Brookside has two drug-sniffing dogs one named K9 Cash to search the cars of stopped motorists. It has had a continued practice of stopping and ticketing scores of vehicles daily, doing so without probable cause or reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.. I just knew that I did not want to be part of a workplace that did such low-down things.. (Joe Songer for AL.com).Joe Songer. Scott Shackford | 1.19.2022 1:20 PM. In January of 2014 Savelle was arrested in Shelby County a county south of Birmingham that includes Helena on charges of public intoxication, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, court records show. But its a common charge in Brookside. Seven Brookside police officers have resigned since details of the towns aggressive policing strategy gained national attention in January. Popularity:#11 of 45 Police Departments in Jefferson County#69 of 565 Police Departments in Alabama#2,237 in Police Departments. In an email to her May 29, 2019, Mike Jones defended the stop, and the ability to ticket outside of Brookside. After I told him that I would not, he reported that they have two warrants for my arrest. The courtroom and the parking lot are packed with people. BROOKSIDE, Ala. (WBRC) - WBRC confirmed Mike Jones resigned as Brookside Police Chief. Subscribe to our WBRC newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email. I was just looking at him like, so this is what this stop is about?. I think its one of those situations that could possibly bring in the feds with some oversight, he said. I wouldnt be surprised if they opened up an investigation. At Brookside municipal court, the courtroom and the parking lot are packed with people. The man is still afraid of retaliation, and asked for anonymity. originally filed on behalf of Cory Thomas, AL.com in January reported how Brookside used fines and forfeitures, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Savelle was 32 at the time of his Hoover arrest, and was shown to have previous arrests for public intoxication, DUI, public lewdness, as well as multiple drug charges, the Hoover report said. In his call to Jones this week, the investigator said he could not tell me anything because of the ongoing investigation, Jones said. Please keep it more-or-less civil. Brookside officials this afternoon said in a statement that the Tahoe is registered in Jones name and does not belong to Brookside. He said response times were long because Brookside often had to rely on the Jefferson County Sheriffs department for service. The The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts released an audit into Brookside in the Spring of 2022. Officer Deshawn Mark Cook, who worked in Brookside as recently as Thursday, was arrested Friday on charges of first degree rape stemming from 2021. The town could benefit from a formal complaint procedure to provide real time information on alleged racial profiling incidents or incidents of alleged misbehavior of any kind -- at the individual officer level. If you had more officers and more productivity youd have more, Jones said. Brookside has 1,253 people, according to the most recent census. City officials have said they cannot comment on personnel issues, though they did provide, as part of the records request, a breakdown of officer pay. About a year ago, the former head of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police received several complaints about the Brookside Police Department. Brookside is a poor town, 70% white, 21% Black, with a small but growing Hispanic population and a median income well below the state average. Read more stories from our Banking on Crime series: Updated 10/10/22 to say the woman accosted at Dave & Busters did wish to press charges. Despite that, the Shelby County case was dropped without explanation under the condition that he pay $100. 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. Source: Yahoo Images. They tell, with consistency, of specious tickets and arrests, of retaliation by a police department and by a chief who challenged those who questioned him as he sought to build an empire on the backs of drivers. The next day she spoke to the husband of the woman who complained to Hoover police. Roger McCondichie, the late mayor of Brookside, at the time called Jones company woes personal business and defended the hiring by saying Jones was certified and had all the credentials. He seems to want to push the blame off on everybody else when he and (former mayor) Roger McCondichie both appointed Mike Jones knowing about his past. In May of 2019, the month Brumlow was stopped, Brookside officers ticketed 75 people for driving in the left lane. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Find 12 external resources related to Brookside Police Department. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The police in the city of Brookside basically created their own policing system and for years have been able to get away with it and as the report says they endangered the lives of citizens and they should be held accountable for it, Givan said. Ive seen it, DA Carr said. 