Traffic Services
For the Traffic Services Section, 2007 was again a very busy year. In addition to the routine traffic enforcement duties, this section also planned, coordinated, and participated in over 105 special events. Officers were also very busy working numerous construction zones and complaint areas throughout the city.
The Red Light Camera program implemented in May 2004 continues to be a valid community program by reducing the number of red light violations in 2007. A total of 5,045 citations were issued in 2007, up from 4,779 in 2006.
The Traffic Case Investigators handled 1,515 cases involving hit-and-run crashes, reckless driving complaints, and serious injury or fatality crashes. Traffic Officers also investigated and reconstructed six separate fatality crashes in 2007 that resulted in seven deaths.
All members of the section worked on a wide array of duties during 2007 to include, but are not limited to:
- 25 house moves
- 525 funeral escorts
- Provided security or traffic control for over 75 special events in downtown Sioux Falls, various parks, bike trails, and the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds
The Traffic Section made application for and was again awarded a grant from the State of South Dakota’s Office of Highway Safety for the enforcement of the seatbelt laws and to remove the drinking and impaired driver from the road. With the grant, in 2007 Traffic Services conducted 10 separate Saturation Patrols, down one from 2006. With an average of 8 additional officers working these patrols, 72 individuals were arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), up 2 from 2006; 328 seatbelt citations were written, up from 265 in 2006; and 1,596 citations were issued for various driving violations, up from 1,201 in 2006.
The Traffic Services Section is also responsible for patrolling the city’s park system. Three Parks Officers along with Traffic Services Section patrol and monitor the parks, enforcing the laws as necessary. The officers utilize motorcycles, an ATV, and marked patrol units to cover the 23 miles of bike trails, Great Bear Ski Resort, and five Community Centers throughout the city. The Parks Officers also assist traffic officers working special events, funeral escorts, and enforcement projects throughout the year.
The Motor Unit, which operates under the Traffic Services banner, consists of seven Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycles. They are utilized daily, seven months of the year. The Motor Unit is involved in traffic enforcement, funeral escorts, special events, patrolling the city’s bike trails, and assisting the Parks Officers as needed.
The South Dakota Law Enforcement Training Center provided funding in 2007 for an 80-hour Police Motorcycle Operators course and two 16-hour recertification courses. Lt. Jerome Miller and Officer Bret Hamlyn from the Traffic Services Section were the instructors for the courses. Seven police officers attended the training from Aberdeen PD, Rapid City PD, Sioux Falls PD, Brookings PD, and Sheridan, Wyoming, PD. Eighteen police officers from Madison PD, Sioux Falls PD, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Brookings PD, and Fargo, North Dakota, PD completed the 16-hour recertification courses.
Three SFPD Motor Officers attended an Advanced Police Motorcycle Training class in Englewood, Colorado, in late May. This was only the second time a course of this type has been offered in our region. The officers found it was an intense week of advanced team riding, slow cone riding, and shooting skills. They all agreed it greatly improved their skills and awareness, making them better riders and officers.
