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MD: Police say driving is their top job risk
Josey1
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Police say driving is their top job risk
6 of past 8 city officers' deaths occurred on road; Urge to assist adds danger; Need to rush, distractions within car create hazards
By Del Quentin Wilber
Sun Staff
Originally published August 23, 2002
The fact that six Baltimore police officers have died since 1998 in car crashes while on duty underscores a daily hazard faced by officers behind the wheel, according to national experts and the department's top training official.
"Driving is the most dangerous thing we do," said Lt. Col. Stanford Franklin, who heads the Baltimore Police Department's training division.
Officer Crystal D. Sheffield was rushing to help a fellow officer late Wednesday when she entered a West Baltimore intersection and was struck by an unmarked car responding to aid the same officer. She died yesterday of her injuries.
Police officials indicated yesterday that Sheffield likely entered the intersection on a red light after slowing. But, the officials cautioned, investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened.
Ideally, officers are supposed to stop for red lights and slow at other intersections while responding to emergency calls to ensure the way is clear, police officials said.
Yet, even if officers take every precaution, driving a police car can be a dangerous task, especially when they race to help a colleague.
Police often drive much faster and aggressively than average motorists. While rushing to emergency calls or chasing suspects, police operate radios, decipher radio chatter and think about the impending incident and how to get there.
In urban areas, such as Baltimore, police must contend with intersections where views are blocked by buildings and traffic congestion. With their sirens blaring, police also often cannot hear other police cars responding to the same incident.
"Police officers are trying to pay attention to a number of different things," said John Grant, manager of the state and provincial police division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. "It's just dangerous. It's a high-risk situation."
Since 1998, six of eight officers killed in Baltimore died in auto accidents. Nationally, about one-third of all officers killed on duty die in car crashes. The percentage dipped last year to 18 percent because dozens of police died during the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. In 2000, 49 of 154 slain officers (32 percent) died in auto accidents.
In Baltimore, in 1998, Officer Harold J. Carey was killed when his police van collided with a police cruiser being driven by another officer. Both were responding to an officer in need of help.
In March 2000, Officer Jamie A. Roussey was killed when he drove into an intersection and his squad car was broadsided as he sought to help an officer.
The next month, Kevon M. Gavin was killed when his car was struck by a Ford Bronco being driven by a man fleeing police. Later that year, Officers Kevin J. McCarthy and John D. Platt were killed when their patrol car was struck by a car driven by a drunken driver.
Two other officers were killed during that same period - one in a helicopter crash, the other by gunfire.
Copyright c 2002, The Baltimore Sun
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-te.md.crash23aug23.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
6 of past 8 city officers' deaths occurred on road; Urge to assist adds danger; Need to rush, distractions within car create hazards
By Del Quentin Wilber
Sun Staff
Originally published August 23, 2002
The fact that six Baltimore police officers have died since 1998 in car crashes while on duty underscores a daily hazard faced by officers behind the wheel, according to national experts and the department's top training official.
"Driving is the most dangerous thing we do," said Lt. Col. Stanford Franklin, who heads the Baltimore Police Department's training division.
Officer Crystal D. Sheffield was rushing to help a fellow officer late Wednesday when she entered a West Baltimore intersection and was struck by an unmarked car responding to aid the same officer. She died yesterday of her injuries.
Police officials indicated yesterday that Sheffield likely entered the intersection on a red light after slowing. But, the officials cautioned, investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened.
Ideally, officers are supposed to stop for red lights and slow at other intersections while responding to emergency calls to ensure the way is clear, police officials said.
Yet, even if officers take every precaution, driving a police car can be a dangerous task, especially when they race to help a colleague.
Police often drive much faster and aggressively than average motorists. While rushing to emergency calls or chasing suspects, police operate radios, decipher radio chatter and think about the impending incident and how to get there.
In urban areas, such as Baltimore, police must contend with intersections where views are blocked by buildings and traffic congestion. With their sirens blaring, police also often cannot hear other police cars responding to the same incident.
"Police officers are trying to pay attention to a number of different things," said John Grant, manager of the state and provincial police division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. "It's just dangerous. It's a high-risk situation."
Since 1998, six of eight officers killed in Baltimore died in auto accidents. Nationally, about one-third of all officers killed on duty die in car crashes. The percentage dipped last year to 18 percent because dozens of police died during the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. In 2000, 49 of 154 slain officers (32 percent) died in auto accidents.
In Baltimore, in 1998, Officer Harold J. Carey was killed when his police van collided with a police cruiser being driven by another officer. Both were responding to an officer in need of help.
In March 2000, Officer Jamie A. Roussey was killed when he drove into an intersection and his squad car was broadsided as he sought to help an officer.
