Cop out? What have police learned after last fall's crosswalk incidents?
Last fall, in the space of six weeks, a pair of incidents between pedestrians in crosswalks and police shook Charlottesville and sparked protests and petitions demanding police accountability and greater emphasis on pedestrian rights and safety.
One year later, in the wake of those incidents, the city is spending $700,000 on pedestrian safety improvements while Police Chief Tim Longo has formed a citizen police advisory panel and boldly claims the department is a "leading advocate for pedestrian safety."
Critics, however, say these efforts are nothing more than a "band-aid" on a broken system. They blast the advisory panel as "toothless" and "meaningless," and say improved crosswalks and sidewalks are welcome– but that they don't address the police cover-up they say they witnessed last fall.
"Nothing has changed," charges Jim McKinley-Oakes, a licensed clinical social worker, who says his faith in the Charlottesville police force was shattered by what happened to his friend, Gerry Mitchell.
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Full Stories List for December 4th, 2008 issue #0749
FOOD- THE EATER- Mixed gumbo: Tiffany's crabcake doesn't delight
THE TOUGH CUSTOMER- $1,700 lost: Online 'loan' threatens Virginia's good name
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