Harper professor's new book relies heavily on Buffalo Grove police

Buffalo Grove police have gained a reputation for booking DUI offenders.

Now, they have helped write the book on traffic enforcement.

Ross Olmos, Harper College associate professor of law enforcement and justice administration, has written a college textbook on traffic enforcement and crash investigations with the assistance of Buffalo Grove police staff.

Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steve Balinski said Olmos' textbook will be used nationwide. Published by Pearson-Prentice Hall, "Traffic Enforcement and Crash Investigation" claims to be the first of its kind, a book that "presents comprehensive traffic related material that new police officers need to know," the publisher says on the book jacket.

"Beyond just a traffic law manual, it includes social and ethical issues and hot topics such as dealing with official misconduct, quotas, tolerances and officer discretion," the book notes say. "Its strong coverage of DUIs and up-to-date guidelines help prepare officers for one of their primary responsibilities: traffic enforcement, DUI enforcement and crash related investigations."

One key section deals with the proper way to communicate with violators. Olmos recommends greeting the violator "in a courteous manner, properly identifying oneself and explaining the nature of the traffic stop."

For their safety, it advises officers to always ask where the motorists' documents are and accept them with the non-weapon hand.

Balinski said Deputy Chief Jamie Dunne and Sgt. Scott Kristiansen provided valuable support for the project. Two Buffalo Grove police officers are on the cover.

"We are very proud that Dr. Olmos chose us as one of his models and used us as a resource," Dunne said.

Olmos specializes in police administration, law enforcement, ethics and leadership. He served 10 years on the Evanston police force, has a master's in criminal justice and public administration and was an assistant professor of criminal justice at Stockton State College in New Jersey.

Olmos spent nearly three years as director of public safety for Bridgewater, N.J. and then was executive director of the Police Training Academy for the Minnesota Community College system. He earned his doctorate in education at University of Minnesota in 1986.

He said the genesis of the book occurred a few years ago, when Harper College decided to introduce a course in traffic enforcement and crash investigation.

"We found out to our dismay that there was not an up-to-date textbook available to teach this course," Olmos said. When Olmos complained to Pearson-Prentice Hall, he was challenged to write one. He joked, "Like an idiot, I went ahead and did it."

He found, however, that much had changed since the days when he wrote tickets as a motorcycle cop. Luckily, an adjunct professor friend at Harper recommended that he contact the Buffalo Grove police - the recipient of numerous awards for traffic enforcement - for technical support and encouragement.

He said Buffalo Grove is fortunate to have a tremendously professional police department, "an outstanding group of men and women."

The publisher will donate 1 percent of the royalties on book sales to Special Olympics, on behalf of the Buffalo Grove Police Department.