Police: Traffic stops down 80% in Columbus
According to a study, there were more than 3,000 traffic stops in January 2019 compared to less than 500 for January 2021. Author: Lacey Crisp Updated: 5:10 PM EDT June 3, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio Columbus police have seen an 80% drop in traffic stops in 2021 compared to 2019.
According to police, fewer people were getting pulled over.
“The magnitude of the drop was rather surprising,” said Columbus Police Acting Commander Tim Myers.
But what impact does that have, and why are there fewer stops?
In March 2020, people stayed because of state health orders. Streets were empty. Traffic stops fell significantly.
Then, protests broke out downtown. Officers were diverted to maintain peace.
During last year s protests and riots against racial injustice and police use of force, helicopter became a dirty word for the Columbus Division of Police.
Hundreds of residents and some city officials began criticizing the cost, noise, intrusiveness and military feel of the city s helicopter fleet, with some protesters saying it should be eliminated as part of review of all division spending.
Despite that, a divided Columbus City Council on Monday approved a nearly $900,000 maintenance contract for the division s five helicopters for another year. The council voted 4-2, with President Shannon Hardin absent, to extend the maintenance contract with Helicopter Minit-Men, Inc.
And more changes are coming. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther s is expected to name a new police chief this week the first ever to be hired from outside the division s ranks.
But the changes in the last year are a drop in the bucket compared to what needs to be done, according to local activists.
Hana Abdur-Rahim, an organizer with the Black Abolitionist Collective of Ohio, called the city’s actions performative. She said community members have pushed for a civilian police review board for years, and she believes it’s telling that the city didn’t move forward with it until after Floyd’s death.
Being led by Smith is the best a fire-science student can hope for, 23-year-old Andrew Chappelear said.
“She is straight and to the point and tells you everything like it is,” said Chappelear, who was among the students going through their live-fire exercises earlier this month as one of the last steps toward earning their Ohio firefighting credentials. “Everything she tells us is something we will take directly into our career. Watching the fire was definitely mesmerizing, and she was like, ‘Let’s go! Let’s go!’ She’s great.”
That happened to be a student talking about Smith and her work at Columbus State, where she is an adjunct professor. But the sentiment is the same no matter whom you talk to.