without a permit by DPS and that you are not P.O.S.T. certified to operate speed detection devices. The DPS investigation established that the JPD did not have a completed permit application with DPS and that you have not completed the certification process in order to operate speed detection devices…Based upon these findings, I am hereby revoking JPD’S use of radar effective from the date of your receipt of this letter. In addition, I am suspending JPD’S permit application process with DPS. Please be advised that an investigator will condfuct random checks to confirm that the JPD is complying with this revocation order…Please govern your actions accordingly.”
Other documentation obtained by Douglas Now shows the 2014 investigation began when state officials were contacted by Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson, who alleged he had received complaints from multiple citizens in regards to JPD’s operation of radar. Steverson provided investigators with copies of citations written by the JPD in regards to speeding and other traffic violations.
In his case summary, the investigator stated, “I interviewed (Chief) Bell at the Jacksonville Police Department on Feb. 6, 2014. Upon Chief Bell’s arrival at the police department, I observed a radar unit on the dashboard of (his) patrol vehicle, with the power on…I asked Bell if any of his staff had used speed detection devices to obtain probable cause to initiate traffic stops within the city limits of Jacksonville. Bell initially denied the allegation, saying no tickets or warnings had been written for the offense of speeding. I asked Bell, ‘Would you be shocked if I could produce documentation that indicates you and your fellow officer have indeed stopped vehicles with the use of speed detection devices?’ Chief Bell dropped his head and replied, ‘No sir’.”
The report goes on to say that Bell explained the department had only been in operation for about three weeks and they were merely trying to advise motorists to slow down and let the public know a police force was in operation. Bell went on to confess he had not completed the requirements needed to be certified as a radar operator under state law.
The JPD remains under a current investigation after allegations surfaced from Sheriff Steverson and other complainants in regards to the department’s suspected use of illegal “speed traps.”
Current Police Chief Charles Briley has stated this investigation against his department is the result of a personal vendetta by Steverson and maintains neither he or his officers have done anything illegal or unethical.
Records show the Jacksonville Police Department issued 63 tickets in May, 2015 and collected $3,405 in fines.
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