The unsafe practice of standing in front of speeding cars is no longer an approved Anne Arundel police tactic.
“We had enough evidence in reviewing the policies from around the country in making the final decision,” County Executive John Leopold said.
Police spokesman Cpl. Mark Shawkey said the department didn?t have a clear policy but instead used a popular tactic, albeit a dangerous one.
County officials said they would examine the policy within 30 days on June 22 but handed down the new policy earlier this week.
Experts say that while the step-out method is risky, it is effective in catching violators.
“From a police department standpoint, it allows you to have a high volume of stops with a low number of resources,” said Tyrone Powers, director of the Institute for Criminal Justice, Legal Studies and Public Service and a former state trooper.
Anne Arundel police, at the behest of Leopold, suspended the “step out” program after police Cpl. Scott Wheeler was struck and killed by a car during a traffic stop June 16.
Other departments such as the state police followed suit, and the action was well publicized in the region.
The Anne Arundel Police Department “would hope that other agencies will look upon our [recent] decision as a sound one and perhaps emulate it,” Shawkey said.
NEW POLICY
Anne Arundel police officers can stand by their vehicles wearing reflective safety vests during speed-enforcement stings on roads with speed limits less than 35 mph, directing motorists to pull over.
On roads with higher speed limits, officers will be required to stay in their cars.
