Uniform – Traffic Enforcement

Special Operations

The Special Operations Unit at the Duluth Police Department is a highly-qualified select group of officers assigned to Motors, H.E.A.T. and Mounted Patrol. The mission of the Special Operations Unit is to save lives through traffic enforcement and education of the public.

Responsibilities of the Special Operations Officers include investigating and reporting accidents, following up on hit and runs, and strategic traffic enforcement throughout the city. The officers handle the majority of the traffic complaints from the motoring public, which is no small task at the rate Duluth is growing. The officers are highly-trained in advanced traffic law, accident investigation and reconstruction, D.U.I. detection, and laser/radar speed detection.

The Special Operations Unit also conducts monthly license checkpoints. The purpose of these checkpoints is to make Duluth safer by removing drunk drivers from our streets. If you happen to come across one of these checkpoints, have your license handy and if you are drinking and driving, be prepared for “zero tolerance.” In Duluth if you drink and you drive- you lose.

# of DUI Arrests in 2006: 233

Click here to report a traffic complaint or to contact Sgt. Jill Manders, Special Operations Commander.

Motors

Currently, the Motor Unit consists of Corporal Tommy Pressley and Master Patrol Officer Thomas Hagerty. Together, the two have more than 35 years of motorcycle riding experience. Both were chosen for their professionalism and their motorcycle riding experience and abilities. Officer Pressley has been on the Motor Unit since it began in 1996 when the officers were riding the Harley Davidson Buells. Over the years, different motorcycles were used including the Harley Davidson Road King, the BMW R1110 and most currently, the 2005 Honda ST1300P police bikes.

Corporal Pressley and Master Patrol Officer Hagerty are responsible for enforcing traffic laws and organizing special details involving traffic direction and escorts. On any given day, they can be seen out and about, rain or shine, enforcing speed limits in school zones and investigating and reporting traffic accidents.

H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic)

Awarded Major DUI Traffic Enforcement Grant

In 2005, the City of Duluth Police Department was awarded $139,000 grant by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in order to form the city’s first HEAT Unit. With this money, the city was able to hire one new officer and purchase all the necessary equipment to outfit two officers, including two brand new 2006 Chevrolet Impalas to use while on patrol. In 2006, the grant was renewed, and the city received an additional $90,000 to continue the operation of the HEAT unit and purchase some state of the art equipment. The purpose of the HEAT Unit is to enforce traffic laws including DUIs, speeding and seatbelt violations and to educate the public about driving safely.

The Officers who make up the HEAT Unit are Officers Joseph Tomalka and Officer Bobby Johnson. These two officers were specifically chosen for their ability to work effectively and because they have a sincere desire to make the streets of Duluth safer.

Officers Tomalka and Johnson work primarily in the late evening/early morning hours and are especially proficient at detecting and arresting D.U.I. offenders. Last year, Officer Tomalka made over 200 arrests for driving under the influence and is nominated for the MADD Georgia HERO Award and MADD Georgia Officer of the Year 2005.

Mounted Patrol

In 2003, after many months of research, hard work, and fundraising, the mounted patrol unit was started by Sgt. Jill Manders. Beginning with just an idea, and generous donations from citizens in and around Duluth, Sgt. Manders has built the mounted patrol unit into what it is today. In 2005, she was joined by Master Patrol Officer Jimmy Purvis and both they, and their horses “Tango” and “Cash” received mounted patrol state certification. In 2006, two more equine members “Justy” and “Jake” were added for a total of four horses.

Mounted units perform many different functions including crowd control, patrolling neighborhoods, shopping centers and the park trails. They can get to places that a patrol vehicle cannot, and are surprisingly agile creatures. They also serve as a good public relations tool. Being on a horse makes the officers much more approachable, especially in the eyes of children and any type of animal lover. They can be seen out and about in places like the shopping centers, Duluth’s Town Green during “Winter Wonderland” and concerts and at the 3rd of July Celebration in Duluth at Rivergreen Parkway.

The mounted patrol unit relies greatly on donations from the public to keep it in operation. For information on how to make a donation, or if you have specific questions about the mounted patrol unit, please contact Sgt. Jill Manders.