Police say discretion used in late-night stops arrests

The Bloomington Police Department has come under fire in the last month because of a letter received from the IU Student Association, accusing police officers of using "unfair" tactics when patrolling. \nBut BPD officers have responded, saying their actions are not unreasonable.\nBPD Sergeant William Parker said discretion is used when making arrests for public intoxication. \n"If a person is intoxicated, they aren't in control of their faculties. They are injurious to peace and order," Parker said. \nHe added that citations are not issued for public intoxication, only arrests because it is a misdemeanor offense. \n"A person who is publicly intoxicated could be dangerous, therefore, arrests are usually made as opposed to citations," Parker said. "People usually get citations for illegal consumption because it doesn't solve the problem to be taken into custody." \nHe added that no one can be given a warning for public intoxication; warnings are issued for less serious offenses such as traffic violations.\nBPD Sergeant Randy Williamson said officers don't specifically look for publicly intoxicated students unless a complaint has been made about loud noise or fights.\nWilliamson said that with a small patrol force of 7 to 10 officers for Monroe County, they don't have time to sit outside bars to make arrests. \n"If you bring attention to yourself, we'll give you all the attention you want," he said. \nWilliamson said if an officer on duty sees a person walking who is stumbling and appears to be intoxicated, they might stop the person. It's the same as if the officer stops a driver who is swerving, or goes to the scene of a car accident. \nAccording to the Bloomington Police blotter, the majority of arrests made for public intoxication are not people walking home, but people driving in cars who get in accidents, Williamson said.\nParker and Williamson said they agreed students have the right to feel safe and will not get stopped unless officers witness obnoxious activity.\nSome students are paranoid because they have heard stories that officers had stopped students under perfectly normal circumstances. \nSophomore Matt Roemer said he was talking to a friend outside after walking home from a party when two officers started asking them questions. This led to the officers giving both students a breathalizer. \nRoemer said he and his friend were not making loud noises or drawing attention to themselves in any way. \n"They asked these questions without real good reason," Roemer said. "I felt that was very unfair." \nRoemer said he also thought it was unfair that some of his friends were stopped after walking home from a bar. \n"It's a major hassle to try to find a ride when you can just walk home," Roemer said. "That's pretty ridiculous if you can't do that."\nIUSA vice president Judd Arnold said IUSA was addressing the problem students have with BPD.\n"The reason for our letter (to the BPD) is the perception among students is that there's a problem," Arnold said. "The reality is if students are choosing to drive instead of walk, that's a problem."\nParker said he didn't understand the logic of that argument.\n"If you're too impaired to walk without attracting the attention of an officer, what makes them think they are able to drive?" Parker said.\nIUSA president Bill Gray and treasurer Blair Greenburg will go on a "ride-along" with the BPD this weekend, Arnold said. He said their goal is to have the BPD set up solid criteria that they look for when making arrests for public intoxication.\nAt a meeting last week, no definite agreements were made on the issues discussed, Arnold said.\n"Everyone acknowledged where everyone was coming from," he said. "There has been progress, but we have a long way to go"