The head of the Louisville Metro Police union said Friday that the department's new traffic stop policies will endanger officers and keep them from catching criminals.
Nikolai Jilek, president of River City Lodge 616, said he was not consulted about the changes and called them "knee-jerk" measures that will "impede our safety and our work."
Without mentioning Chief Steve Conrad by name, Jilek said the policies were written "by people who have never policed or who have forgotten" about how quickly situations change on the streets.
Jilek spoke to reporters in front of the police memorial in downtown's Jefferson Square, where he warned the policy changes could cost officers their lives.
Conrad said earlier Friday that officers will continue to make traffic stops in high crime areas but that they must be based on a “reasonable belief” that the motorist has, is or is about to commit a crime.
The changes, which go into effect Aug. 1, say removing motorists from cars, patting them down and handcuffing them should not be employed “as a matter of routine” and should only be done based on factors that include the motorist’s behavior, size and history of assaulting officers or fleeing.
Jilek objected to requiring that officers consider a subject's size, saying "just because someone is smaller doesn't mean they aren't dangerous."
He said another change — that "generally only two units should respond to a traffic stop" because "having too many officers on-scene can cause undo public concern" — also puts officers at risk.
He also said officers are less likely to find contraband if drivers and passengers are allowed to remain in their vehicles, possibly obscuring drugs or firearms.
More...
