That document budgeted $646,620 to the police this year. Like those on Dec. 2. 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. But Brookside revenues from fines and forfeitures soared after that, and the towns law-enforcement goals and its reputation changed. Brookside Police Department leadership cast its enforcement dragnet too widely: Special Report on Brookside PD released, 2 adults, 1 juvenile charged in Kimberly kidnapping case, Cat, missing for 2 years, found nearly 1,600 miles away, police say, More parents choosing alternate education. He returned to his job as second in command with consent of the town council, Hudgens said. In a two-year period between 2018 and 2020 Brookside revenues from fines and forfeitures soared more than 640 percent and now make up half the citys total income. Another town hall is scheduled for Thursday at 6 pm at Birminghams Carver High School. Brookside Police Chief Mike Jones, who spearheaded the change and grew the police department tenfold, at least, calls the towns policing a positive story. Mayor Mike Bryan a former councilman who assumed his position last year after the death of the previous mayor sits and nods in agreement. People who had their vehicles towed and impounded by Jetts Towing after a traffic stop. Between April 2018 and June 2020, they handed out 406 of those tickets, or about 15 a month, according to documents filed in the lawsuit. Thats why I hesitated to fight it. Brumlows uncle, Jeff Brumlow, is the longtime prosecutor and city attorney for the city of Alabaster, and a GOP candidate for Shelby County district judge. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Prosecutor Parnell issued a statement saying he did nothing wrong. EOG was set up to provide security services for athletic events and other gatherings. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. It is the second time in four days a former Brookside police officer has been jailed. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Its more important now than ever before that law enforcement maintain high levels of professionalism and integrity, he said. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Netta Womack tells her story about Brookside police at a town hall Tuesday February 1, 2022. The lowest-paid officers made $12 an hour. 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.. People stand in line, waiting to get into the courtroom. After learning of those statements, Rep. Givan again said the three need to resign. Instead, the arresting officer was listed as Agent JS, while the assisting officer was Agent AR.. 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. Brookside police made 4.4 arrests in 2020 for every household. The towns administrative expenditures rose 40% and overall spending jumped 112%, from $553,000 in 2018 to $1.2 million in 2020. Most of the vehicles Brookside Police drive are unmarked, and tinted. The courtroom and the parking lot are packed with people. I just knew that I did not want to be part of a workplace that did such low-down things.. And while sitting in court I heard that half the court was also stopped for the same thing.. Still, police seized his car, and refused to return it, though they didnt begin official forfeiture proceedings. He and members of the town council complained of. 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. There are only 1,253 people in Brookside, and one store, the Dollar General. Bill Dawson, a lawyer who has represented several clients in Brookside, said defendants have faced possession charges for a joint, with paraphernalia charges tacked on for the paper it was rolled in. Another would bar police from using unmarked cars for traffic stops. Find Brookside residential property records including property owners, sales & transfer history, deeds & titles, property taxes, valuations, land, zoning records & more. They gave me a ticket for running a stop sign. I just know that the police departments not gonna be able to come back from this, she said. AL.com story revealed a department so intent on ticketing and criminalizing motorists, arrested Savelle for public intoxication and two counts of harassment that night. Givan is still pushing for change in Brookside and says those responsible should be held accountable. It did not feature a breakout of the police department. 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. At least three bills are now before the Legislature that would affect those cities. And it broke her heart, it broke my heart.. Seven Brookside police officers have resigned since January Published: Feb. 09, 2022, 10:00 a.m. Netta Womack tells her story about Brookside police at a town hall Tuesday February 1, 2022.. Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway said the same. Subscribe to our WBRC newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email. A Brookside officer ticketed Brumlow under Alabama code section 32-5-77, which her lawyers contend does not contain a crime. What I had watched in court with the use of this particular charge, I mean, just to be quite frank, it offended me that a court would act that way and that a city would act that way toward people who really dont have that kind of money, he testified. The officers, though many, were not well paid. Jones could not be reached for comment on this report. Police stacked fines on them, often towed their cars and generated revenue that went right back into the police department. Jones testified his officers wear gray uniforms with no Brookside insignias. If you had more officers and more productivity youd have more, Jones said. Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. 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. Not for speeding, or running a stop sign, or any violation. The release said the town has no further comment on Jones's resignation since it involves a "personnel matter." Brookside, just north of Birmingham, already faces at least 10 lawsuits about its policing. All rights reserved (About Us). More than half the Brookside officers resigned or were fired this year as more and more people came forward to tell their stories about mistreatment in Brookside. The special report concludes with six recommendations for Brookside leaders and the Brookside Police Department. About a year ago, the former head of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police received several complaints about the Brookside Police Department. Find 12 external resources related to Brookside Police Department. The Brookside police staff, based on this data, came to one officer for every 84 residents in January. All rights reserved (About Us). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Outside the jail this morning, the lawyer told Blaine Wilson of WAAO News in Andalusia that Jones is innocent and he will prove it in court. BROOKSIDE, Ala. (WBRC) - A special report regarding racial profiling in the Town of Brooksides Traffic Enforcement Program was released by the city-appointed investigator, former Circuit Court Judge Ken Simon. He is still torn, wondering if he should have fought the town harder. Periodic review of bodycam video can be used to monitor and investigate possible profiling or other alleged misconduct. They often say they had no idea why they were pulled over while passing near Brookside on Interstate 22. It ultimately became the reason Hudgens left her job. He was very upset about what happened, she said. In fact, they said in November they didnt know how that money is spent. Minnifield says he was a passenger in car stopped for driving with an improper tag, and that he was detained, among other things. He swore hed seen the cop from a distance and was careful as he braked. Hudgens, who lives in Brookside, said she is concerned for her town. 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. He said response times were long because Brookside often had to rely on the Jefferson County Sheriffs department for service. Allan Armstrong, one of a group of lawyers who filed the complaint, said Brookside violated basic American rights. The motive was to generate revenue for Brookside.. Dozens of people who claim they were victimized by Brookside Police have come forward to tell their stories. 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. I see a 600% increase thats a failure. The town also expanded its towing operations, going from 50 vehicles in 2018 to 789 in 2020. in the wake of news coverage about the arrest. 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. Its a former mining town, its population about the same as it was a decade ago. 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. He informed me that my case was never closed, said Jones, who lives in Forestdale near Birmingham. I was scared to death even though I was doing nothing wrong.. It resulted in Brookside Police Chief Mike Jones resigning Tuesday on the same day Alabama Lt. Gov. She was not speeding, or breaking the law, she argued in the suit. BROOKSIDE, Ala. - For the first time since bombshell reports regarding practices from Brookside Police department surfaced, the City Council held their monthly meeting Monday night.During the meeting, Interim Police Chief Henry Irby addressed the public on his vision for the department going forward. He said hed like to see even more growth in revenue from fines and forfeitures. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. Monday afternoon former Birmingham Police Officer Montague Minnifield became at least the eighth person to sue Brookside over its police and court systems. 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. This is at the corner of Roberta Road and Mulberry Road, which is far away from their city limits.. The conclusion reads: A police department in Brookside, Alabama, is facing allegations of policing for profit and defamation lawsuits after residents say they've received bogus charges. Related: Pastor, sister say rogue police force sought revenge. He wanted to speak to someone who could take his badge.. 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.. 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. Fewer than 100 of its residents graduated college. 