ASHLAND —
It would be rare to catch a glimpse of a top Kentucky State Police post commander working repetitive, routine roadblock detail. Capt. James Stephens would have it no other way.
He fastened his reflective safety vest and took to the Ben Williamson Memorial Bridge Friday night, kicking off a long Labor Day weekend with record police presence.
For the first time, KSP banded with area law enforcement agencies, blockading a record-high six Kentucky entry point bridges with holiday safety checkpoints.
In Boyd County, U.S. 60 drivers met inspections at the Billy C. Clark Memorial Bridge, while Winchester Avenue motorists faced the watchful eyes of officers on the lookout for drunken and drugged drivers, faulty vehicle equipment, expired tags and those driving on suspended licenses.
Cruisers covered the downtown passage. A drug-sniffing German shepherd reached full gait. In Catlettsburg, Trooper Eric Gibson executed a field sobriety exam on a woman before locking her up.
In police unison, right before 10 p.m. on Greenup County conduits, deputies and city officers were seen lining squad cars on their respective jurisdiction’s local spans — Ky. 244 at the Ironton-Russell Bridge; the intersection of Ky. 10 and Ky. 3116; U.S. 23 at the U.S. Grant Bridge and Ky. 8, traversing the Carl Perkins Bridge, said Trooper 1st Class Michael Murriell, the public affairs officer for Post 14.
It was a sneak attack — impeding those found driving under the influence. The peak Labor Day period — with a perceptible increase in trooper presence — started at 6 p.m. Friday and ends at midnight today. The agency expects to “reduce highway fatalities by targeting impaired drivers with zero tolerance patrol,” with a theme of “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Murriell.
During the 2011 Labor Day holiday traffic period, the commonwealth had 1,519 accidents resulting in 13 fatalities. Of those, 59 were alcohol-involved.
Stephens, an Ashland native who transferred to several KSP posts statewide before returning to lead Post 14 earlier this summer, is proud to serve with his brothers on such vigilant detail.
“This is my home, and I want my home to be safer place to live. Through a massive effort like this, possibly unprecedented, uniting so many fellow police agencies in a single show of force, we know we’ll take drunk drivers and traffic violators off the road. We’ll save someone’s life tonight,” Stephens said. “That’s why we’re all out here working together. I’m thrilled to play a small role in this.”
Stephens applauded troopers and officers who kicked off Labor Day weekend by doing their part.
“The guys up here on this bridge, they have young families at home they could be with. But they choose to give up their Friday night to be here. It says a lot.”
KSP Lt. J.W. Gibson coordinated a widespread interagency crackdown, forming a dragnet on bridge watch.
“Look at this. It’s really something to see. J.W. worked very hard to make all this happen,” said Stephens before heading to the Gate City to check on troopers there.
At midnight Friday, road safety checks concluded, Murriell reported these numbers for his post:
DUI arrests — 2
Seat belt citations — 3
Child restraint citations — 3
Suspended license — 6
No insurance — 10
No operators license — 4
Other traffic violations — 20
Vehicle inspections — 629
Courtesy notices — 15
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Zero tolerance
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