An Open Letter to the Ohio State Highway Patrol
To whom it may concern;
On November 12th, 2017 I was pulled over by a unit with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Madison Co., OH. I was on my way to a birthday party in Delaware Co., OH with my 4 year old daughter.
Apparently, I was clocked by an air unit, Plane 11 Unit 0611, going 86mph in a 70mph zone. I was then pulled over. Obviously nervous and concerned I made my way over to the right hand shoulder and stopped my car. Trooper B. Mueller and his partner approached my vehicle.
I am personally afraid of law enforcement. With the climate of cops killing unarmed Blacks regularly, I made sure all of my personal effects, such as ID and Insurance, were easily available and within arms reach.
I gave the troopers my ID and information. I was made aware there was a warrant for my arrest out of Montgomery Co., OH and that they had to take me into custody.
Being 40 miles from home, and 40 miles from the party, I was terrified my child was going to end up in CPS even momentarily.
Both trooper Mueller and his partner were extremely sensitive to this situation. They allowed me to contact my mother to retrieve both the car and my child. We waited on the highway so they could get confirmation that my mother was indeed in route.
Instead of splitting up my daughter and me, they loaded us into the back of their cruiser and took us to the OSHP outpost in West Jefferson, OH.
There they allowed me to sit with and play with my daughter. They allowed her to sit in my lap and allowed us to console each other. They provided her with crayons and a coloring book so she could try and relax.
Instead of traumatizing my child, they went above and beyond to make her as comfortable as humanly possible in that situation.
Once my mother arrived, they allowed us to speak for 10 minutes. They allowed us to say our goodbyes and make sure I had everything in order.
I do not agree with arresting individuals for victimless crimes. If the State is the only victim, then there is NO CRIME. But regardless of that, I want to commend Trooper B. Mueller and his partner for being human and not just being "blue," or "doing their jobs."
It is important for us to recognize people who go above and beyond regardless if we agree with their politics or what have you.
I hope that this letter will show more LEO's (Law Enforcement Officers) that compassion is the way, not brutality.
Sincerely,
Jaimes Campbell
(Founder / Editor-in-Chief of The Rust Belt Tribune)