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. Copyright 2022 WBRC. Brookside, Alabama - a poor town, 70% white, 21% black with a small but growing Hispanic population and a median income "well below the state average" has made national news because of the Brookside Police Department (BPD). A Peace Officer sworn in the State of Alabama can enforce the law anywhere in the State of Alabama, he wrote in an email. The courtroom and the parking lot are packed with people. Ramon Perez felt that way as well, sitting in the courtroom and hearing defendants plead to the same charges over and over. But lawyers and law enforcement officers across central Alabama have raised questions about things in Brookside they say they have never otherwise come across. In the second town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Juandalynn Givan and Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, attendees addressed more concerns with the city's police. I feel bad for those guys who struggle, Perez said. We are not safer because of it.. This analysis suggests that whites receive substantially more favorable treatment with respect to warnings than other groups.. A report quoted in the suit claimed she tighten (sic) arm muscles from getting handcuff (sic).. Arrest powers are not confined to city limits or jurisdictional boundaries except within the State of Alabama.. CountyOffice.org does not provide consumer reports and is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Read also: Brookside police patrolled social media, threatening town critics. 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. Third, police leadership and individual officers would likely benefit from training focused not only on racial profiling, but also on overall traffic enforcement strategy. The accounts told to AL.com detail harassment and intimidation. Over-policing can also create the perception of racial profiling when it appears to target minority citizens. ABC 33/40s Cynthia Gould reported at the time. 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. I cant stand them., In a statement today, Turman said In this case, we had a young deputy that was trying to be respectful to a supposed veteran officer and gave him a break. He was also ticketed for improper signal, though he cant even fathom how that might have occurred. She set out to challenge it. First, it should avoid racial profiling and selective enforcement. 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. 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.. Name Brookside Police Department Suggest Edit Address 208 Main Street Brookside , Alabama , 35036 Phone 205-674-9275 Fax 205-674-9547 Brookside Police Department Details Type 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. Address, Phone Number, and Fax Number for Brookside Police Department, a Police Department, at Main Street, Brookside AL. "Their whole financial existence starts to spiral, and it was all over a light on their car not working.". Brookside Police Department is in the Police1 Law Enforcement Directory. Months of research and dozens of interviews by AL.com found that Brooksides finances are rocket-fueled by tickets and aggressive policing. Will Ainsworth has requested an audit of Brooksides town and police force, and lawmakers across party lines have called for bills to help curb small-town policing for profit on Alabama Interstates. Total town income more than doubled from 2018 to 2020 from $582,000 to more than $1.2 million as fines and forfeitures rose 640%. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The town of Brookside, Alabama holds municipal court once a month. In a report published by AL.com, figures pointed to half of the town's revenue had come from an increase in fines and forfeitures, including officers taking property during traffic stops. He was released after posting $20,000 bail. Tuesday February 1, 2022. Police must direct traffic before the 1 p.m. court session starts. 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. Brookside Police did patrol the 1.5-mile stretch of Interstate 22 within their jurisdiction and wrote tickets that brought in $82,467 in fines. "What if $150 is the cost of choosing between feeding my child, getting their medicine or paying this ticket?" Suggest Listing What happens is when it gets to be so egregious, when you go a little bit too far and you take it to an extreme as the city of Brookside did, it just wasnt about selective enforcement, it becomes routine, Givan said. 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. I wouldnt be surprised if they opened up an investigation. All rights reserved (About Us). Johnson, though it is unclear if Brookside had a Detective Johnson. He resigned as chief of the Brookside department last week, days after AL.coms original report on Brookside. 2711 Municipal Dr. Brookside, AL 35036. The town of Brookside, Alabama holds municipal court once a month. The charges against Savelle were misdemeanors, meaning they wouldnt necessarily disqualify him from being certified as a police officer in Alabama, even if he had been convicted. The audits show, however, how the town came to depend on the ticket money. Former Brookside Police Chief Mike Jones, in a photo taken by WAAO News' Blaine Wilson, after turning himself in. In a statement, Brookside City Attorney Mark Parnell said that as the local prosecutor, he has "strived to ensure" only police charges with merit moved forward or were otherwise dismissed. You may not use this site for the purposes of furnishing consumer reports about search subjects or for any use prohibited by the FCRA. she said. Despite that, the Shelby County case was dropped without explanation under the condition that he pay $100. The problem for those alleging misconduct is that officers may be immune from lawsuits if their actions are found to be a part of their official duties, Dawson said. "Ferguson made us realize it wasn't just Ferguson," said Priya Sarathy Jones, the national campaign director at the Fines and Fees Justice Center,which advocates for fees to be eliminated in the justice system and fines to be equitably enforced. He was released after posting $20,000 bail. Jones was stopped on April 12 by a Covington County deputy after being clocked driving 78 mph in a 55 zone on Alabama 55 south. The deputy has since also issued a speeding ticket to go along with the impersonation charge.. 