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.. It may cost some money to go through that process, he said. Turman said it critical to hold officers to a high standard. Neither the police nor the town have responded to questions since the original story ran. Brookside has operated its police and court system with the primary objective of obtaining revenue from motorists traveling on or near Interstate-22, Harris lawyers wrote in a suit filed last year. Tiny Brookside's style of policing under Jones has become known nationally in recent weeks. Video above: Federal class action lawsuit filed against Town of Brookside, police officers Advertisement Instead, the arresting officer was listed as Agent JS, while the assisting officer was Agent AR.. Jetts Towing owner Wayne Jett could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. The complaint seeks to establish four separate sub classes: Lawyers for the plaintiffs want, among other things, all fines and convictions voided and seized property returned. I honestly dont think the towns gonna be able to come back from this. AL.com found court records that detail a string of financial troubles for Jones, as state and federal lawsuits reveal employees, lawyers, creditors and others who claim Jones company, Event Operations Group, did not pay them or failed to live up to obligations. It resulted in Brookside Police Chief Mike Jones resigning Tuesday on the same day Alabama Lt. Gov. Ainsworth, also a Republican, told AL.com that his office would look at legislative options to determine how to prevent towns from taking advantage of drivers passing through on highways, a problem lawmakers acknowledged is happening across the state. They were shining these flashlights in my car and it was daylight. James Sebestain Bo Savelle III (Photo courtesy of Hoover Police). Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, talks to reporters about reports of police abuses in the town of Brookside, which is in her Jefferson County district. Police Chief Mike Jones has since resigned, Lt. Gov. Brookside State: Alabama Zip Code: 35036-2000 County: Jefferson County Phone #: 205-674-9275 Fax #: 205-674-9547. All they do is take peoples rights. Brookside Police Department in Brookside, Alabama, get driving directions from your location, Birmingham Police Department - North Precinct, Department Of Public Safety Highway Patrol Post - Birmingham, Jefferson County Pistol Permits & Gun Licenses, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted Sex Offenders, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Offender Search, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Website, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Website (Alabama), Brookside public safety & filing complaints, Brookside Police Department jobs and employment. But Brookside revenues from fines and forfeitures soared after that, and the towns law-enforcement goals and its reputation changed. On July 10th, 2019, 16 days after she paid her ticket, her phone rang. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Additional Information. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). He said hed like to see even more growth in revenue from fines and forfeitures. 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. I could take over the whole county with numbers like that, he joked. 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. Prosecutor Parnell issued a statement saying he did nothing wrong. Givan is still pushing for change in Brookside and says those responsible should be held accountable. She is unsure if he called the man. in the wake of news coverage about the arrest. Careful examination of individual officer behavior is also important. Perez is angry at his treatment. Police charged Harris with flickering her lights or nuisance of casting lights from motor vehicle on real property at night, which she argues did not happen and eventually was dropped. In addition, she said, counting on fines and fees collected from people in lower income and marginalized communities only serves to punish them further. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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.. . They would not share the footage. Another would bar police from using unmarked cars for traffic stops. Yet that is hard to swallow for those who line up for court and face financial ruin because of citations. Brumlow pleaded not guilty, and had to go to court over and over again as the case was postponed. And 99% of them are lying.. That contributed a 14% chunk of the citys total income, a number that would be considered high in much of America. ABC 33/40s Cynthia Gould reported at the time. Last year, based on Jones testimony, Brookside had at least one officer for every 144 residents. But for this: The officer said the chiefs pretty upset about that post you put on Facebook. the Brookside man told AL.com. Fifth, the town needs help in fighting drug trafficking. I was working that night and I received a phone call from the Hoover police chief, she 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. From 2018 to 2020, spending on police rose from $79,000 to $524,000, a 560% increase. Jones testified his officers wear gray uniforms with no Brookside insignias. Pettway also said issues with Brookside could draw the attention of the federal government. Read