News Article: Speed Trap on Steroids in Brookside, Alabama

[PaulD]

Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into legal ‘black hole’

Be careful on I-22! I seem to recall that years ago there was a similar scheme in a small town that drivers between Atlanta and Birmingham had to go through because part of I-20 was unfinished. The Alabama AG got heavily involved to shut it down. Any chance of that these days?

 

[92tide]

this morning, i saw a blog post on this same article.

The Abuse of Power in a Small Town Police Force

Not Mayberry. Not even close.

www.outsidethebeltway.com

 

[Chukker Veteran]

After the al.com article was printed, it has provoked outrage across the country. I’ve seen it covered on several national media sources.

 

[rolltide_21]

I started to make a thread on this article earlier this week. My hometown used to be known for this before the days of I22 but nowhere near to this extreme. Having riot gear and SWAT training for a town of 1,200 people? Yeah, lots of rioting going on there. Good grief. But, Im not surprised given the area. North Jefferson/South Walker counties are not places where I would expect to find a lack of corruption with regards to law enforcement given their reputation. One piece of information they left out- in order to be on ”the force” in Brookside you have to get a Trump stamp.

 

[spidermayin]

I didn't even realize that driving in the left lane for more than a mile and a half was against the law. A warning would suffice for that, but I guess not with this corrupt police department. I've never been in that area, but I'll note to avoid at all costs.

 

[seebell]

Brookside Police Chief Mike Jones resigns after AL.com report on traffic trap

The chief in three years took Brookside from a one-man department to a ticket-giving machine in which fines and fees brought in half the town revenue.

www.al.com

 

[seebell]

Brookside police patrolled social media, threatening town’s critics

The officer "stated that I issued threats, incited a riot, and slandered the Brookside Police Department in my Facebook posts. He reported that his Police Chief was mad.”

www.al.com

 

[Chukker Veteran]

So do these bad cops, especially the chief, get to just quit and that’s it?
they worked together to exploit folks and make their lives more difficult, they should face some criminal charges.

If it’s business as usual, they will get other jobs as cops somewhere else.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

So complaints for years have been made to the AG, Jefferson County Sheriff's office and county commissioner. That tells me that no one in power cares and the only reason they are "looking into it" now is because of the media attention.

It's a bunch of crap in this country how many people in power that are suppose to be working for us, the people, yet don't care at all for us. I expect nothing to come of this once the media attention dies down. A new chief will be found that will continue the same practices but more discretely, like all the other police trap towns across the state.

This is why police forces across the country need some form of defunding. I'm not talking about eliminating all funding but, there is no reason a town of this size needs that many cops, riot gear and a riot tank.

 

[dtgreg]

There is SO much money in criminals' hands now with illicit drugs that it dwarfs the money available to buy police from a hundred years ago during Prohibition. It is an ocean of money. Most police and small towns are poor.

 

[NationalTitles18]

There is SO much money in criminals' hands now with illicit drugs that it dwarfs the money available to buy police from a hundred years ago during Prohibition. It is an ocean of money. Most police and small towns are poor.

How does this relate and why does it matter?

 

[Chukker Veteran]

So complaints for years have been made to the AG, Jefferson County Sheriff's office and county commissioner. That tells me that no one in power cares and the only reason they are "looking into it" now is because of the media attention.

It's a bunch of crap in this country how many people in power that are suppose to be working for us, the people, yet don't care at all for us. I expect nothing to come of this once the media attention dies down. A new chief will be found that will continue the same practices but more discretely, like all the other police trap towns across the state.

This is why police forces across the country need some form of defunding. I'm not talking about eliminating all funding but, there is no reason a town of this size needs that many cops, riot gear and a riot tank.

The media could have a little perverse fun and use this headline for the next article they publish about this corrupt little town….

Local police force defunded by popular acclaim. Speed trap shut down, details to follow:

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Before this, there was Morris on US31, which expanded its city limits out to I-65. Barron, when he swung heavyweight in the legislature got so many tickets in Madison, he got a law passed that cities of under 19,000 couldn't give tickets on the interstate. Madison was just below that and pouted that they then wouldn't work wrecks on the interstate. That law stayed on the books for years, being repealed in 2019. Madison is far above that population now, anyway...

 

[seebell]

Lowell Barron had the power for many years. He and State Representative Albert Hall were both from the Gurley area. Very helpful and accessible.

Imagine being in the Brookside jail. The Chief could make your stay a living Hell!

 

[Crimson1967]

Brookside probably ticketed the wrong white person.

 

[dtgreg]

How does this relate and why does it matter?

Civil asset forfeitures, for one. Ease of corrupting Law Enforcement officers, for another.

 

[Moro Creek]

It seems to me that Heflin was a trap many years ago.

 

[NationalTitles18]

Civil asset forfeitures, for one. Ease of corrupting Law Enforcement officers, for another.

Looks to me like the town and its officers have a nice little criminal enterprise going, complete with mob tactic intimidation and shakedowns.

I hope the DOJ comes in with civil rights charges and some of those criminals do some hard time.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

The police chief was haughty in his resignation letter, and referred to his long standing history of having worked in law enforcement.
it might be a good idea to take a little time and see what crap he has pulled on other jobs, and how he was ever hired.The mayor has thrown him under the bus and said the chief misled him.

 

[Padreruf]

It seems to me that Heflin was a trap many years ago.

Big time...they would even plant marijuana in the cars of people whose looks they did not like. The feds finally sent a "hippie" agent through there and blew it all up.