Since the city of Columbus implemented its amnesty program for outstanding Municipal Court fines on Feb. 1, the dividends have started paying off — financially and in the number of warrants served.
CPD Public Information Officer Terrie Songer said as of Saturday, the department had collected $210,926.78 in fines, and approximately 249 warrants have been served since the program was put in place.
“We are continuing to serve old warrants, but if any new warrants are issued by the courts for contempt of court, or someone signs an affidavit, we will serve those first. Those will take precedence,” she said.
On Feb. 1, Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and CPD Police Chief Joseph St. John held a press conference to announce that the city and the police department were having an amnesty program designed to clear a backlog of warrants and fines owed to the city.
Both the mayor and the chief urged those who owe outstanding fines to voluntarily come to the Municipal Building to pay the fines and receive amnesty. If they did not come to pay the fine, CPD officers would come looking for them to make an arrest.
St. John said the persons who get amnesty would have to pay court costs, but not additional contempt of court charges.
Songer said two veteran officers have been assigned to handle the duties of serving warrants to those who have not taken advantage of the amnesty program.
”These are full-time officers who will be on warrant detail, but they will maintain their other duties as well. We will have some reserve officers to assist them when needed,” she said.
Chief St. John said the fact they are veteran officers on the force were why they were selected.
“Both officers are veterans who know people and will be effective in these duties, and other duties assigned to them,” he said.
Songer said the warrant detail is a unit that will stay intact with the department, although the officers in charge will change when necessary.
The amnesty program runs through April 30.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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