Olathe, KS, police increase traffic enforcement

According to a KCStar article, Olathe, KS, has put an emphasis on traffic enforcement, creating a noticeably different environment on city streets:

“I think the chief has put the message out throughout the ranks of how important traffic enforcement is,” said police spokesman Sgt. Greg O'Halloran. The focus is to limit accidents.

He said 10 more radar guns and much more vigilance are reasons for the increases. Most marked patrol cars seen on the streets now have radar guns, he said. . . .

Police Chief Janet Thiessen said her message to officers has been to be more proactive about traffic enforcement when time isn't being spent responding to emergency calls. Getting the sergeants to analyze productivity helps too, she said.

Olathe residents have apparently noticed the extra effort. The ETC Survey, an annual questionnaire sent to Olathe residents to get approval ratings for various city government functions, found traffic enforcement at its highest approval level since the survey began. About 74 percent responded favorably with a four or five rating, with five being the highest, up 11 percent from 2002.