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). Jones blamed the lawsuits on ambulance-chasing attorneys.. She pulled to the side of the road as the SUV pulled behind her, and a wrecker simultaneously parked nearby. Sarathy Jones said the issues in Brookside should be a warning for towns and small cities to examine their revenue sources and ensure their local governments aren't turning to law enforcement as moneymaking arms. Eventually she was given an inhaler and treated by paramedics. 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. Ive seen it, DA Carr said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. AL.com in January reported how Brookside used fines and forfeitures to bring in almost half the town revenue in 2020, and how its police department grew exponentially under Chief Jones. Savelle pulled out a Brookside Police Department badge before Hoover officers arrived, according to the report that cited witnesses and the presence of cameras. Because people overwhelmed by debt have been shown to turn to crime to pay their fines an argument can be made that this kind of policing creates crime, Crowder said. Oftentimes, a person's decision to forgo paying a fine goes deeper, Sarathy Jones said. Hoover police arrested Savelle for public intoxication and two counts of harassment that night, saying he was intoxicated to the point of being a danger to himself and to others. The woman told police she did wish to press charges. 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. But fines and. BROOKSIDE, Ala. (WBRC) - WBRC confirmed Mike Jones resigned as Brookside Police Chief. The office of state Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, declined to comment Friday about the traffic stops in Brookside. You know, weve had a lot of issues with Brookside.. That contributed a 14% chunk of the citys total income, a number that would be considered high in much of America. (Photographerlondon / Dreamstime.com) Brookside, Alabama, has a population of less than 1,500 people. Lawyers for eight people who say they were wronged by Brookside police on Wednesday filed an amended complaint in Alabama, arguing the town, the towing company it used to seize vehicles, and. Police Trap, she posted in June of 2019. Ultimately another officer took Perez to his friends house to retrieve her ID, he said. He agreed to represent his niece in her traffic case. Disparities in the rate at which drivers were stopped do not appear to be significantly different from the rate in which drivers racial and ethnic groups populate 4 Jefferson County. He served a months suspension, with pay in the wake of news coverage about the arrest. Not all of them can afford to pay their fines as he did, and some have been put on payment plans. The police have ordered vehicles towed for lack of insurance, while ignoring owners' efforts to show insurance documentation. It is what happened after the stop that is most concerning to him. The military-styled vehicles have already been returned to the State, our police cars have been re-striped, and the Town is investing in new, easily identifiable uniforms for the police officers., Civil RICO case filed again by John Archibald. In May of 2019, the month Brumlow was stopped, Brookside officers ticketed 75 people for driving in the left lane. 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. Jones was the highest earning officer before his resignation, at $16 an hour, not counting overtime. WBRC FOX6 News has reached out to the Town of Brookside leaders for a response to the special report, and we will update this story when we receive a response. (Joe Songer for AL.com).Joe Songer. Will Ainsworth requested a state audit, and amid calls for state and federal investigations. She is unsure if he called the man. Over the last several months, the Brookside Police Department has faced scrutiny over its ticketing practices, as well as alleged corruption. The Brookside Police Department is located on Municipal Drive, and the Chief of Police is Jason Springfield. But in 2018 it began building a police empire, hiring more and more officers to blanket its six miles of roads and mile-and-a-half jurisdiction on Interstate 22. McDonald, the towns first dispatcher, said he too found Bryans statement lacking. I could take over the whole county with numbers like that, he joked. Scott Shackford | 1.19.2022 1:20 PM. 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. 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 material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Unsure what was happening, Harris dialed 911. 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. I cant stand a dirty cop, Sheriff Turman told AL.com. On the other end was a caller IDd as coming from the Brookside Town Hall, she said. Michelle Jones, of Forestdale, has fought the Brookside police department for three years. Yet the town with no traffic lights collected $487 in fines and forfeitures in 2020 for every man, woman and child, though many of those fined were merely passing by on I-22. He saw so many people trying to park in the grassy field outside the municipal building that police had to direct traffic. Thats 49% of the small towns skyrocketing revenue.
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