Jalopnik 
Enter your username and password.
Detroit, 11:21 PM
Sun Nov 29
14 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip your editors:
tips@jalopnik.com
Editor-in-Chief:
Ray Wert | Email | AIM
Road Test Editor:
Wes Siler | Email
Weekend Editor:
Murilee Martin | Email
Associate Editor - Houston:
Matt Hardigree
Associate Editor - Detroit:
Ben Wojdyla
Editor-at-Large:
Mike Spinelli
Contributors:
Mark Arnold
John Krewson | Email
Andy Didorosi
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
11/22/09
I've witnessed them drag-racing each other at night, and blowing through red lights while doing so. I've seen this in Bridgeport as well, and they currently have a case/investigation involving a drunk officer who smashed into a parked car- which the supervising lieutenant tried to cover-up.
11/21/09
11/20/09
The freedom of information act should be added to the Constitution if you ask me.
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
As I see the video, the thing I can't figure out is why one officer passes the other, unless the lead car said he was unfamilar with their destination and told the other to go around and lead. This radio traffic would have led to some distraction.
I am not saying this Officer is in the clear b/c it does appear something was amiss and he does need to be tried by peers to determine how much at fault he was.
11/20/09
We're just debating whether or not the actions taken against the officer in question are justified. While I personally believe that they are, I'm still not applying any blanket statements to cops.
Thanks for sharing the rules on it in your department.
11/20/09
Mello (the chief of police) confirmed that neither Milford cruiser had its light bar or siren on, and that neither officer was being dispatched to another call at the time of the crash.
State law requires police officers traveling without lights and sirens, and not dispatched on a call, to obey prevailing speed limits, the chief said.
They were returning from a call at which they had both been present-and, at least to me, the phrase "...neither officer was being dispatched to another call at the time of the crash" speaks volumes.
11/20/09
From the evidence here, it's pretty obvious that the two cops were either racing to the nearest Dunkin' Donuts, or just having some good old we-can-do-this-'cause-we're-cops fun. Sad.
11/20/09
It's ironic that literally yesterday I had to take a safety driver's class to reduce insurance cost and I had a retired officer try telling me that officers are not dangerous ever. I'm just sorry to say that now, I can say "told you so." :(
11/20/09
keep in mind that this is when there is a verifiable emergency AND when lights and siren are on. in these conditions here, there is NO excuse that any LEO can possibly have for traveling at that speed without lights on. even if they DID have lights on it would still be their fault.
this particular issue really chaps my ass, as there are too many officers that show willful disregard for the law they swear to uphold. the officers where i live speed and tailgate egregiously and often use their lights to blow red lights or make illegal left hand turns.
11/20/09
11/20/09
A bad idea, yeah. I try my best to avoid it, but if there were citations for this, every state debt would be paid for by the people within three days.
Left. Lane. Squatters. Suck.
More than double-posted + no lights = guilty of stupidity and reckless endangerment.
Had this been a "civilian", they'd have been hung, roadside.
For the record, change the Miata to a motorcycle, and this is one of, if not the most common accident which affects those on two-wheels.
11/20/09
11/20/09
Genius.
NW Oregon freeways are jammed at least in part because of the locals getting on, getting up to 45 while heading directly for the left lane, then sitting there.
11/23/09
11/23/09
Dude...my sympathies.
I'd not be able to move from the area quickly enough, even if I were driving a moving truck at the time.
So, the person squatting was not ticketed for obstruction of traffic. What peoples state was this???
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
11/20/09
Yea, it was blinking yellow. In many towns, after a certain hour, the lights will turn into flashing yellows on the main streets.
You can "run" blinking yellows.
11/20/09
11/20/09
All the pig did was swear up and down that he had his lights on and it was his word against hers. She never got a cent.
If these CT pigs don't get convicted, I hope they choke.
11/20/09
Patrol car shouldn't have been speeding and shouldn't have passed on the right, and should have had it's light bar going. Police car also did not slow or brake prior to the collision.
The turning car should have yielded to the oncoming traffic (unless it had a green arrow). But they should have had an expectation that oncoming traffic was traveling at approximately the speed limit - in which case they could have completed their turn without a collision.
Looks like the town's insurance premium just went up.
So sad for the families of those killed unnecessarily.
11/20/09
Either he was going to a call and forgot to put his lights on (negligence) or he was not going to a call (manslaughter).
The court will figure that out pretty quick with dispatch records, I imagine that's why he's listed with 2 counts of manslaughter.
Cops are our heroes, but they are trusted with so much power and responsibility, when they make a mistake of this magnitude, they cannot get away with it, or it hurts the credibility of every officer.