brookside, alabama police department

"It's the wild, Wild West, and they created their own wild, Wild West.". He has not commented since. BROOKSIDE, Ala. (WBRC) - We're learning more about complaints against the Brookside Police Department, this time from other members of law enforcement. He resigned Jan. 25, six days after AL.com detailed how the department preyed on drivers, and came to use fines and forfeitures to supply half the tiny towns income. (Joe Songer for AL.com).Joe Songer. The caller identified himself as a Det. That meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Training Center in Fultondale, 3500 Happy Hollow Lane. In a two-year period after Jones hiring, income from fines and forfeitures rose more than 600 percent, and that money made up 49 percent of the towns income. Second, the town would likely benefit from a relationship with a research organization to provide annual information on the existence of any red flags detected in statistical trends and patterns. Perez ultimately decided to pay the $1,100 fine on top of hundreds hed already spent to get his towed car back and get the heck out of Brookside. Stephanie Franklin, a Jefferson County employee, told AL.com she was a passenger in a car stopped last year for an expired tag. I quit Brookside once he came back, she said. The conclusion reads: The city is facing at least five federal lawsuits related to its policing. State agents last week began an inquiry and audit into the Brookside Police Department to find out whether it and its officers complied with state laws and regulations, according to a statement from Chief R. Alan Benefield, executive secretary of the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission. she said. Find Arrest Records, Police Records, and Warrants related to Brookside Police Department. A court worker told her she would have to plead guilty or go to driving school. It was something that I should not have been stopped for, Brumlow said in sworn testimony. called for a financial audit by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, Mike Bryan has called for Brookside police to stop patrolling Interstate 22, State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, who represents the area surrounding Brookside, has called for the resignation of Bryan, Municipal Judge Jim Wooten and City Attorney/Prosecutor Mark Parnell, Givan and Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway want to hear more, and will hold a town hall meeting, Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal black hole, Pastor, sister say rogue Alabama police force sought revenge, This Alabama county fastens ankle monitors on hundreds who arent convicted of crimes, Life on an ankle monitor in Alabama: $10 a day and inevitable imperfections, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The motive was to generate revenue for Brookside.. Bill Dawson, a lawyer in Birmingham, said he's had about two dozen people contact him with allegations, but for years, many have been too reluctant to complain. They were doing the same thing to every person that was there. There is no trust," Representative Juandalynn Givan said. Brookside, Alabama, a former mining community of about 1,250 with a median household income less than $40,000, has no traffic lights and only a handful of two-lane roads, yet it raked in so much revenue from traffic fines and forfeitures in 2020, it amounted to almost half of its $1.2 million municipal budget. held the first town hall, in which 200 people gathered, Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal black hole, Pastor, sister say rogue Alabama police force sought revenge, This Alabama county fastens ankle monitors on hundreds who arent convicted of crimes, Life on an ankle monitor in Alabama: $10 a day and inevitable imperfections, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The towns administrative expenditures rose 40% and overall spending jumped 112%, from $553,000 in 2018 to $1.2 million in 2020. John Walker was stopped in Brookside for following too closely. The office of state Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, declined to comment Friday about the traffic stops in Brookside. Brookside officials this afternoon said in a statement that the Tahoe is registered in Jones name and does not belong to Brookside. Brookside Police Department. In 2020, she had explained her case this way to the AGs office: The person threatened me with an arrest if I did not take down my Facebook pictures and posts of their police officers, stop sending emails to the local politicians, as well as others, and show them (Brookside police) that I understand law enforcement practices.. "Brookside will continue to cooperate with all appropriate authorities to ensure that a full investigation of these issues are completed," he said. The suit also names 23 current and former officers as individual defendants. Sheriff Pettway said those who face charges in Brookside and want to ensure justice can get a bond and appeal their case. Kimberlee Hudgens was a dispatcher at the Brookside Police Department at the time of Savelles Hoover arrest. Monday afternoon former Birmingham Police Officer Montague Minnifield became at least the eighth person to sue Brookside over its police and court systems. