Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991 TAG: 9104120895
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-20 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Tammy Poole
DATELINE: BUCHANAN LENGTH: Medium
The group also complained about the tactics of the town's part-time police officer, Jim Phillips, and his parking sites. They said too many of their customers are being stopped for speeding.
"This isn't a big city. This is Buchanan," said R.L. "Butch" Schaffer, who previously complained to council about two incidents when Phillips had stopped him - once for speeding and once for driving too slowly.
Schaffer, who lives outside Buchanan, said he's stopped shopping in town because he does not want to be stopped by Phillips, whom he described as being "too hard-core . . . Mr. Phillips has the attitude that he can do anything he wants because he is a police officer."
Wayne Thompson, who owns several businesses, said Phillips needs to change his "tactics and public relations. When you come into this town and see a police car - that ain't no way to treat somebody . . . You have given us the reputation of being a speed trap of a town."
Phillips said he has studied the town's traffic patterns and he parks in the most dangerous area of town during its heaviest traffic.
Citing a recent fatality on U.S. 11 in the town, Phillips said: "I've heard rumors through the grapevine that it was my fault that I didn't stop the man whom some people say must have been speeding just before he died in the accident.
"I'm required to enforce the laws of the state of Virginia. I have civil liabilities. If I see someone speeding and two miles down the road he hits a child, then the town could be held liable, as well as myself."
Phillips also said several residents have thanked him for staking out the busy areas.
The businessmen said they have no complaints about ticketing people for going 15 miles or more over the posted speed limit.
On another matter, council voted to eliminate the old emergency number, 254-1111, as of May 1, since the town has a 911 emergency phone number.
by CNB