THE WARRANT SERVICE...

So last post was about Extradition and how it works when it comes to Law enforcement. That being said, the topic of discussion on this post will be concerning the next part of that Extradition process. Specifically, the part where the offender is in custody by Law enforcement and the warrant has been approved for Extradition via the original wanting agency.

LEOs in contact with the offender will detain him/her until it is determined whether or not the wanting agency wants to Extradite the subject. Once the agency confirms that Extradition is approved, the offender that is being detained by LEOs would be taken into custody and a copy of the warrant would be faxed to the agency taking the offender into custody for service. 

The offender would be arrested on a Warrant Service, taken before a Judge/Duty Officer/Magistrate, and then committed to the local jail facility pending being extradited into the custody of the original wanting agency.

The actual transport of the offender is determined by both involved agencies, majority of the time the offender and paperwork are transported via the agency holding custody to the state line or jurisdictional boundary where they would meet the wanting agency for the transfer. 

The offender and paperwork associated with him/her would be given to the wanting agencies LEOs and transported to their jail facility referencing the crimes committed within their jurisdiction.

Extradition and Warrant Services are common in Law enforcement, LEOs will do them often throughout their careers. Some Warrant Services won’t be from another state, but from another jurisdiction nearby. This process is how law enforcement officials communicate and transport offenders throughout the country to face justice for their crimes no matter where they are committed.

The Warrant Service…

TO EXTRADITE OR NOT TO EXTRADITE...

A lot of criminals commit crimes in states and then flee to other states believing that they have gotten away from justice, this isn’t the case and majority of the time those criminals are arrested without issues. That fact being stated, the topic of discussion today will be centered on Extradition, specifically what it is and when does it apply in Law enforcement.

Extradition is the act of transferring custody of someone wanted in reference to a crime or someone convicted of a crime to another jurisdiction or state. When a criminal commits a crime and a warrant or court order is issued against that person they can potentially be extradited back to that jurisdiction if they are caught in another jurisdiction or state. 

The charges against the person and type of charges against the person come into play when establishing whether or not the jurisdiction will allow for extradition. Majority of the time, if the offense is on the Misdemeanor Level it will not be extraditable. However, I have seen Misdemeanor warrants that are extraditable. Again, it depends on the charge against the accused. 

Felony charges will be majority of extraditable offenses, and even those can have restrictions attached to them when filing for extradition. Those restrictions can be based off of distance, specifically referencing a situation where the wanting state doesn’t want to pay to go get the accused unless they are arrested in specific states.

When an offender is wanted, that status is entered into the national database so every agency that has access to said database will be able to see that the offender is wanted out of a specific jurisdiction. When Law Enforcement Officers outside the wanted agencies encounter the wanted subject, they don’t just arrest them immediately…they detain them, and determine whether the jurisdiction that wants the subject has authorized extradition or not. If not, the subject will not be taken into custody because they haven’t broken any laws in the state they would be in at that point. 

Now if they go back to the state or jurisdiction that wants them and encounters LEOs, they will be promptly arrested referencing the offense charged.

That is quick and dirty explanation of Extradition, it can be from state to state or even country to country, and there are many aspects that govern extradition criteria when it comes to it happening. The point is that an offender can be arrested in another jurisdiction or state if wanted and then extradited back to the originating agency that wants them referencing the crime committed.

To Extradite or Not to Extradite…

  

ABANDONED VEHICLES, SOMEONE HAS TO DEAL WITH THEM...

The topic of discussion today will be focused around a simple abandoned vehicle complaint that I was dispatched to where the vehicle was abandoned on site in the middle of the roadway. It is a simple call for service and one that all Law Enforcement will be keen to handle on a normal basis when dealing with traffic complaints as a whole.

While on patrol in my designated area, I was dispatched to a two-way approach intersection in reference to an abandoned vehicle in the middle of the roadway causing traffic to build up. Normal day, clear skies, decent weather, and steady traffic in my area of patrol. 

Upon arrival at the scene, I observed exactly what was reported to the dispatcher…a vehicle in the middle of the roadway with hazards on with no one around it. Upon further observation of the vehicle it was determined that the vehicle was road worthy and that it was not reported stolen of any kind. All four doors were found ajar, and the contents of the vehicle had all be removed. At face value the vehicle seemed to be fine, just abandoned on the roadway.

