Mobile Public Safety Director Engages Community: It kicked off like a Christmas morning in Mobile, with kids grooving to the beat of a live drum.
The Kiwanis Boy and Girls Club hosted a community gathering, shifting into a good talk about kids doing right and steering clear of the wrong paths.
Over yonder, parents were gearing up for a chat with the city’s new Public Safety Director. Cassaundra Burks, a mom with three grown sons, expressed her daily worries.
“Why? Because they are black,” she stated, “and there is the possibility of perception that maybe they are not doing the right thing… just because of their physical appearance.”
Recent laws in Alabama, mainly targeting gang violence, have sparked concerns about officers possibly misusing their newfound tools.
While discussions around new gun and gang laws and stricter penalties heated up, the spotlight fell on a familiar issuethe routine traffic stop.
“I’m not gonna make his job more difficult than what it is, shared a man, recounting his own traffic stop. But the way he came out, I was already assumed I’ve done something.”
New Public Safety Director Rob Lasky assured, “You call me, I’m gonna call up that tape and look at what happened.” This practice was made public after incidents of “use of force” ended in injury or death, emphasizing accountability, especially to Mobile’s African American community.
Lasky advised those who spot blue lights in their rearview mirror to pull over and follow the officer’s instructions. “If they start resisting, or they escalate the situation, then it almost will justify someone else’s position of what actually happened, he explained. If they remain calm, collected all through, get through the encounter, then let us know, then we can take the appropriate action if there was a misstep in that interaction.”
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MPD Commander Curtis Graves highlighted that officers, even during random traffic stops, know what’s expected of them.
“I think law enforcement officers are tasked with an awesome responsibility, first of all. And you have to be in law enforcement or be a family member of a law enforcement person or a friend to really understand the gravity of the work they do,” Graves stated. “But I also understand, as a community, there are concerns that people have. And I like to say, often, that no one is all right and no one is all wrong.”
It became evident that many in the audience needed more convincing, underscoring the substantial work ahead for MPD.
Mrs. Burks, speaking about her three sons who’ve been pulled over and questioned but never cited for any violation, stated, “They are beautiful, they’re mine, and they’re gentlemen and they are wonderful citizens of this city and abroad, but… someone that does not know them personally, who does not look like them could, potentially, think ill of them for just existing.”
Lasky’s advice for a smooth traffic stop: Be respectful. Roll down your window, keep your hands on the steering wheel, don’t argue, and don’t start searching for licenses or insurance papersthat might be misunderstood as going for a weapon.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What is the mission statement of the mobile police department?
The Mobile Police Department’s mission is to efficiently and effectively protect and serve the people of Mobile by wisely managing all resources.
Who is the chief of police in Mobile Alabama?
Chief Paul O. Prine hails from Prichard, Alabama and is a proud graduate of C.F. Vigor High School, class of 1990. He is happily married to Kay Sayasane Prine for 26 years and is a devoted father to three wonderful children.
What county is Mobile AL in?
A mobile police unit, also known as a motorized police unit, refers to a team of police officers who are equipped with vehicles for patrolling and responding to incidents. This specialized unit is designed to provide swift and efficient law enforcement services in various areas.