A new city policy aimed at preventing the fixing of traffic and parking tickets issued by the Lawrence Police Department by more closely monitoring the procedure for dismissing tickets "has been effective," according to Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley.
The policy, which creates a tracking system for attempts by department employees to void or dismiss tickets, was created in the wake of a ticket-fixing scandal last year that led to the dismissal of two Lawrence officers.
According to a report provided to city officials earlier this year, between Aug. 27 — when the policy was implemented — and the end of the year, police officers requested that 16 tickets be dismissed.
Of those, six involved cases already charged in district court, while seven involved some form of equipment or a ticket-writing error.
The remaining three cases involved a ticket written to a U.S. Secret Service vehicle on official business; one given to an unmarked police vehicle; and a ticket given by an officer in training, which was later dismissed because of a lack of evidence.
McKinley declined comment on how requests for dismissal were handled prior to the new policy, citing pending litigation involving the city.
In February, former Sgt. Michael Monroe filed a lawsuit against the police and the city alleging that racial discrimination played a role in his firing in 2012. In the lawsuit, Monroe described several cases where he or another Lawrence officer dismissed tickets for friends and family.
Comments
smitty 2 months, 1 week ago
But..but ..but..but...Chief Khatib was quoted in the JW as saying that the tickets for tickets were PROFESSIONAL COURTESEY and POLICE CULTURE. How can we with good concience make a change to LPD professionalism and culture?
smitty 2 months, 1 week ago
JW Feb 2012
Previous occurrences
Khatib acknowledged that he believed there had been allegations of “similar activity” involving police department personnel made prior to the May 2011 anonymous tip. Khatib — who was not chief at the time — said his understanding is those allegations were examined but there was never enough evidence to take more formal action. Khatib succeeded longtime Police Chief Ron Olin, who retired from the city in September 2010 to become director of security and internal controls for Kansas Athletics Inc., also after the KU ticket scandal came to light. Olin left his position with KU last July, saying he had worked himself out of a job and that his services to KU would likely be offered in the future as a consultant. Olin did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.....
Olin mentored Khatib. Lawrence will continue to pay a price for Olin as long as we have Khatib and their less than professional police culture. It's called corrutpion.
mk9992 2 months, 1 week ago
I don't think it's called corrutpion.
skinny 2 months, 1 week ago
It's not called corrutpion! We have a very good Police Dept! Although I do hope Monroe gets his job back.
Keep up he good work Chief Khatib.
smitty 2 months, 1 week ago
Only under duress with public exposure.......so that corruption is not the end evaluation regardless of the facts.
reality_check79 2 months, 1 week ago
When will this get dropped??? I get that Lawrence is small and this is major news but at some point this story has been beat to death!!! Move on LJWorld!!!
WaddeSalmon 2 months, 1 week ago
Especially the Greek-Clutter family with trashy yards and destroy trees and don't finish their work and leave it looking like southpark dysfunctional property owners-the side kick sitcom cable show.. especially King of the Hill)Grecian Trash K U that can't clean up dormatory backyards that are retarded and can't throw their trash in the dumpster correctly..
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