Florence Alabama Police Department's top priority is the public's safety when making decisions.

The Florence Alabama Police Department released the following information and photo in response to recent complaint:

"The police department recently received a complaint about the attached vehicle making a traffic stop in the City of Florence.

The complainant seemed to be under the false impression that the Florence Police Department routinely makes traffic stops using unmarked vehicles.

This is not the case. Additionally, the complaint, which was also posted publicly, referenced “building trust” and the “escalation” of situations. These are matters that are critically important to us as well. However, any implication in this case that public trust was violated, or that the situation was unnecessarily “escalated” is misguided.

Therefore, because the matter has been made public, it is important to provide some necessary context.

The driver of this police vehicle is a sergeant assigned to our support services division. While he was stopped at a traffic light he observed an SUV run a red light and almost cause a traffic accident.

At this point, he has two choices: 1) He can sit and ignore the matter. Maybe just let an intoxicated driver continue on, or allow a reckless driver to continue on unhindered, or 2) even though he is in an unmarked vehicle and rarely makes traffic stops, he can do what I expect of him, and conduct a traffic stop and find out the cause of the driver running a red light.

At a minimum, he gets an opportunity to educate the driver, at best, his actions cause the driver to pay more attention and drive more safely.

I commend him for the decision he made.

Respectfully, at no time did our officer “escalate” the situation, nor damage trust. In fact, he had our community’s best interest in mind.

If there are situations in the future whereby an unmarked Florence Police officer attempts to stop a car that doesn’t stop immediately and continues to a safe place, and as a result faces “confrontation or arrest,” I will definitely address that matter appropriately at that time.

All such complaints and instances are taken seriously and properly investigated.

Regards,

Ron Tyler

Chief of Police"

 


 

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