Is roadblock timing off?
Sunday, March 9th, 2008By now, everyone is familiar with the increase of police roadblocks in the area.
The evening of Saturday, March 8, I saw six police cars, a greater number of officers, a generator and high-intensity light in the lot on the northeast corner of Broad and Government. One officer was checking licenses and insurance on all westbound traffic while his compatriots milled about the vacant lot.
A similar operation was set-up just beyond the exit of the Bankhead Tunnel catching eastbound traffic on the Causeway.
The next day, I saw eight officers with an equal number of cruisers engaged in the same operation at the intersection of Upham and Old Shell in Midtown. Fifteen minutes later, I spied a line of police cruisers headed east on Government, no doubt in route to a similar operation elsewhere in town.
I appreciate the argument in favor of such activities but have to wonder if this is the best use of manpower while Mobile is currently undergoing a spike in violent crimes and robberies. Is there nothing else these officers could be doing to make their presence more well known and widespread throughout the community, especially in regard to curtailing more dangerous activity?
I know of one business owner in the Loop who bent my ear last week about the anxiety caused from the recent rash of robberies in that area. I feel she would be none-too-pleased to pass through one of these roadblocks while she spends every night wondering if she is going to be next up on the “armed robbery hit parade.”