Video: New Waukesha Police Officer Sworn In
Additional staffing levels will help police department step up traffic enforcement.
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Do you find yourself driving a little fast in Waukesha? Are you a fan of the rolling “California” stop at stop signs and traffic lights?
Watch out, because with the hiring of two additional police officers, the Waukesha Police Department is cracking down on traffic violations.
The targeted traffic enforcement program is in effect in February, but officers already have been working with the program on a voluntary basis as of Jan. 1, Police Chief Russell Jack said.
“We have a huge traffic problem in the city of Waukesha that needed to be addressed, numerous violations that result in traffic crashes throughout the city,” Jack said.
Officers will take rotating shifts dedicated to traffic enforcement in the city and will be watching for speeding, stop sign and traffic signal violations.
“These are not the only people doing traffic enforcement,” Jack said. “We encourage officers at any available time during their shift to conduct traffic enforcement.”
The Common Council approved the hiring of the additional officers during the 2011 budget process. The two new officers – David Gawrisch and Michelle Enderle – will begin a 13-week recruit school at Milwaukee Area Technical College before being sworn into office.
Additionally, Darin Wittnebel, was sworn in Monday by the city clerk/treasurer, Tom Neill, due to a turnover in the police department.
The three new officers will be given experience in all areas of law enforcement, so all police officers in the department will be placed on the dedicated traffic enforcement, Jack said.
“The whole goal of this program is to reduce traffic crashes,” Jack said. “We do expect to see a reduction in traffic crashes in the city of Waukesha, which makes our city much more safe.”
Gregg Wandsneider
11:33 pm on Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Unfortunately, I think this is going to be one more reason for my friends, who are not from Waukesha, to not come out here. I know that police officers read this and I want them to know that I am very respectful of all the ways that the police department enriches our community. I just feel like their are too many "ticky tack" violations such as driving with a revoked license or not having one's car insurance up to date. I would also wonder if the officers go through any sort of civility training as a part of the academy. Are they taught to be a little abracive when they stop people for traffic stops? This is something I genuinely want to know. just my .02 for what it's worth. Signed: the blind guy.
Diane G
8:05 pm on Monday, January 24, 2011
I think it is great that the police are adding more officers and addressing the traffic situation. I live by North High School and I have seen a lot of people who do not even stop at the stop sign on Michigan Avenue, they go right through it. There are young children in the neighborhood due to Lowell School and the park right along Michigan, and I would hate to see a child hurt or killed because people are not stopping. Also, and I have seen this a lot in the intersection of Moreland and Delafield Street where someone will be stopped at the red light and decide to turn around and they do it right in the intersection. They do not go down the street turn around and come back through the light, they just turn around right in the intersection. That happens a lot all over town. I don't know what people are thinking, do they not realize that when their light is green so is the on coming traffic light as well? I guess too many people are in a hurry nowadays. Grandview Blvd is one place that has a lot of speeding. I can do 35-40 mph and people are flying past me. Sunset Drive is another place where people like to drive fast. I have a son who has his license only a month and I will tell you I am terrified when he drives because of all the drivers who drive too fast, don't pay attention to the road because of talking on their cell phones, or who just don't obey the traffic laws. Life is short the way it is, lets not make it any shorter. Everyone deserves to be safe.
Andria Loeffler
8:39 pm on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Diane, everyone does deserve to be safe on or off the road.
There need to be more officers on the streets. Michigan Ave, Summit Ave, Wisconsin Avenue, Moreland, Delafield, Main Street, Barstow, Grandview, Grand Ave, Broadway/East Ave, and Sunset (OMG) to name a few. Some which you mentioned above need to be watched more. Sometimes, I feel like some drivers with licenses do not know how to drive from failure to stop at a stop light, inattentive driving, improper lane change, speeding, and tailgating...
I know what it was like to have a friend in '88 struck by a motorist on Moreland/Michgan. She was crossing on Moreland. It was horrifying when I went to see her in the hospital. At first I couldn't walk into her room. She did live. She does have the difficulty with walking and is living her life. However, at the time she missed over half the semester of middle school. There were bad drivers back than. It seems to have gotten a lot worse.
I haven't seen the cell phones while driving. I have seen the cordless phone devices which I think are just as bad as texting and cell phones.