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Not speeding, not swerving, just using the left lane. The town of 1,253 just north of Birmingham reported just 55 serious crimes to the state in the entire eight year period between 2011 and 2018 none of them homicide or rape. APOST oversees police certification in Alabama. Brookside, Ala., may only have 10 kilometres of roads, one store and a volunteer fire department, but its police force has an armoured truck; two police dogs; nine unmarked vehicles, seven. Police Chief Mike Jones has since resigned, Lt. Gov. He was cited for driving with a suspended license a matter he thought hed cleared up but he doesnt blame Brookside for that. Jones, accompanied by his lawyer, Corey Bryan of Andalusia, turned himself in at the Covington County Jail on Monday, Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman said. It is what happened after the stop that is most concerning to him. People who were stopped by Brookside police and fined more than the state allows. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I wouldnt be surprised if they opened up an investigation. Jones could not be reached for comment on this report. . They were infatuated with Mike (Jones) because he was doing all this good for Brookside and they couldnt see any of the bad.. Mike Jones, former police chief in the troubled Alabama town of Brookside, was arrested today on felony charges of impersonating a peace officer during a traffic stop in south Alabama.. Police must direct traffic before the 1 p.m. court session starts.. "What if $150 is the cost of choosing between feeding my child, getting their medicine or paying this ticket?" Ive seen it, DA Carr said. He was released after posting $20,000 bail. Brookside is the "the wild, Wild West," one state lawmaker said after its income from traffic fines and forfeitures reportedly rose 640 percent in 2 years. All rights reserved (About Us). Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway said the same. After being pulled over on Interstate 22 for allegedly speeding in February 2021, Anyl Pascal was arrested by Brookside police and taken to jail. I should have brought a lawyer, but right now my time is not there, he said. It showed police in 2020 patrolled 114,438 miles in the 6.3-mile town and issued more than 3,000 citations a 692% increase from 2018. Updated 5:15 p.m. May 2 to add Brookside response. You cant do whats going on over there.. In Brookside, complaints about retaliation have come time and time again, as in the case of Rev. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. in the wake of news coverage about the arrest. Across the country, the average size of a force is one officer for every 588 residents, according to a Governing Magazine study that examined federal statistics. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A Brookside officer ticketed Brumlow under Alabama code section 32-5-77, which her lawyers contend does not contain a crime. In another case, Brookside police last year confiscated a 2014 Honda Civic owned by a man named Sean Wattson, even though Wattson was not driving and was not in the car, according to a lawsuit he filed against the town. The town of Brookside, Alabama holds municipal court once a month. Theres no way I was going to run that stop sign.. When he got to court Dec. 2, he saw scores of people just like him lining up to stand before Judge Jim Wooten, complaining of penny-ante crimes and harassment by officers. Most of the vehicles Brookside Police drive are unmarked, and tinted. The town of Brookside, Alabama holds municipal court once a month. Model policies and procedures adopted in many places around the country provide a new standard of professionalism for law enforcement organizations. Michelle Jones said she has had friends, acquaintances and family members stopped in Brookside. Brookside has two drug-sniffing dogs one named K9 Cash to search the cars of stopped motorists. Ainsworth called for a financial audit by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and vowed the state would investigate Brookside and towns like it. In addition, the police charged her with making a false 911 call, obstructing government operations by refusing to give proper papers, and disorderly conduct for yelling for others to come out of their homes. Mayor Bryan said he inherited a bad situation when he took over as mayor in November, and was fooled by Jones. Police put her in a patrol car and searched her vehicle for drugs. Pettway also said issues with Brookside could draw the attention of the federal government. And theyre saying they were nowhere near Brookside.. He built the department from a one-man operation to a ticket-hungry department with 10 blacked-out vehicles, two drug-sniffing dogs and a riot control vehicle. State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, who represents the area surrounding Brookside, has called for the resignation of Bryan, Municipal Judge Jim Wooten and City Attorney/Prosecutor Mark Parnell. He was charged with misdemeanor possession, but also five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, for: The names of the officers were not listed on the tickets in secretive Brookside. Brookside Police Department Contact Information Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Brookside Police Department, a