While investigating the vehicle, I was also giving any potential owners or custodians time to get back to the vehicle if they had left the scene for some reason. After some time, it was determined that the vehicle was abandoned and would be required to be towed from the middle of the roadway. 

Thus, I inventory searched the vehicle, found no valuables, filled out the paperwork required for tow, and then notified the tow company to come get the vehicle. The vehicle was towed from the roadway without incident.

So at this point the call for service was completed, however I investigated the area a little bit more and was able to determine that juveniles had been joyriding in the vehicle, and decided to leave it at the location found. 

I determined this via several CCTV cameras where the vehicle is seem being operated by four (4) younger children probably 16-18 years of age. Unfortunately, the juvenile’s identities couldn’t be confirmed, but at least the vehicle was recovered without incident. 

I call that a win…definitely when dealing with juveniles. My reasoning for saying it like that is a whole another discussion…lefts just say juvenile court isn’t up to par when it comes to handling crimes committed by juveniles…

Nevertheless, this incident required tow because the vehicle wasn’t in a legal parking zone/spot and it was obstructing traffic flow. This is a very common call for service and normally requires tow, or just a notification sticker letting whoever is maintaining ownership of the vehicle know that if it isn’t in compliance with the parking regulations or laws in a given time the vehicle will be towed at their expense. That about sums it up…

Abandoned Vehicles, Someone has to Deal with Them...

INFORMED CONSENT AND THE BREATHALYZER...

To wrap up the Driving under the Influence discussion we will be exploring the final aspects surrounding processing a Driving under the Influence call for service after the offender has already undergone Standardized Field Sobriety Test and are in custody at the jail or station area for further processing.

So in addition to the Preliminary Breath Test, there is the actual state certified Breathalyzer that must be utilized if a warrant for the offenders blood is not obtained. When it comes to the state certified Breathalyzer it is always managed by certified technicians and can only be utilized by said technicians. 

The state(s) have mandated that before an offender’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) can be tested via the utilization of the certified Breathalyzer device they have to be observed for a specified amount of time. 

During this time the technician is observing the offender for anything that could interfere with getting a valid sample of breath when utilizing the certified Breathalyzer. If something is observed the timeframe of observation is reset, if not the offender is tested and the results are documented.

If the offender refuses to follow instructions or to be tested, it is an additional charge. In most states when an individual gets a driver’s license they have given informed consent stating that if ever told to do so via Law Enforcement they would without question allow for the testing of breath via the state certified Breathalyzer. 

Upon the refusal, the offender is read documentation pertaining to their informed consent aloud, and asked again to participate in the testing. If the offender participates in the testing then it is conducted in compliance with the law, if not the offender is charged accordingly.

Once the results from the state certified Breathalyzer device is printed, it goes along with additional documentation to the Duty officer or Magistrate to be utilized in presenting probable cause that the offender was Driving under the Influence. In addition to that form, the offender is presented with a Notification of Suspension Form from the DMV and their license is confiscated. 

Once all the paperwork is completed and probable cause is determined to be valid via the Magistrate or Duty officer the offender is then processed into the jail facility and formally charged with Driving under the Influence.

At this point, the offender is in the custody of the jail, there license is suspended, there vehicle has been towed at their expense, and they have been charged with a crime that carries jail time. All of these negative aspects occurred because that offender decided to Drive under the Influence instead of finding other means of returning home.

The Driving under the Influence discussion provided a general overview of how the call for service is handled by Law Enforcement and what steps at a minimum would take place during that type of incident. 

I have arrested many people for Driving under the Influence and in my opinion it is completely avoidable, definitely in today’s society where ridesharing has ballooned and it is so easy to access alternative means of travelling instead of getting behind the wheel under the influence of something. 

People should have better sense than that and if they don’t I will definitely be there to arrest them for their mistake…

Informed Consent and the Breathalyzer… 

MLK DAY, 2020

Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day) has come arrived and I feel that it is a very important day for everyone not only because it is federal holiday, but also because of the life and legacy the day represents for everyone. 

Everyone knows who Martin Luther King Jr is and his nonviolent contributions to the Civil Rights movement that changes this country all those years ago so I won’t be exploring that avenue much. I will be focusing more on the legacy, what the day actually means, and should represent to everyone in this county.

Martin Luther King Day was established as a federal holiday, so everything governed by the Federal Reserve schedule and/or that recognizes the holiday in the private sector are closed. However, that doesn’t mean that those people shouldn’t be out working in the community. 

