When it comes to interacting with police officers the most discouraging feeling you can have is uncertainty. For years we have watched countless people of color being beaten, harassed and in some cases murdered by those who have sworn to protect them. In response to this behavior many law enforcement officers have taken it upon themselves to try to restore the faith that has been lost. The relationship between the public and police cannot exist without trust so, we traveled to both, Athens-Clarke County Police Department and  University of Georgia Police Department, to determine how they plan to maintain a positive relationship with the public while, ensuring the safety of the community and its citizens.

Christa Evans, a student at the University of Georgia, says her main concern  is  with understanding the  average procedure for a traffic stop. “How am I suppose to know if I’m being taken advantage of…what should I expect,” said Evans while, describing her last encounter with police.

ACCPD’s Public Information Officer Epifanio Rodriguez says when it comes to traffic stops the public can rest easy – “they got cameras.” In order to keep both citizens and officers accountable for their actions, all ACC police officers who work the roads or directly with the public wear a body camera.

Although, Athens-Clarke County police do not have a step-by-step procedure when it comes traffic stops,  Georgia Law does give officers discretion when it comes to minor traffic violations.

Despite the fact, that traffic violations are considered a misdemeanor one could still be arrested for something as minuscule as a busted tail light. However, it is the officer’s decision as to whether to arrest you, issue a citation or just let you go all together so, depending on your attitude you could walk away with a  warning.

Officer Russell Davis of the University of Georgia Police Department says the department has taken similar actions when it comes to regulating motor vehicles in the area.

In 2005, UGAPD established their very own unit dedicated to roadway safety. This unit, formally known as the Traffic Unit, is composed of officers who have been trained to handle any and every traffic related incidents or accident investigations.

Unlike ACC, Officer Davis says that UGA does have a basic procedure when it comes to traffic stops and all UGA police officers within the Traffic Unit are expected to follow  and use them.

 

Recent UGA Graduate Tells His Story

Contrary to what some may think, Evans isn’t the only UGA student who has had a negative interaction with authorities. A UGA alumnus, who has asked to remain anonymous, says that he was driving in the car with his friends when authorities pulled him over back in January 2016. This UGA graduate was uncomfortable specifying what police department pulled him over however, he did say the exchange felt, “unnecessary”.

This anonymous source says the officer demanded everyone’s identification but his and then proceeded to question his friends, whom were African American, about them throwing snow  off the side of the vehicle. This source says the officer questioned his friends for what felt like hours just as a Caucasian couple was walking by.

The officer then began to demand one of the passengers apologize to the couple but this source says they weren’t anywhere near them when snow was being thrown, “…by the time they walked by we were already out of the car.” The couple, who looked very uneasy with the situation, tried to reassure the officer that they were not hit with anything but the officer continued in his pursuit.

During this awkward exchange the source says the officer became upset  when his friend questioned the officer’s request but eventually gave in and apologized to the couple.

It was then that the officer requested the source’s license, “…I didn’t even have it either,” the source said.

Once the officer realized that he didn’t have it the source says he was shocked to hear the officer dismiss this issue and simply told him, “not to worry about it.” The group of friends were then told they were free to go.

 

Athens-Clarke County’s Response to the Ordeal

“Our job is to go out there and make sure motorist are driving safely on the road whether that person be Caucasian American or African American,”  said Rodriguez when asked about profiling drivers and their vehicles. Although, he has only been working for the department for six months Officer Rodriguez says that the safety of Athens-Clarke County citizens is their first priority.

Rodriguez also encourages the source to come forward with his complaint no matter what police department it is. “If there is ever a situation in which the officer is in the wrong you should file a complaint.”

ACCPD has also created a Transparency Policy page on their website where data and information related to crime statistics, law enforcement actions and much more will be displayed.  This information is updated once at the end of every month and will begin to expand fairly soon.

 

Jurisdiction and Hopes for the Future

Students also shared their concerns when it cames to legal jurisdiction on campus. UGA student and Athens resident Briana Clark says, “Receiving a ticket is one thing but when I’m on campus who can legally issue a traffic citation?” Although, she has never seen ACCPD issue a traffic citation on campus grounds, Clark says their presence has not gone unnoticed.

Although, both Officer Rodriguez and Officer Davis agree that the relationship between ACCPD and UGAPD is “very” good the University took the next step in making their verbal agreement permanent with the Mutual Aid Agreement.

Since UGA’s main campus falls within the Athens-Clarke County jurisdiction, the University has incorporated the local department in the University’s Local Emergency Operation Plan (LEOP). In times of uncertainty this agreement ensures that the emergency at hand is not over-shadowed by controlled barriers. This agreement has proven to be very effective back in January when UGA bomb disposal technicians were asked to assist ACCPD in defusing a pipe bomb, that a local resident says was found on his father’s property.

Both ACCPD and UGAPD  hope that their relationship with the community will continue to flourish as time goes on. “We just want to keep everyone safe.”