JEFFERSON, GA – The Jefferson Police Department out of Georgia reportedly drafted a new policy regarding the issuance of traffic citations after bodycam footage captured in August 2025 revealed what city leaders called “unacceptable” conduct stemming from the police chief.
A memorandum delineating the new traffic citation policy for the Jefferson Police Department (JPD) dubbed “Prohibition on Request for Preferential Treatment Regarding Traffic Citations/Warnings” leaves little to the imagination as to what the updated policy outlines. However, it’s the conduct that compelled the updated policy that caused quite the stir in the northeast Georgia community.
On August 23rd, Officer Jordan Redman conducted a traffic stop for an alleged cellphone usage violation of an individual named Stacy Blanton. Bodycam footage of the incident showed Blanton telling Officer Redman, “You must be new,” while handing over his license.
What Officer Redman didn’t know at the time of the traffic stop was that Blanton immediately called Police Chief Steven Bannister after being pulled over, but said ignorance to matter didn’t last long after bodycam footage showed the moments where Chief Bannister called Officer Redman while he sat in his patrol vehicle.
Chief Bannister immediately questions the officer as to whether he pulled over Blanton, with Officer Redman confirming such and immediately inquiring as to who this person is. The JPD chief explains that Blanton does the oil changes for the police department at a reasonable price, saying, “He can be a butt when he wants to be. But he cuts us a heck of a deal to service our cars, we get it done cheaper there than anywhere else.”
After Officer Redman seemingly signaled to his chief that he’d potentially cut Blanton a break on the citation, Chief Bannister then told the officer, “Just tell him that he owes us some free oil changes.”
While Officer Redman ostensibly suggested to his chief he’d appease the request, he did the opposite, issuing a $50 citation to a confused Blanton who immediately began questioning the officer if he’d received a phone call from his chief.
“Your chief just called…He didn’t say anything to you.” Blanton asked, with Officer Redman confirming he’d spoken with Chief Bannister while adding, “That is a private phone call, sir.”
In the wake of the situation, Officer Redman reportedly resigned from the police department, while Chief Bannister was issued a formal reprimand from City Manager Priscilla A. Murphy for inappropriate interference this past September.
“Your actions directly violate the principles of operational integrity and impartial law enforcement,” Murphy noted in the reprimand letter issued to Chief Bannister, claiming his actions during the August incident “undermined the authority and discretion of the on-duty officer, created a perception of preferential treatment, and risked public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the police department.”
No additional disciplinary action was taken against Chief Bannister, but he was instructed to draft the now-updated policy regarding traffic citations which directly forbids the conduct he engaged in last summer.
A memorandum delineating the new traffic citation policy for the Jefferson Police Department (JPD) dubbed “Prohibition on Request for Preferential Treatment Regarding Traffic Citations/Warnings” leaves little to the imagination as to what the updated policy outlines. However, it’s the conduct that compelled the updated policy that caused quite the stir in the northeast Georgia community.
On August 23rd, Officer Jordan Redman conducted a traffic stop for an alleged cellphone usage violation of an individual named Stacy Blanton. Bodycam footage of the incident showed Blanton telling Officer Redman, “You must be new,” while handing over his license.
What Officer Redman didn’t know at the time of the traffic stop was that Blanton immediately called Police Chief Steven Bannister after being pulled over, but said ignorance to matter didn’t last long after bodycam footage showed the moments where Chief Bannister called Officer Redman while he sat in his patrol vehicle.
Chief Bannister immediately questions the officer as to whether he pulled over Blanton, with Officer Redman confirming such and immediately inquiring as to who this person is. The JPD chief explains that Blanton does the oil changes for the police department at a reasonable price, saying, “He can be a butt when he wants to be. But he cuts us a heck of a deal to service our cars, we get it done cheaper there than anywhere else.”
After Officer Redman seemingly signaled to his chief that he’d potentially cut Blanton a break on the citation, Chief Bannister then told the officer, “Just tell him that he owes us some free oil changes.”
While Officer Redman ostensibly suggested to his chief he’d appease the request, he did the opposite, issuing a $50 citation to a confused Blanton who immediately began questioning the officer if he’d received a phone call from his chief.
“Your chief just called…He didn’t say anything to you.” Blanton asked, with Officer Redman confirming he’d spoken with Chief Bannister while adding, “That is a private phone call, sir.”
In the wake of the situation, Officer Redman reportedly resigned from the police department, while Chief Bannister was issued a formal reprimand from City Manager Priscilla A. Murphy for inappropriate interference this past September.
“Your actions directly violate the principles of operational integrity and impartial law enforcement,” Murphy noted in the reprimand letter issued to Chief Bannister, claiming his actions during the August incident “undermined the authority and discretion of the on-duty officer, created a perception of preferential treatment, and risked public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the police department.”
No additional disciplinary action was taken against Chief Bannister, but he was instructed to draft the now-updated policy regarding traffic citations which directly forbids the conduct he engaged in last summer.
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Comments
2026-02-19T19:29-0500 | Comment by: arthur
Good for this officer, he gave the ticket anyway, and then quit rather then be compromised further by working for a crooked boss. Hope he can find a job as a good cop working for a boss that's not corrupt. Yeah, I know, good luck with that, just hoping there are a few out there.