Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken says his department has rebuilt its traffic unit and has been conducting more preventative, high-visibility traffic stops this year, reporting a 62% increase in traffic stops over the last two weeks as compared with the same period last year.
Balken provided the statistics as part of his regular report to the Ocala City Council during its meeting on Tuesday, March 4.
Balken says that in the two-week period from February 17 to March 2, his department conducted approximately 1,069 traffic stops. That number represents a 62% increase over the same period last year.
According to Ocala Fire Chief Clint Welborn, during the same two-week period in question, approximately 158 accidents were reported throughout the city of Ocala.
In the last several weeks, Ocala-News.com has reported on at least five fatal accidents involving Ocala pedestrians.
Balken attributed the increase to his department filling its ranks, saying that they have been able to get more officers out to do preventative stops.
“We’ve been able to get more officers out there to do proactive, preventative patrols and traffic stops. And it also helps, of course, rebuilding that traffic unit,” said Balken.
The heat map of the traffic stops shows concentrations in similar locations to the previous map, including downtown Ocala, State Road 200/SW College Road, East Silver Springs Boulevard, and SE Maricamp Road.
Last month, over the previous two-week period in February, Balken reported that around 1,129 traffic stops were performed. Those stops were largely conducted in the same areas, according to the map.