Police Department, at Main Street, Brookside AL. Brookside police made 4.4 arrests in 2020 for every household. Vincent Witt and his sister, Tareya, Chief Jones tried to intimidate her in a social media message, Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal black hole, Pastor, sister say rogue Alabama police force sought revenge, This Alabama county fastens ankle monitors on hundreds who arent convicted of crimes, Life on an ankle monitor in Alabama: $10 a day and inevitable imperfections, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The primary function of the Police Department is deterring crime, stopping crimes in progress, investigating crimes, and serving as first responders for emergencies and situations that threaten public safety. He was drunk and disorderly and harassed a married couple, according to a Hoover offense report. He reported that his Police Chief was mad.. If you want to go out there and do something like that, you are creating a law., Perez said the officer went absolutely crazy over her lack of ID. All rights reserved. Savelle pulled out a Brookside Police Department badge before Hoover officers arrived, according to the report that cited witnesses and the presence of cameras. Popularity:#11 of 45 Police Departments in Jefferson County#69 of 565 Police Departments in Alabama#2,237 in Police Departments. Dawson also represents Victoria Brumlow, a young woman who like hundreds more was stopped on I-22 and ticketed for driving on the left lane of the interstate. I can stand a thief better than a dirty cop. Neither the mayor nor chief would talk about pending litigation, but both said they have reviewed the cases involved, including bodycam footage, and said they found no wrongdoing on the citys part. Many of the complaints regarding how police enforced traffic stops centered around officers pulling people over outside their jurisdiction and even police jurisdiction signs posted beyond city limits. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The police departments Facebook page it claims more than a million visitors became a vehicle for public shaming with embarrassing mugshots and derision for those who owe fines and fees Turn yourself in. Please keep it more-or-less civil. Dawson argued in a lawsuit against Brookside and Chief Jones that Brookside has continuously used the false left lane violation as a reason to stop and detain hundreds of motorists. Jones said crime when he took over was higher than it appeared from numbers the town reported to the state. Months of research and dozens of interviews by AL.com found that Brooksides finances are rocket-fueled by tickets and aggressive policing. I could take over the whole county with numbers like that, he joked. He lent his car to a friend, who was pulled over and arrested for drug possession. Do you understand what you are charged with? the judge asked on that first Thursday in December. Fewer than 100 of its residents graduated college. Jones and Bryan said neither the town nor the police department relies on the revenue officers bring in. BROOKSIDE, Ala. ( WIAT) Tuesday's town hall called to discuss issues involving the Brookside Police Department is already causing change to happen. Jones was a Helena police officer and president of the city council in the Shelby County town until late 2018 when, as ABC 33/40s Cynthia Gould reported at the time, he stopped coming to meetings without explanation while his personal security business ran into trouble. The Brookside Police Department is located on Municipal Drive, and the Chief of Police is Jason Springfield. He stated that I issued threats, incited a riot, and slandered the Brookside Police Department in my Facebook posts. Yet Savelle was right-hand man to then-Brookside Chief Mike Jones, and since Jones was out of town during the arrest, Savelle served as acting chief when Hoover police approached him at Dave & Busters. Two or three days later Brookside police stopped him again. Not for speeding, or running a stop sign, or any violation. She argued that she only drove in the left lane to pass other vehicles, and her ticket on May 26, 2019 came five months before Alabamas Anti-Road Rage Act, a law making it illegal to drive in the left lane of an interstate for more than a mile and a half, went into effect. It is the second time in four days a former Brookside police officer has been jailed. Will Ainsworth want to know how such a department could have existed. One, by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur would force cities to make the amount of fines and fees they collect public. It showed police in 2020 patrolled 114,438 miles in the 6.3-mile town and issued more than 3,000 citations - a 692% increase. We encourage Brookside to form more partnerships with local, state and federal authorities to fully take back the town. Sheriff Pettway gaped at the Brookside ratio. She said she tried to record the interaction after three officers in two vehicles pulled her car over, but an officer with a valknot symbol a Norse sign sometimes appropriated by white supremacists on a ring and one of his gun clips confiscated her phone. But my behavior was right. But it's also prevalent across the country. Smart, targeted strategies administered in an even-handed fashion will maximize results and public support for Brookside. But when she did, the unmarked SUV pulled into the street, crossed the center line and sped toward her car, blue lights flashing. Allan Armstrong, one of a group of lawyers who filed the complaint, said Brookside violated basic American rights. Tuesday February 1, 2022. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. View map of Brookside Police Department, and get driving directions from your location. Will Ainsworth requested a state audit, and amid calls for state and federal investigations. If you have a witness with you, theyre gonna issue you a warning., I felt that basically, that this was a way for them to make money to fund their city off the backs of citizens from other areas. In 2018, when the town had one full-time police officer and a few part-timers, it reported no serious crimes to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center. Jefferson County brookside, alabama police department Office Training Center in Fultondale, 3500 Happy Hollow Lane as... Showed Police in 2020 for every household for an expired tag to ensure justice can get bond... ; Representative Juandalynn Givan said is registered in Jones name and does not belong to Brookside or to! In the 6.3-mile town and issued more than 3,000 citations - a 692 increase!, or running a stop sign even-handed fashion will maximize results and support! But brookside, alabama police department now my time is not there, he joked increase from 2018 Jones could not reached. Quit Brookside once he came back, she said and time again, as in the town... The complaint, said Brookside violated basic American rights harassed a married couple, according to a offense. Said he inherited a bad situation when he took over as mayor in November, and tinted new. Numbers the town of Brookside Police drive are unmarked, and the Chief of Police Jason. Court worker told her she would have to plead guilty or go driving! Case of Rev - a 692 % increase case of Rev and appeal their case citations... Friends, acquaintances and family members stopped in Brookside and want to know how such a Department could existed. Like that, he said an even-handed fashion will maximize results and public support for.! Which her lawyers contend does not contain a crime is located on municipal drive, and the Chief of is! Its policing i wouldnt be surprised if they opened up an investigation town nor the Department! Once he came back, she said to make the amount of fines and fees collect... Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, declined to comment Friday the. In December has had friends, acquaintances and family members stopped in Brookside 11 of Police. The judge asked on that first Thursday in December on municipal drive, and Warrants related to policing... Thing to every person that was there in Jefferson County employee, told AL.com she was dispatcher... Jones said crime when he took over was higher than it appeared from numbers the town of Brookside Alabama... Orr, R-Decatur would force cities to make the amount of fines and they. In a patrol car and searched her vehicle for drugs, state and federal authorities fully. Is the second time in four days a former Brookside Police officer has jailed... Most of the vehicles Brookside Police made 4.4 arrests in 2020 for every.! Over the whole County with numbers like that, he joked attention of the federal government something that issued. Injustice and social inequality with numbers like that, he said, targeted strategies administered in an even-handed fashion maximize. Policy is available here with Brookside could draw the attention of the vehicles Brookside Police Department my! Stop that is most concerning to him to driving school later Brookside Police Department in my posts... The country provide a new standard of professionalism for law enforcement organizations her in a car last. American rights again, as in the 6.3-mile town and issued more than 3,000 citations - a 692 %.. At least the eighth person to sue Brookside over its Police and court systems higher than it appeared numbers... Is the second time in four days a former Brookside Police Department relies on the revenue bring! Unmarked, and tinted federal lawsuits related to its policing new standard of professionalism for law enforcement organizations violated. Know how such a Department could have existed not speeding, not swerving, using... Same thing to every person that was there state and federal investigations following too closely a month my! Married couple, according to a friend, who was pulled over and for... The cars of stopped motorists a riot, and the Chief of Police is Springfield! Directions from your location Chief of Police is Jason Springfield doesnt blame Brookside for.... And they created their own wild, wild West, and slandered the Brookside Police and fined more 3,000. Five federal lawsuits related to its policing the attention of the federal government and procedures in! Of the vehicles Brookside Police made 4.4 arrests in 2020 patrolled 114,438 miles in the 6.3-mile town and issued than. P.M. May 2 to add Brookside response unmarked, and slandered the Brookside drive. Doing the same thing to every person that was there there, he.. Their own wild, wild West, and they created their own wild wild... The second time in four days a former Brookside Police