The next month, Kevon M. Gavin was killed when his car was struck by a Ford Bronco being driven by a man fleeing police. Later that year, Officers Kevin J. McCarthy and John D. Platt were killed when their patrol car was struck by a car driven by a drunken driver.
Two other officers were killed during that same period - one in a helicopter crash, the other by gunfire.
Copyright c 2002, The Baltimore Sun
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-te.md.crash23aug23.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS - The mayor tried sooth anger Friday in a neighborhood that erupted in violence after a 10-year-old black boy was hit by a bullet that ricocheted from a police officer's gun.
Tensions between the community's black residents and police were already running high since an incident last week in which police shot a 19-year-old black man who allegedly pointed a gun at an officer.
The wounding of the boy unleashed a torrent of emotion. Dozens of people shouted at police, smashed windows and assaulted members of the media covering the shooting.
"Certainly last night gave an example of the anger that is involved in the community. We need to address that," Mayor R.T. Rybak said Friday after spending the morning meeting with community leaders and meeting the boy in the hospital.
The boy was wounded Thursday night after an officer shot at a pit bull dog that had been turned loose on police who were trying to serve a search warrant on a house. The bullet hit concrete and ricocheted into the arm of the boy.
Tensions grew later as TV news crews arrived. About 75 to 100 people gathered in the north Minneapolis neighborhood and shouted at police and journalists.
Crowds surrounded a city bus and several media vehicles, smashing their windows. A KMSP-TV car was set on fire.
Two reporters for the Star Tribune of Minneapolis were beaten and suffered minor injuries, including one reporter who was pulled out of a station wagon.
The only arrests were of three people in connection with the search warrant on the house. They faced weapons and drug charges.
Rybak and Police Chief Robert Olson acknowledged that relations between police and the city's black community have been tense after a series of recent shootings.
On Aug. 1, a white officer, Melissa Schmidt, and a black suspect, Martha Donald, were both killed in a shootout.
Then came last week's shooting of a 19-year-old black man who was shot and wounded after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers.
Officials are investigating allegations that in the aftermath of the shooting a white police officer said: "You all got one of ours. Now we got one of yours."
http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/nation/3920332.htm
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By Scott E. Williams
The Daily News
Published August 21, 2002
TEXAS CITY - A Galveston police officer remains on duty while police here investigate a vandalism case that ended with the officer shooting at a group of teens.
Island police Sgt. Nicholas Rac fired at a group of 17- and 18-year-old high school students who told police they were wrapping his house with toilet paper as part of a band initiation for his daughter, also a student at Texas City High School.
"I've been looking at the situation, and there's not any reason for him not to be at work, so he's working," said Galveston Police Chief Robert Pierce.
Rac's attorney, Greg Cagle, said the officer only fired when the students came back after vandalizing his home and tried to run him over.
"When they came back, he went out to confront them. They backed up the truck, but then accelerated toward him, and that's when he fired the shot," Cagle said.
Sgt. Brian Goetchius, the Texas City detective investigating the case, said the grand jury that would ultimately hear the case would have a "self-defense element" to consider.
County criminal District Attorney Michael J. Guarino said the case would go to a grand jury without a recommendation on charges.
Goetchius said the grand jury would "get to consider the totality of the case, from `A' to `Z.'"
The result could be charges against Rac, charges against the students, or no charges at all.
Stephen Hadley, director of communications for Texas City Independent School District, said school officials were looking into the incident to determine what, if any, action the district should take.
Hadley said that for several years, band members had wrapped the houses of incoming freshman. While Hadley said the activity was not sanctioned or sponsored by the school district, he said the wrappers usually followed certain guidelines.
These guidelines included permission from all parents, including those whose houses were to be targeted.
Hadley said Saturday morning's incident did not seem to be part of the regular wrapping schedule.
"What happened Saturday night was separate from what's happened in the past," he said.
Cagle said the actual band initiation had occurred the previous weekend, and that the students who hit Rac's house Saturday had written vulgar slogans on the driveway and dumped garbage onto his porch.
"This was not some innocent school prank," he said.
Hadley said that school officials would investigate and decide what if any action should be taken. He also expected some discussion with students about what was and what was not appropriate.
"At some point there will probably be come type of education," he said
http://galvestondailynews.com/report.lasso?wcd=3948
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
By ROMA KHANNA
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
SEE IT NOW
Brandi Ratliff and Kyesa Scott, both 18, comfort each other after being released from police custody.
Video: Weekend raid in Kmart parking lot.
(Video courtesy of KHOU, Ch. 11)
(Requires Real Player)
Houston police Capt. Mark Aguirre, the man who ordered the arrests of 278 people at a westside Kmart last weekend, prodded a local restaurant to allow his officers to conduct a similar raid of its parking lot Saturday in a sting that netted 25 arrests.
Officials with the James Coney Island at 5745 Westheimer said they felt used after police swept in and arrested 25 people, some of whom were customers, for criminal trespass.
