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Police chief reports holiday-period arrests and traffic enforcement; council addresses neighborhood dumping
Summary
Chief Alway reported a busy holiday period — 155 traffic stops, 20 arrests (including two DUIs), 10 motor-vehicle accidents and other incidents — and council discussed recurring illegal dumping behind a local apartment complex and options such as cameras and targeted patrols.
Police Chief Alway presented the department’s holiday-period activity at the Jan. 8 council meeting, reporting a string of calls and enforcement actions and answering council questions about local concerns.
The chief said the department logged one fraud report, one sexual-assault report (details unavailable), one simple assault, eight theft reports, 10 motor-vehicle accidents, 12 pedestrian stops, 155 traffic stops and 20 arrests during the referenced period; he said two of the arrests were DUIs and that the department issued 93 motor-vehicle summonses since Dec. 18.
Council members raised recurring illegal dumping behind a local apartment complex (referred to in the meeting as "the gardens"). The chief and council discussed options including property-owner cooperation for camera access, installing cameras, targeted patrols, and pursuing warrants for repeat offenders who fail to appear in court. The chief said enforcement efforts are hampered when a suspect repeatedly misses court dates, and he described practical constraints on proving residency and ownership during enforcement.
Members also asked whether officers could focus checks on specific alleys or trash areas during nighttime patrols; the chief said the department would examine patrol routing, but noted resources and evidence limitations.
On pedestrian safety, council asked whether yellow crosswalk markers require motorists to stop; the chief confirmed drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and recommended further engagement with the state on lane configuration and stripe maintenance where the road is state-owned.
The meeting closed with routine council business and an adjournment motion.
The department’s figures are summary counts provided by the chief at the meeting; the transcript contains no detail about incident locations beyond broad categories.
