The Taylorville Police Department has made significant strides in many areas in the last month.  New technology has been deployed to help detect vehicles and people of interest entering and leaving the city.  The department has also enacted a change in protocol regarding traffic stops, which is expected to reduce risk overall.  In addition, there continues to be great progress in helping those with drug addiction recover and return to living more normal lives.

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler led the effort to see so-called Flock cameras installed on the roads into and out of Taylorville.  Not only do these cameras monitor the roadways, but officials can input details of vehicles of interest.  The cameras can then alert officials when they detect one of these vehicles. 

The Taylorville Police Department is also taking action to address so-called “First Amendment auditors” at traffic stops.  These are people who attempt to record audio or video of police activity.  In Taylorville, the new protocol is simply to mail the ticket to the person in question. 

Chief Wheeler says this new plan should save officers and the department as a whole from lawsuits and other negative repercussions stemming from excessive actions they may otherwise have taken. 

The department continues to celebrate recoveries from drug addiction through its Safe Passage program.  Chief Wheeler credits the many parties involved in every instance in which someone gets back on their feet following addiction.

One of TPD’s biggest annual community events is on the horizon.  The Monster Bash is set for Monday, October 27 from 4:30-6:30 p.m at the Taylorville Fire Department.  Similar to years past, it will feature costumes, games, candy, and much more.

More information on the Taylorville Police Department is available at www.taylorville.net/police-dept. 

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.