Matthew Protheroe

Review of Lodi Police Department

As I was travelling down CA-12 today (12/17/2018 @...

As I was travelling down CA-12 today (12/17/2018 @ approximately 10:30 AM) I witnessed a female officer, of whom I was not able to get name or badge number from, make several illegal traffic violations. This officer was in a newer Ford Explorer with what I believe was unit number 33, however the license plate number was 1434139. When I called her out on just the fact that she was texting while driving (illegal in all 50 states as far as I'm aware) she became hostile. Now, I know that I am not the only one in this country tired of police thinking that they are above the law. During the few moments that I witnessed this officer violating traffic laws, she had made multiple lane changes without using a turn signal. I do understand that from time to time we all make a lane change and forget to use our blinkers, but she didnt use it one time, including when turning left at a traffic light. As for her messing with a hand held device while operating a vehicle, she was swerving all over the road like a drunk driver, then when I called her out on it, she proceeded to lie about it. Now if I had been holding my phone, texting and driving, I would have been pulled over and given a huge fine. As a professional driver, I am held to a higher standard while driving, either my truck or my personal car. When are we as a society going to hold these officers to a higher "professional" standard?

I'm by no means implying that we need to use violence to get what we want, because violence gets us no where. But we need to start reporting these officers to their superiors, and or move the complaints up to Internal Affairs. These people are not above the law, no matter what city/state they are from. We as a society, when we pay city and state taxes, pay these officers paychecks. Enough is enough. Its time to stop paying the paychecks of corrupt police and start holding them accountable for their actions. Police the police, and stop allowing these people to think they can do whatever just because they wear a badge everyday.