Having received numerous complaints from the community about red-light violations and other traffic infractions at the intersection of 16th Street and 4th Avenue, the Yuma Police Department’s Traffic Unit organized a detail Thursday morning to enforce traffic laws at the busy intersection.

“The intersection is under construction and traffic is really heavy there,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin, a spokesman for the Yuma Police Department. “It is hectic and people are ignoring traffic signals to try and get through it as quick as possible.”

As part of the detail a Yuma police sergeant stood at the intersection of 16th Street and 4th Avenue in plain clothes, holding a sign and a camera to capture video of the violations.

Franklin said when a traffic violation occurred, a nearby fully marked motorcycle officer was notified via radio and performed the traffic stop. The enforcement detail then moved to 24th Street and 4th Avenue.

During this detail 53 traffic stops were conducted with 47 citations issued for various traffic and other violations. The violations were: Red light — 15, Turning — 16, Cell phone use – 10, Speed – 7, Seat belt – 3, Child restraint — 1, Registration — 3, Insurance — 8, Suspended license — 3, No license — 1, Other — 5.

There were also three misdemeanor arrests and four vehicles impounded as a result of the detail.

Franklin said while the detail was being conducted many residents took to social media to notify others of the undercover officer’s presence. The majority of the comments were positive in nature and praised YPD for taking enforcement action and using such a creative method.

“The traffic unit came up with the idea,” Franklin said.

There were some negative posts, however, with one person posting to “kill” the officer.

According to a press release from the Yuma Police Department, Alexander Bodine made comments on social media to kill the Yuma Police Officer who was working in an undercover capacity during a traffic enforcement detail. This officer was standing in the open on a street corner in plain clothes.

Bodine was using a fake account but was identified through an elaborate investigation. He was contacted at his residence, taken into custody and later booked into the Yuma County Jail.

Another resident went to the area with his own sign telling everyone the person on the corner is a police officer.

“He was really nice about it,” Franklin said. “He stood there next to the sergeant holding a sign of his own with “police” written on it.”

Franklin said the man was not discouraged in any way to leave the scene and that he was actually helping to remind motorist that they needed to slow down, obey traffic signals and put down their cell phones while driving.

Yuma police would also like to remind our community that many of the accidents officers investigate could have been avoided by adhering to posted speed limits, stopping for all red lights and stop signs and remaining attentive while driving.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.