Published July 22, 2008 06:21 pm - A killed kitty is at the center of a hot debate about speeding cars and police protection.
GOTL woman says police lax on speeders
By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — A killed kitty is at the center of a hot debate about speeding cars and police protection.
Natasha Nolan says speeders deliberately struck her cat twice Monday as it walked across University Drive and calls the problem, “a terrible, ongoing situation.”
Nolan heard screeching tires and realized her cat, Blue, had been struck by an oncoming vehicle, she said.
“I ran outside and watched as the car turned around and ran over Blue again,” Nolan said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Nolan said speeding cars are a big problem on University Drive, which is a shortcut to the village “strip” from Austin Road.
“People drive up and down this road so fast and we complain and complain and complain with no help,” Nolan said.
Police Chief Tim Bruckman said officers are doing all they can to curb speeding throughout the village, but patrolling every road every day isn’t possible.
“We have provided extra patrol in the University Drive area,” Bruckman said. “Some citations were issued, but not what I would call an abundance of citations by any means.”
Nolan said she felt slighted by officers as she cried over the loss of her cat.
“Basically all the police officer said was, ‘What do you want me to do about it?’” Nolan said. “I feel they are more interested in protecting the people that are on the strip versus the people whole live here year round.”
“What if this had been a child that was killed? I am so grateful that it wasn’t, but it could happen and I am afraid that it will happen,” she said.
Bruckman said he sympathizes with Nolan’s loss and will continue to spread police attention throughout village streets.
“It is a tragedy when anything dies and I am a real animal lover,” Bruckman said. “But the reality is that we can’t be on every street 24 hours a day seven days a week. We try, we really do, to provide as many services and as much protection as we can, but I’m not even sure if we could have saved a loose cat on a public street.”
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