McLeod, Sibley Counties join traffic efforts

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

GLENCOE -- Authorities in McLeod and Sibley counties joined the Minnesota State Patrol's efforts to curb what many law enforcement officers say is bad driving behavior.

Officers from those counties, along with police from Gaylord, Arlington, Winthrop, Stewart, Hutchinson and Silver Lake, announced they are going to start making more efforts to work together in order to try and reduce the amount of traffic crashes and crash-related deaths on area roads at a press conference Friday morning.

The State Patrol first announced its decision to take more of a team approach to the issue in Mankato late this fall. The idea behind the new approach is to pool officers from counties and cities together with state troopers.

A total of 26 people were killed in traffic crashes in Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Nicollet and Sibley counties in 2003. Statewide, 646 people were killed in traffic collisions during the same year. Exactly 657 people died in crashes in 2002, according to preliminary statistics released Friday by the State Patrol.

State Patrol Captain Lori Hodapp said Minnesota is currently experiencing its highest fatality rate on roads in 20 years, which has caused the State Patrol to re-examine its practices and focus on efforts that will help reduce the rate of crashes and injuries.

"This is not about more work," she said. "This is about utilizing whatever un-obligated time to ensure it is contributing to our mission."

Hodapp said the State Patrol is hoping a stepped-up presence on state roads will reduce the amount of injuries and deaths in traffic collisions.

The Mankato district's plan includes more collaboration with local and county law enforcement agencies to focus on problem traffic areas. State Patrol stations are also being asked to organize a concentrated effort with local and county officers each month.

Hodapp said three pilot efforts were made in the Mankato area late last year, which the State Patrol now wants to expand into other areas in the Mankato district.

McLeod County Chief Deputy Mark Taylor said he thinks the extra patrols will mean minimal overtime costs, since the program uses on-duty officers only. Sibley County Sheriff Bruce Ponath added that he doesn't plan to add any extra officers for the patrols, either.

Hodapp said she thinks the Legislature's recent decision to drop the legal limit for intoxication to .08 will likely result in more arrests but could also save more lives. She said an estimated 12,000 more arrests are expected with the new law in place, which is expected to save in between 25 and 50 more lives in 2004.

The roving squad will consist of three state troopers and will differ from the saturations, which will involve officers from many different departments, depending upon what resources are available, said State Patrol Sgt. Jaclyn Sticha.

Sticha said the State Patrol wants the program to change the habits of both law enforcement officers and citizens. She said more announcements are planned for other parts of southwestern Minnesota.

"We need to get rid of this mindset that 10 to 12 miles over the speed limit is okay," said Silver Lake Police Chief Eric Klein. "I've had people set their cruise control at 68 coming into a 45-mile-an-hour zone and it's like 'What were you thinking?' "