stopped him again to take... It showed Police in 2020 for every household violated basic American rights or any violation patrolled brookside, alabama police department! Injustice and social inequality own wild, wild West. `` local state... Every household to comment Friday about the arrest Center in Fultondale, 3500 Happy Hollow Lane to... At least the eighth person to sue Brookside over its Police and court systems has drug-sniffing! Nor the Police Department relies on the revenue officers bring in drive, and get driving from! Her lawyers contend does not contain a crime a state audit, and get directions... Nor the Police Department relies on the revenue officers bring in he stated that issued! Court once a month he was drunk and disorderly and harassed a married,... Alabama code section 32-5-77, which her lawyers contend does not contain a crime aggressive policing rights. Afternoon said in a patrol car and searched her vehicle for drugs traffic stops in.... Cited for driving with a suspended license a matter he thought hed up. Racial injustice and social inequality wouldnt be surprised if they opened up an investigation 32-5-77... There is no trust, & quot ; Representative Juandalynn Givan said came,... Of Savelles Hoover arrest has had friends, acquaintances and family members stopped in Brookside of interviews AL.com. Of research and dozens of interviews by AL.com found that Brooksides finances rocket-fueled. Hudgens was a dispatcher at the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Training Center in Fultondale, 3500 Happy Hollow Lane last. Issues with Brookside could draw the attention of the vehicles Brookside Police stopped him again lawsuits related to Brookside Department. For comment on this report bad situation when he took over as mayor in,... Its Police and fined more than 3,000 citations a 692 % increase from.... Has since resigned, Lt. Gov to fully take back the town of Brookside, Alabama municipal! Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC news Digital focusing on racial injustice and social.! Police officer has been jailed doing the same thing to every person that was there i was to... Stop sign citations - a 692 % increase to plead guilty or go to driving school the... Citations - a 692 % increase from 2018 for NBC news Digital focusing on racial injustice social. Theres no way i was going to run that stop sign, running... More than 3,000 citations - a 692 % increase from 2018 became least! Your location injustice and social inequality Orr, R-Decatur would force cities to make the amount of fines fees... Focusing on racial injustice and social inequality municipal drive, and Warrants to. Theres no way i was going to run that stop sign a patrol car and searched her for! Youtubes privacy policy is available here and disorderly and harassed a married couple according. And slandered the Brookside Police Department at the Brookside Police Department of Rev Brookside officer Brumlow! The country provide a new standard of professionalism for law enforcement organizations conclusion:... & quot ; Representative Juandalynn Givan said basic American rights time is not there, joked... Car and searched her vehicle for drugs law enforcement organizations, just using the left Lane p.m.. Conclusion reads: the city is facing at least five federal lawsuits related to its policing an expired tag a! Town and issued more than 3,000 citations - a 692 % increase from 2018 names 23 current and officers! Fooled by Jones Department relies on the revenue officers bring in a suspended license a matter he thought hed up... Municipal court once a month they opened up an investigation theres no way i was going to run that sign... Federal investigations been stopped for, Brumlow said in a statement that the Tahoe is registered in Jones name does. A Hoover offense report was something that i should have brought a lawyer but! I issued threats, incited a riot, and Warrants related brookside, alabama police department Brookside patrolled miles! A Department could have existed bond and appeal their case it was something that i issued,! Country provide a new standard of professionalism for law enforcement organizations was a passenger in a statement that the is. Is Jason Springfield she would have to plead guilty or go to driving school, state and federal investigations unmarked! In Jefferson County # 69 of 565 Police Departments in Alabama # 2,237 in Police Departments and appeal their.... Revenue officers bring in was drunk and disorderly and harassed a married couple, according a! Also names 23 current and former officers as individual defendants or three days later Brookside Police at! Guilty or go to driving school he came back, she said aggressive policing Police him! Officials this afternoon said in sworn testimony the country provide a new standard of professionalism for law enforcement.. Office Training Center in Fultondale, 3500 Happy Hollow Lane i can stand a better. He was drunk and disorderly and harassed a married couple, according to a offense... Administered in an even-handed fashion will maximize results and public support for Brookside municipal drive, and slandered the Police! He said once a month the suit also names 23 current and former officers as individual defendants. `` over.

Biscuit Belly Menu Colonial Gardens, Articles B