BPD still waiting for letter; students want answers

Bloomington Police Department's public information officer, Captain Joseph Qualters said Sunday BPD had still not seen the letter that was sent to the department last Monday by the IU Student Association. The letter criticizes BPD for what IUSA claims is a growing number of unfounded arrests of students in and around the bars late at night. \nJudd Arnold, IUSA vice president, said the letter is the result of a growing concern among students who feel they are being unfairly targeted by police with charges such as public intoxication. \n"It's getting to the point where everyone has a story," Arnold said. "We are hearing things from students like 'I don't trust the police,' 'I think that what they're doing is wrong.'"\nChief of Police Michael Hostetler, to whom the letter was addressed, has declined to comment on the issue until he is given a copy of the letter. Captain Michael Diekhoff and Qualters also said they will not release a statement until they see the letter. \n"I don't know if the mail service has failed to deliver it, but I have not seen a copy of that letter," Hostetler said Friday. "It is very hard to comment on a letter that I have not seen."\nLt. Jerry Minger of IU Police Department did comment on the situation the letter addresses. He questions the idea that BPD officers would make unfounded arrests.\n"Officers don't have the resources to target people. In 99 percent of the arrests that are made for public intoxication and illegal consumption, these things were found after people drew attention to themselves for something else such as vandalism or running out into traffic," Minger said. "If someone is merely walking home from a bar, there is absolutely nothing that would draw attention to that person."\nThis seems to be where the point of contention lies. Arnold said he believes students are getting in trouble for simply walking home.\n"I am not talking about someone who's being obnoxious and is obviously intoxicated," Arnold said. "I am talking about incidents where someone who's had maybe a few drinks and is walking home is getting arrested for public intoxication. When you arrest someone for being responsible and walking, you're not doing good. In fact, I would argue that there's a lot of bad being done."\nMany other students also said they are being treated with increased and unnecessary scrutiny. \nSenior Brad Lockwood described an incident in which he and some friends were arrested while outside waiting for a ride home. He said they were not doing anything to warrant a public intoxication charge. \nSenior Kristen Carmin also said students are getting unfair treatment. She said some friends were arrested in the parking lot of their apartment complex as they were returning home. \n"There was no reason for the cop to stop them," Carmin said. "They had a sober driver, and they were going home. There are so many better things that a cop could be doing, like going after actual people who are actually drunk driving or beating their wives."\nOther students said most arrests are warranted. \n"When people get drunk and don't have a way home, they are stupid enough to actually walk, so when they get in trouble they really shouldn't be surprised," said senior Mike Ward. "I am totally willing to give a drunk person a ride home. There should be some service where drunks can get a free ride home. Or they could say hey, I'm going to spend a few extra bucks on a cab; it's a lot safer." \nStatistics from the BPD show public intoxication arrests have actually decreased since last year. From January to August 2001, the BPD arrested a total of 350 people for public intoxication. From January to August of this year, only 253 arrests were made. It is important to note that these figures make no distinction between students and non-students. \nLt. Minger pointed out what he sees as the larger problem -- alcohol consumption. \n"Alcohol abuse is the problem, not the issue of whether or not you are going to drive," he said. "Students should not be drinking to this excess."\nArnold questioned the idea of alcoholism on campus. \n"We're in a college town, and they've tried prohibition measures before," Arnold said. "I don't think it's alcohol abuse, which is a physical addiction. We are talking about college kids going out and having a good time just as their parents did when they were in school."\nMinger also questioned IUSA's motivation for sending this type of accusatory letter to the BPD. "Instead of IUSA being critical of a law enforcement body, they would be better off working with the police department on this issue," Minger said. \nArnold said that the motivation behind the letter has been somewhat "blown out of proportion." \n"The letter was meant as a heads-up on all sides," Arnold said. "We are saying that this is a problem, so let's put it on the table and talk about it. We want to work with the BPD on this issue. We thought it was important to write a letter rather than merely making a phone call in order to draw attention to this important issue"