Taxis on Patrol Taking to the Streets in Little Rock, Pulaski County
By: Marci Manley
Updated: October 22, 2012
Yellow Cab of Little Rock is partnering with law enforcement for the Taxis On Patrol (TOP) program.
With roughly 100 taxis driving in the metro area and Pulaski County during a given shift, authorities hope training cab drivers to see and report suspicious activity will help catch criminals.
"Extra eyes and ears area always beneficial to law enforcement. And it's just a program we hope succeeds," said Lt. Carl Minden of the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.
But according to Yellow Cab President Ellis Houston, cab drivers won't just be on the lookout for crooks.
"They can serve a public safety feature reporting serious traffic accidents, fires, and other things that people might not see -- especially late at night," Houston said. "We are in neighborhoods and driving around 24/7 at a time when the public at large isn't out and about."
Yellow Cab driver Lumumba Hadley one of several drivers who have helped police in an unofficial capacity. Hadley's in-cab video camera, standard to Little Rock's Yellow Cabs for roughly two years, caught a crash on tape.
Police were able to take the video from his cab and piece together details the drivers involved were unable to get straight.
"We see a lot out here," he said. "So, whether it's us being out at two or three in the morning when no one else is, or just being on the road and being in so many places at once, I think we help."
Drivers in the TOP program undergo training to detect criminal, suspicious, or concerning activity. They are not encouraged to intervene, but rather report the events to their dispatcher who forwards the call to police.
Yellow Cab has partnered successfully with law enforcement in other cities including Denver, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Birmingham, and Long Island.
Drivers will be offered incentives to report crimes and suspicious activity, including quarterly cash rewards.
With roughly 100 taxis driving in the metro area and Pulaski County during a given shift, authorities hope training cab drivers to see and report suspicious activity will help catch criminals.
"Extra eyes and ears area always beneficial to law enforcement. And it's just a program we hope succeeds," said Lt. Carl Minden of the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office.
But according to Yellow Cab President Ellis Houston, cab drivers won't just be on the lookout for crooks.
"They can serve a public safety feature reporting serious traffic accidents, fires, and other things that people might not see -- especially late at night," Houston said. "We are in neighborhoods and driving around 24/7 at a time when the public at large isn't out and about."
Yellow Cab driver Lumumba Hadley one of several drivers who have helped police in an unofficial capacity. Hadley's in-cab video camera, standard to Little Rock's Yellow Cabs for roughly two years, caught a crash on tape.
Police were able to take the video from his cab and piece together details the drivers involved were unable to get straight.
"We see a lot out here," he said. "So, whether it's us being out at two or three in the morning when no one else is, or just being on the road and being in so many places at once, I think we help."
Drivers in the TOP program undergo training to detect criminal, suspicious, or concerning activity. They are not encouraged to intervene, but rather report the events to their dispatcher who forwards the call to police.
Yellow Cab has partnered successfully with law enforcement in other cities including Denver, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Birmingham, and Long Island.
Drivers will be offered incentives to report crimes and suspicious activity, including quarterly cash rewards.
