Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Springfield Ward 7 Alderman Brad Carlson wonders if Springfield Police are doing enough to try to prevent accidents like the one this week on Wabash Avenue that killed a 60-year-old Springfield woman.
Carlson asked Springfield Police Chief Joe Behl about that this week.
“I don’t know if it’s (more) cameras or of it’s just more ‘wolfpack patrols’ without announcing them or something,” said Carlson. “It seems like it’s getting worse, in light of the last few days. Those people had to be going at a high rate of speed.”
“(Wolfpack patrols) it’s something we did earlier in the year,” said Behl. “We teamed up with our law enforcement partners in the area — Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police — to kind of do details like that on those main thoroughfares.”
Behl says those patrols do work, but some of them will have to be accounted for in the department’s budget.
Many of those special patrols have to be announced ahead of time, while others do not.
Carlson asked if Springfield Police even has enough officers to do those patrols on their own, or at other times.
“We’re trending in the right direction,” said Behl. “As of last Monday, we added 15 officers to our ranks. That brings our number right now to, I believe, right at 253. Authorized strength being 269 (officers).”
Other aldermen suggested utilizing agreements with digital billboard providers and other means to put out public service messages warning of potential crashes, even as some aldermen suggested that they’re sure speed or cell phone usage behind the wheel may be contributing factors.
