In response to rising public concern about traffic safety in Lathrop, California, the police department is planning to create a new traffic unit to address driving risks in the growing community. Police Chief Stephen Sealy shared the plan on social media, highlighting the goal of enhancing quality of life through increased traffic enforcement and safety measures. With the city's growth, residents like Tyler Atkinson have pointed out that red-light running has become a daily hazard, as reported by ABC10.
One of the residents, having witnessed incidents of reckless driving, Gaurav Kamkur told ABC10, "Always, there's kids and community and people and elderly people out there who might not be as quick to react as you would guess." Situated near multiple freeways, the area transforms rapidly from high-speed lanes to residential streets, presenting unique traffic challenges that the new unit aims to address.
As traffic issues grow, the police department recognizes that officers assigned to traffic enforcement are often pulled away to respond to 911 calls, leaving traffic concerns unaddressed. Chief Sealy has announced plans to add three motorcycle officers and a sergeant to the new full-time traffic unit, which will focus on education, smart city planning, and enforcing vehicle codes, as mentioned in a letter posted to the City of Lathrop Police Department's Facebook page.
The chief's plan for a specialized traffic unit follows the City Council's approval of more police officer positions in July and ongoing recruitment efforts. "If there's like any sort of help we can get, I think that would be a major difference," Atkinson voiced his support for the initiative in a statement obtained by ABC10.