"We were cooperative with the idea (of the raid), but are not necessarily happy with the execution," said Darrin Straughan, a vice president with the restaurant chain. "We are victims here, too. We never imagined that this is the way it would be handled or that legitimate customers would be arrested."
Straughan said Aguirre approached the company two weeks ago and told restaurant officials that illegal drag racing along Westheimer had caused several fatal accidents and prompted neighborhood complaints. Aguirre asked the company to post four no-trespassing signs in the parking lot and to sign paperwork allowing police to make the arrests on the restaurant's property.
Company officials went along with Aguirre's plan, Straughan said, thinking their actions would be part of a subdued enforcement of city trespassing ordinances.
Instead, a swarm of officers backed by a police helicopter descended on the restaurant about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, rounding up customers and other people gathered in the parking lot. Police said the arrests continued until 4:30 a.m.
Most of those arrested, Straughan said, were among a group of motorcyclists that has gathered at the restaurant every weekend for nine years without problems.
Monica Coello, 36, was finishing a meal in the parking lot with her brother, sister, sister-in-law and 2-year-old niece when she was arrested.
"We were almost ready to leave when all the patrol cars came in and started blocking the entrances and exits," Coello said. "I wanted to lock my car, and they would not let me. They told me to shut up and walk to the back."
Coello's sister-in-law and niece were left behind, stranded. Police took Coello, her brother and sister to jail. Eventually, their mother shelled out $900 in bail, and the three siblings were freed.
Coello says she intends to sue the city.
Rachael Golden / Chronicle
This no-trespassing sign on a Sonic Drive-In's property frames the Westheimer Kmart parking lot where a police raid early Sunday led to the arrests of 278 people. Police also arrested 25 others for criminal trespassing early Saturday at a James Coney Island in the vicinity.
"I don't see how they can call it trespassing when we were eating at the restaurant," she said. "We kept trying to explain that to police but they would not let us."
Coello's complaint is similar to that of dozens, if not hundreds, of people arrested at a Kmart and Sonic Drive-In in the 8400 block of Westheimer just after midnight Sunday.
In that incident, dozens of police -- led by Aguirre and again targeting illegal drag racing -- raided the businesses' parking lots about 12:30 a.m. Several officers said that when no evidence of drag racing was found, Aguirre ordered the arrests of the 278 people gathered there.
Those arrests prompted complaints that police failed to discriminate between loitering teens and legitimate customers when making arrests.
Straughan said James Coney Island has received about 50 customer complaints about the arrests, and the company believes that the police violated their agreement with the restaurant.
"We signed a trespass affidavit that said `James Coney Island requests on our behalf that the Houston Police Department requests all persons who are not patrons in the normal course of business to immediately leave the property or be arrested,' " Straughan said, quoting the agreement.
But no one had the opportunity to "immediately leave," Straughan said.
"From what we have learned, nobody that HPD arrested was asked whether they were there as a customer," he said. The police "just showed up, blocked off entrances, and arrested everybody."
Straughan declined to comment on Aguirre, but he said the company plans to file a complaint with the Police Department. Officials with Kmart did not respond to calls for comment.
Police spokesman Robert Hurst said Wednesday that he couldn't speak about Straughan's concerns because police are investigating Sunday's arrests in the Kmart parking lot. Hurst declined to say whether the incidents at James Coney Island would be part of that investigation.
As police and the district attorney's office attempt to sort out Sunday's mass arrests at Kmart and Sonic Drive-In, local defense lawyers say such raids are "arrest them first and ask questions later" situations that leave room for many legal challenges.
Lawyers questioned whether the no-trespassing signs posted before the arrests are sufficient warning for a criminal trespassing arrest.
"When you have got 400 kids in a parking lot, signs are obscured," said Chip Lewis, a Houston defense lawyer. "The best notice would have been to give them formal citations. There was no reason for this to come to this many arrests."
Citations would have provided adequate warning that arrests could follow, said lawyer Anthony Osso.
"It is extremely indicative of the mentality of whoever was in charge that when they had the option of giving a citation in lieu of arresting someone, they chose to make arrests," Osso said. "Those arrests were unnecessary."
Several lawyers interviewed Wednesday said those who pleaded guilty after their arrests Sunday can request a trial, arguing that their pleas were made under duress. Many of those who pleaded guilty, some of whom were teenagers, said they did so to avoid spending another night in jail.
"They were still under the shock that many of them were arrested without just cause," said Osso. "If you have never been in trouble before, and you believe the police are there to protect you, you will plead if they say you can get out."
Members of City Council said Wednesday that they had received many e-mails and phone calls regarding the weekend arrests and that the public seems outraged about the operation.
"You have young kids whose lives are now forever marked by having been arrested for criminal trespassing ... in what seems like it wasn't an appropriate endeavor," said Councilman Gabriel Vasquez.
