Jamestown resident Doug Champ discusses issues with speeding on the city’s north side with Tim Jackson, Jamestown police chief and public safety director. P-J photo by John Whittaker

City resident Doug Champ is asking the city to step up road enforcement on the city’s north side.

Champ addressed the city’s Public Safety Committee on Monday. Champ complimented the police department’s additional enforcement of vehicle and traffic laws over the past year. The Post-Journal reported recently Jamestown police issued 3,363 tickets during 5,506 vehicle stops in 2023, two statistics from the department that saw huge jumps from the previous year, according to the department’s 2024 report to the City Council.

While complimentary of the city police department’s efforts to step up road enforcement, Champ asked for additional attention in neighborhoods near two north side schools.

“In addition to that, where I live on the north side is right between two schools,” Champ said. “I’m seeing now, with the good weather, a lot of violations of moving traffic law. I mean speeding going down there during school days and a variety of other stuff that’s associated with vehicles. So I would encourage you to revisit with the school district in terms of what you might be able to do with what you have.”

“Like a blitz?” Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5, asked.

“Anything that sends a message, not just when school starts, but during the day when the activity seems accelerated unnecessarily,” Champ responded.

At the end of the meeting, Joe Paterniti, R-Ward 4, asked Tim Jackson, city police chief and public safety director, to check out potential issues near the bottom of Barrett Avenue.

“I’ve received a couple of phone calls,” Paterniti said. “I’m sure Chief Jackson is well aware of the situation coming off of the Washington Street bridge in that housing area going up Barrett. There’s a lot of weird, sketchy stuff there. I’m sure you guys have had your eye on it, but I just wanted to bring that up because a few people have mentioned it. It’s pretty sketchy.”

In other news, Public Safety Committee members approved spending an additional $7,352 for a Lenco Bearcat armored vehicle for the city police department. But, instead of designating additional ARPA funding, Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large and Public Safety Committee chairman, asked that the additional cost be taken out of the Jamestown Police Department’s asset forfeiture fund. The amended resolution was approved unanimously by committee members with no additional discussion.

Committee members also approved a travel request for three officers to pick up the Bearcat in Massachusetts.