Majority of people these days unfortunately are just happy to have the day off from work/school, but the real reason for the day off from work/school is so that people can remember those nonviolent contributions and what was fought for during the Civil Rights Movement. In addition, it provides time for people to give back to the community in some sort of way.

It can be anything ranging from volunteer work, community outreach, given to those less fortunate, educating younger generations, etc. the point is that people are giving back and doing something towards making the society better. That is the legacy, which is the point of Martin Luther King Day. I say all of this because majority of people don’t actually under the holiday, but again are happy to have the day off from work/school.  

That being said, I challenge everyone to be better for the community moving forward, and to find time to give back to society in a meaningful way. People have given their lives for the luxuries of today’s world…so a few hours bettering society isn’t asking too much…

MLK Day, 2020

PRELIMINARY BREATH TESTER? GOOD? BAD?...

When it comes to the Driving while under the Influence investigative process for Law Enforcement Officers operating in the field there are a variety of steps required and I have covered a good general overview of them all to this point, there are a few more aspects that are required and the punishments associated with Driving under the Influence to review though. Hence, the topic of discussion for the day will be focused upon a required action that has to take place when investigating and/or processing a Driving under the Influence incident.

After the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are complete, the courts have decided that all LEOs are required to offer the offender access to a PBT or the Preliminary Breath Tester. The Preliminary Breath Tester is a small device that is calibrated to detect alcohol via the breath of any suspected offender. The use of the Preliminary Breath Tester can be utilized to aid in the probable cause required to arrest the offender in question, however whatever readings that are obtained cannot be utilized in court against the offender.

Think of it as a this for that type of agreement, the Preliminary Breath Tester can be used to assist in establishing the probable cause required for the arrest, but it can’t be used in court against the offender. Get it! Now to be specific, it can’t be used by the prosecution, however if the defendant side (offender) brings the reading from the Preliminary Breath Tester into the scope of the court it becomes fair game for use by both sides.

The Preliminary Breath Test is just another step that is required when processing a Driving under the influence incident. Once the person is in custody, there vehicle is inventoried, then towed, and then the offender is transported to jail for further processing. During the inventory search of the vehicle everything of value is noted on a Tow Certification Sheet, anything illegal found can be utilized against the offender in custody, and the vehicle will be required to be held at the tow yard for a specified timeframe before being released to its owner.

At the jail or station, the next aspect required for processing a Driving under the Influence incident will commence. But that is a discussion for next time, I am choosing to stop here for now. Hope the information is helpful and that if ever given the choice to drive under the influence or take alternative transit home you choose the alternative.

Preliminary Breath Tester? Good? Bad?... 

"STANDARDIZED" FIELD SOBRIETY TEST...

Keeping with the theme of Driving under the influence the topic of discussion today will be three (3) Standardized Field Sobriety test that Law Enforcement Officer utilize every day in the course of their duties to assist in determining whether or not drivers are operating motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Now I use the word “Standardized” because these three (3) test are the only ones backed by science and accepted in the courts are being eligible to determine impairment. That being said, there are other Field Sobriety tests but these three (3) are the only ones at this time that are considered “Standardized”. Today we will explore the three (3) test giving a short synapsis of the process that would take place during the testing phase.

The three (3) Standardized Field Sobriety tests are as follows: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk & Turn, and the One Leg stand. They must be done in that order to be valid, and the subject being tested must understand the instructions being given for the results to be valid.

Let’s start with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, during this phase of testing the subject in question is asked to follow the tip of the Officers pin or other object that can be seen easily. The subject is to use his/her eyes only and follow the directions given until the completion of the test. This test is based off the Nystagmus and its visible presence in those that consume alcohol or drugs. For those who don’t know, Nystagmus is the involuntary jerking of the eyes that is visible upon consumption of a certain amount of alcohol or from the consumption of certain drugs.    

Next, the Walk & Turn; during this test the subject in question will be placed in a specific walking style stance, they will be asked to image a solid line, then asked to take nine (9) heel to toe steps forward, then turn around, and take nine (9) heel to toe steps back. Again, they also will be told specific instructions to follow throughout the duration of the test. This test is about coordination, balance, and the ability to follow instructions. Due to the effects of alcohol or drugs on the brain this test is very effective in showing impairment.