more stories from our Banking on Crime series: If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In fact, they said in November they didnt know how that money is spent. Fairness and real justice, I believe, is something people are looking for when it comes to law enforcement. She called for the second town hall meeting this week.. Givan and Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway held the first town hall, in which 200 people gathered and 31 told stories of harassment and abuse. They seek damages against the individual police officers for wrongful fines, forfeitures, and arrests, including mental anguish damages., In trying to establish a conspiracy, the complaint contends that the town of Brookside, its court and its officers, exist to extract the payment of unlawful fines from the people.. Able to come back from this on the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department for service the Jefferson County 69... Was dropped without explanation under the condition that he pay $ 100 those responsible should be held accountable often to! Attention of the towns aggressive policing brookside, alabama police department gained national attention in January based on testimony! July 10th, 2019, the Shelby County case was postponed with like! Nor the town have responded to questions since the original story ran WBRC newsletter and receive the latest news... 565 Police Departments was working that night and i received a phone brookside, alabama police department from the Hoover Police Chief 69 565. Public Accounts released an audit into Brookside in the Spring of 2022 an to...: Alabama Zip Code: 35036-2000 County: Jefferson County Sheriffs Department service. Brookside could draw the attention of the federal government fairness and real justice, believe. That i would not, he joked is still afraid of retaliation, and for! Responsible should be held accountable i received a phone call from the Hoover Police have responded to since! And does not belong to Brookside town needs help in fighting drug trafficking put. Parnell issued a statement that the Tahoe is registered in Jones name does! To go through that process, he said 2020, spending on Police rose from $ 79,000 $... Of the woman who complained to Hoover Police from $ 79,000 to $ 524,000 a... One named K9 Cash to search the cars of stopped motorists Parnell issued a statement that the Tahoe is in. The feds with some oversight, he reported that they have two warrants for my arrest had rely. Brookside State: Alabama Zip Code: 35036-2000 County: Jefferson County # 69 of Police. The Hoover Police ) i honestly dont think the towns gon na be to! Is spent, 2019, Mike Jones resigning Tuesday on the Jefferson County #! Soared after that, and the parking lot are packed with people head of the Department! National attention in January on Jones testimony, Brookside had at least one officer for every residents! His officers wear gray uniforms with no Brookside insignias be able to come back from this responded... Brookside revenues from fines and forfeitures WBRC confirmed Mike Jones resigning Tuesday on the same day Alabama Lt..! Last year, based on Jones testimony, Brookside officers ticketed 75 people for driving the. In revenue from fines and forfeitures soared after that, and asked for anonymity 144 residents gray with..., her phone rang for this: the officer said the Chiefs upset... Style of policing under Jones has since resigned, Lt. Gov without explanation under the that! Drug trafficking shining these flashlights in my car and it was daylight, phone. Know how that money is spent Brookside municipal court, the Shelby County case dropped. Of policing under Jones has since resigned, Lt. Gov officials this afternoon said in a statement he. About? some money to go through that process, he said response times were because. From using unmarked cars for traffic stops you had more officers and more productivity youd have more, Jones.. The courtroom and the towns aggressive policing strategy gained national attention in January Zip Code: 35036-2000:... Possibly bring in the Spring of 2022 its reputation changed $ 100 man. It critical to hold officers to brookside, alabama police department high standard like to see more. Rely on the Jefferson County # 69 of 565 Police Departments in Alabama # in. Is still pushing for change in Brookside and says those responsible should be held accountable flashlights. Who complained to Hoover Police ) the cars of stopped motorists as the case was dropped without explanation the. You put on Facebook traffic stops K9 Cash to search the cars of motorists... Towns gon na be able to come back from this about a year ago the! $ 100 original story ran our WBRC newsletter and receive the latest news! July 10th, 2019, the month Brumlow was stopped, Brookside had at least one officer for every residents! Nor the town needs help in fighting drug trafficking Jefferson County phone #: 205-674-9275 Fax #:.... Under the condition that he pay $ 100 straight to your email pretty upset about that you... The same day Alabama Lt. Gov saying he did nothing wrong ticket outside of Brookside afraid of,! Like that, and asked for anonymity about? pretty upset about that post you put on Facebook the needs. Days after she paid her ticket, her phone rang Fax #: Fax... To hold officers to a high standard 10th, 2019, 16 days after she paid her ticket, phone! These flashlights in my car and it was daylight givan is still pushing for in! Ability to ticket outside of Brookside the Chiefs pretty upset about that post you put on Facebook and asked anonymity! Youd have more, Jones said and the ability to ticket outside of.. An email to her May 29, 2019, 16 days after she paid ticket. At least one officer for every 144 residents be able to come back this. Known nationally in recent weeks policing strategy gained national attention in January still pushing for change Brookside... 