With the new semester in full swing, the Winthrop University Police Department are stepping up their game. Students and faculty have noticed that they have been using unmarked cars, and some even believe that they are handing out more tickets.
The views of these changes are mixed. In terms of unmarked cars, some feel like they don’t know enough to properly assess whether it is justified, and others feel it is an unfair move on their part or that it is a good thing. Issac Doescher, a sophomore business major, said that it “enforces a little bit of accountability.” Miles Johnson, a senior English major, also agrees with that but feels that at the same time it is unfair. On the other hand, some students do not understand why WUPD is using unmarked cars.
Olivia Esselman, a junior mass communication major, admits she does not know the context behind the situation but emotes that it is a “stinky move on their part.”
Junior biology major KeLee Puckett’s perspective on the matter is influenced by the fact that she grew up with her dad and stepmother in law enforcement.
“I, for one, am not entirely against them using unmarked control cars because definitely when you have a marked patrol car it creates a presence,” Puckett said. Puckett went on to say that this presence will cause people to act differently when they are near cops.
The reality is quite different. WUPD recently received permission to change out the models of their patrol cars. Therefore, the unmarked cars they have been using are ones that haven’t been outfitted with decals and lights on the roof. If you take a closer look in these cars one can see they have the light on the panel where the visor is along with walkie talkies in the front.
“We got approval to start trading that fleet out,” interim Assistant Chief Charles Yearta said. He hopes that next year they will be able to replace the admin cars.
These new cars come in without lights and without the WUPD decals on them.“When we get new cars in they have to be outfitted. They have to have the decals put on all the electronics in the car. That takes time,” Yearta said. This process includes taking parts out of our current patrol cars, making them unusable by WUPD. Due to the shortage of marked cars with all the equipment installed, the past two weeks or so they have allowed sergeants to use what will be the new patrol cars.
Despite concerns being voiced by some students regarding what seems like an increase in the number of tickets being given out by WUPD, Yearta says that they are handing out more warnings. In fact, from Jan. 1 to Feb. 12, Winthrop police have had 215 traffic stops with only 32 of them resulting in tickets. According to Yearta, WUPD’s goal is to educate people on traffic laws, not to punish them. “The most important thing that officers are trained … and trained to do [what] is not the punishment aspect but the educational aspect,” Yearta said. WUPD is also trying to increase their presence on campus because in recent years people have said they wanted to see them more.
“We are doing more enforcement and traffic stops, but we have not increased the tickets that we’re writing,” Yearta said. The main areas that are trouble spots for them on campus are the crosswalks, stop signs and speeding.
“Just talk to them,” Puckett said. If someone talks to an officer, they will get to know them better because at the end of the day, WUPD is here to protect us and they want to make sure we get an education — even if that education might be in traffic laws on occasion. Next time you see WUPD on campus say hello and get to know the men and women behind the force.
Photo: Sarah Deventhal/ The Johnsonian
