By MATT PIKE
A recent joint operation between the St. Joseph Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol and its Aircraft Division resulted in several traffic stops and multiple arrests.
The joint operation aimed at curbing dangerous driving and deterring criminal activity on local roadways. The multi-agency operation combined ground enforcement units with aerial support from a highway patrol helicopter, giving officers a bird's-eye view of high-risk traffic areas. The ariel view also helped manage situations such as vehicles fleeing from law enforcement.
During the operation, law enforcement initiated 99 traffic stops, resulting in 15 tickets, 18 written warnings, and 74 verbal warnings. Three vehicles fled from officers. Authorities also served three state felony warrants and three city warrants, while making additional arrests for DWI, aggravated fleeing, and resisting.
"The second joint operation with the Missouri State Highway Patrol in a brief timeframe highlights our relentless effort to make St. Joseph roads safer," St. Joseph Police Chief Police Paul Luster says in a news release. "Having dedicated air support from MSHP allows ground units to safely monitor, track and apprehend fleeing reckless drivers while significantly minimizing risk associated with high-speed vehicle pursuits."
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