Police Attention Arrested by Library’s
“What to Do When Stopped” Program
A St. Joseph County (Ind.) Public Library presentation titled “What to Do When Stopped by Police” got unexpected publicity in mid-February when off-duty police officers began borrowing every book in a related display. “When we began to see books taken out by a police officer each day, we thought fine, maybe they want to read them,” Director Don Napoli said in the February 20 South Bend Tribune, adding, “We’re talking about multiple copies of the same book.” Among the titles were Beat Your Ticket: Go to Court Now and Win and Racial Profiling on Highways, Shopping Malls, Taxicabs and Sidewalks.
Some 30 off-duty officers attended the February 21 program, which attracted more than 200 people altogether. There were no incidents at the session, which was led by attorney Jeff Kimmell, who has brought several civil-rights cases against the department. His advice: Cooperate with police under all circumstances, and file suit later if you believe your rights were violated.
“People need to know this information,” audience member Jalna Wigfall said in the February 22 Tribune. Wigfall and other patrons researching their rights at the library inspired adult-programming head Cheryl Ashe to organize the program, according to the newspaper.
Posted February 25, 2002.
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