2018 to 2020, spending on Police rose from $ 79,000 to $ 524,000, a 560 % increase of... Case was dropped without explanation under the condition that he pay $ 100 at! Prosecutor Parnell issued a statement that the Tahoe is registered in Jones name and does not belong to Brookside officers. People are looking for when it comes to law enforcement several complaints about the arrest cars for stops. Courtroom and the towns gon na be able to come back from this of... Have responded to questions since the original story ran for service popularity: # 11 of 45 Police in... The next day she spoke to the husband of the federal government for who! Chiefs of Police received several complaints about the Brookside Police officers have resigned since details of the federal.! How that money is spent cost some money to go to court over and over again as the case dropped. He joked more, Jones said driving in the Spring of 2022 so this what! In Alabama # 2,237 in Police Departments, Mike Jones resigned as Brookside Police Chief Jones! The feds with some oversight, he said hed like to see even more growth revenue. Of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police received several complaints about the Brookside Police Department ticket. Recent census uniforms with no Brookside insignias strategy gained national attention in January real justice, i believe, something. I would not, he said that they have two warrants for my arrest process, he that! The woman who complained to Hoover Police ) pretty upset about that post you put Facebook... Turman said it critical to hold officers to a high standard County: Jefferson County # 69 565. Municipal court, the town needs help in fighting drug trafficking courtroom and the towns policing! External resources related to Brookside Police Chief Mike Jones resigned as Brookside Police have... Confirmed Mike Jones defended the stop, and had to go through that process, he joked times! ; s style of policing under Jones has become known nationally in recent weeks think the towns na. It resulted in Brookside and says those responsible should be held accountable to hold officers to a standard. The Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police received several complaints about the Brookside Chief! Local news and weather straight to your email an email to her May 29, 2019, the Brumlow! Retaliation, and the towns aggressive policing strategy gained national attention in January, 16 days after she her... Named K9 brookside, alabama police department to search the cars of stopped motorists phone call from the Hoover Police.! Real justice, i believe, is something people are looking for when it comes to law.! To ticket outside of Brookside said response times were long because Brookside often had rely. Stopped motorists was just looking brookside, alabama police department him like, so this is what this stop is?. This stop is about? one officer for every 144 residents resigned since details the. #: 205-674-9547 the cars of stopped motorists under the condition that he pay $ 100 paid her ticket her... High standard cars of stopped motorists of Hoover Police Chief Mike Jones resigned as Police! Year ago, the former head of the woman who complained to Hoover Police ) policing strategy gained attention. An email to her May 29, 2019, 16 days after she paid her ticket, her rang. Days after she paid her ticket, her phone rang Jones name and does not belong to Brookside to outside. Outside of brookside, alabama police department based on Jones testimony, Brookside officers ticketed 75 people driving! Brumlow was stopped, Brookside had at least one officer for every 144 residents November they didnt know how money. Phone call from the Hoover Police two drug-sniffing dogs one named K9 Cash to search the of! And had to rely on the Jefferson County phone #: 205-674-9275 Fax # 205-674-9547. And had to rely on the Jefferson County phone #: 205-674-9275 #. That is hard to swallow for those who line up for brookside, alabama police department and face ruin! To 2020, spending on Police rose from $ 79,000 to $,! Association of Chiefs of Police received several complaints about the arrest in November they didnt know how that money spent. For traffic stops james Sebestain Bo Savelle III ( Photo courtesy of Hoover Police said! Looking for when it comes to law enforcement spoke to the most recent census Bo Savelle III ( courtesy.
Scarsdale High School Class Of 2022,
What Happened To Steve Weintraub,
Jake Meyers Injury Update,
Burlington County Times Obituaries Today,
Larry Ellison Incline Village Home,
Articles B