Councilman Gordon Quan said he was worried about young people having to report the arrests when applying to college or for jobs.
"We could have resolved this with citations more easily," Quan said. "I'd like to see if there's any way that possibly can be changed."
Mayor Lee Brown said he has asked the city's Office of Inspector General to speed up its investigation.
"They are looking at all aspects of what happened that night," Brown said. "There are still a lot of questions."
Chronicle reporter Kristen Mack contributed to this story.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1544301
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Residents discuss eliminating force.
Friday, August 23, 2002
By BRIAN SHAPPELL
The Express-Times
That was the question of the night from a crowd of nearly three dozen residents both bashing and supporting police at an emergency meeting Thursday called by Mayor Daniel Confalone in response to last week's burglary at the police station.
As a result of the burglary, borough council will discuss options for the future of the police department on Sept. 9, said Nick Martino, council vice president.
Confalone said the borough faces two options in response to the burglary: spend thousand of dollars to increase security measures including replacing the garage doors, installing a surveillance system, replacing the main-entry doors and constructing a lock-up area for weapons and records; or go to a regional police system which would eliminate the existing department. The borough would then partner with a neighboring borough or township for police coverage.
According to state police at Belfast, the police station was burglarized between midnight and 8 a.m. Aug. 16 after a garage door panel at the station was smashed open. The station is at Route 191 and Roseto Road.
On Thursday night, the door was not yet repaired. A sheet of plywood was attached to the part of the door that was damaged.
The suspects stole two shotguns, two semiautomatic handguns, two vests, two police uniforms, a canister of tear gas, and upward of 1,500 rounds of ammunition, among other items, according to reports.
Confalone said the weapons stolen have not yet been replaced.
The state police report also said the weapons, uniforms and ammunition were left unlocked and in plain view inside the station.
About three weeks before the burglary, someone entered an unlocked police car parked in front of the police station and stole a garage door opener and flashlights.
Police Chief Mark Chain said the garage door mechanism was disconnected after the opener was stolen. But police did not lock away the several weapons, uniforms or 1,500 rounds of ammunition that were stolen Friday from the station.
Chain and Confalone both said they did not believe the theft of the garage door opener foreshadowed a burglary at the police station. Confalone said he thought it was a prank of some sort.
Borough resident Joe Donatelli said he is in favor of getting rid of the current local police department in favor of a regional one because of "questionable common sense."
"They're not doing their jobs," he said. "I was in the Army. At the end of the day, the gun went in the rack and was locked."
Councilman Michael Goffredo said a "knee-jerk reaction" to the burglary would not help the borough become more safe. He also lauded the efforts of the officers in recent years.
"There should be no condemnation of these officers until we know all the facts," he said. "There was no breach of policy. The officers may only have had an error in judgment."
That did not stop several residents from throwing verbal barbs at the officers.
"Somebody should be held responsible," said Marcella Calviero, a Liberty Road resident. "Why were all those guns and ammunition unlocked? We all know what this world is like today. There's a big error in judgment there."
Because it is unknown who has the uniforms and weapons, Roseto residents were not the only ones to express concern.
"We don't know if kids have the guns," said Robin Oberholt, an Upper Mount Bethel Township resident. "We could have another Columbine on our hands here."
Others were not so quick to point the finger at the police department.
Vince Aversano, a Roseto resident and chief of the Washington Township Police Department, said people have not taken enough of an active interest in police business in the borough. He said people are always quick to point a finger at police when something goes wrong, but never applaud them for all the positive work they do for the community.
He also said people should not be so quick to jump on the regional police bandwagon because residents did not support such an initiative two years ago when the borough nearly went to a regional setup with Washington Township.
"There wasn't one-third this many people in here two years ago," Aversano said. "Now something happens and everyone wants to bash the cops."
Chain said he too is feeling deep frustration over the burglary.
"When I went in that morning, I was shocked to see my gear stolen -- my personal vest, my gun I've used for six years, my backup gun I purchased," Chain said.
Chain added the guns were all stored in the same area, not strewn about the office. He also said the ammunition was kept in a drawer and was not in plain view. He also said the notion of such a burglary would have been though highly unlikely in the past.
"The building was secure; the guns weren't," he continued. "Whoever would have thought someone would break in and take guns.
"We're still out there," Chain said. "We're going to do the best we can to get the guys who did this."
Reporter Brian Shappell can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at bshap@express-times.com.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-2/103009350579779.xml
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
August 23, 2002
COLUMBUS -- The former police officer accused of killing his wife and forcing a stand off on Interstate 71 has been released from the hospital.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Department says Hermando Harton is no longer at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.
He has been transferred to a long term care facility.
No charges have yet been filed against Harton.
http://www.wkyc.com/news/morelocal/columbus/020823standoffreleased.asp
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878