Lastly, the One Leg Stand test; during this test the subject in question will be given specific instructions and asked not to begin until told to do so. The subject will be asked to raise either his/her right or left leg off the ground approximately six (6) inches and hold it there. The subject will be asked to keep the bottom of his/her foot parallel to the ground, and count aloud in a specific manner until told to stop. This test examines the subjects balance, coordination, and fine motor function under stress. Again, these aspects are impaired under the influence of alcohol or drugs hence this test is very good at determining impairment.

All of the Standardized Field Sobriety test are demonstrated to the subject by the officer before they are given, the test only begins when the subject states that they understand the instructions given and still want to proceed. That being said, this isn’t the entire process but it is a crucial part of the process.

The overall point is to determine enough probable cause to believe that the subject in question is under the influence of either alcohol or drugs and with that be able to justify taking them to jail for operating a motor vehicle while impaired.

There are other components that go into this investigation, but I will stop here and continue this discussion at a later time. 

Word from the wise, know your state of mind and ability when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle because if not someone could end up hurt or even dead.

"Standardized" Field Sobriety Test…

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE...

Law enforcement agencies across the nation deal with people that make the wrong decision and choose to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of a drug or alcohol. 

The legal BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) limit is currently set to 0.08, I say currently because there have been legislation presented in several states that reduces the BAC limit to 0.05. Most people know the limit, but don’t understand what exactly the number means. The number represents the amount of alcohol the human body absorbs and transports throughout the body via blood circulation at any given time.

Contrary to believe it is impossible to reach a BAC of 0.08 if someone consumes one beer and one beer only.

The BAC limit has been recognized by the state to be the limit established for the purpose of setting a limitation on a person’s ability to safety operate a motor vehicle. It is not the end all be all though, I have taken plenty of people to jail for driving under the influence that didn’t have much alcohol in their systems. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs is also illegal and will result in being arrested if found to be doing so.

When someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol their visual and motor skills are affected, this becomes very apparent when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. The vehicle will show signs that the driver isn’t in complete control of it, the vehicle will be swaying from lane to lane or even within one lane because the driver is constantly having to adjust its positioning to correct the sway cause by the lack of the fine motor skills required to keep a vehicle straight. 

Another symptom can be a vehicles in consistent speed, traveling in excess or well below the speed limit can be a clue in that the driver of the motor vehicle is impaired. While under the influence, the brain is constantly over analyzing the information being feed to it from the senses so this can cause a vehicle to be driving much slower or faster than the driver perceives it going.

Law Enforcement Officers are trained to detect and observe specific clues that someone is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. Upon observation of these clues, the vehicle in question will be stopped via proper traffic stop procedure, and an investigation will be conducted to determine whether or not the person can safely operate that motor vehicle. 

During this investigation several things will occur and will be taken note of, while speaking to the person the officer will be at the same time looking out for the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the person, the officer will also be looking throughout the vehicle to see if any open or recently consumed alcoholic beverages are present within the vehicle, and finally the visual appearance of the driver will be noted.

If based off that investigation the officer believes the subject is under the influence of a drug or alcohol, he/she will ask the driver to get out of the vehicle and then ask them whether or not they would like to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. 

There are three (3) Standardized Field Sobriety Test established to be accurate in determining whether someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Once the test are conducted, if they are found to be impaired, they are then taken to jail, and their vehicle is towed.

Driving under the influence is dangerous and someone can be hurt or even killed because of it…some people think that it is harmless, it is not and when I catch them doing it I will be promptly arresting them and explaining to them why it is so dangerous. 

This is an on-going topic of discussion that will be covered in more depth over time, but for now this is where I will be stopping. I hope none of you are driving drunk and if so…stop it before someone gets hurt or gets killed.

Driving Under the Influence…

LEOS AREN'T LAWYERS...BUT THEY DO KNOW THE LAW!

Law Enforcement Officers are required and expected to know all criminal and traffic laws, throughout the officer’s training he/she will be exposed to case law, criminal law, traffic law, civil law, etc. This isn’t all at once though, it occurs as an on-going training requirement governed by the state regulating the training required to maintain a Law enforcement certification. 

Laws change all the time, hence officers have to go through refresher courses or are taught the changes in roll call trainings, or briefings sanctioned at the officer’s home agency.

The reality is that any normal officer with experience will have a substantial knowledge of the law within his/her jurisdiction. However, no officer knows from memory all laws verbatim. Often times in fact officers tend to review the law before making any kind of major decision to make sure that the incident or criminal action is being addressed properly. 

LEOs are not lawyers, we are paid to enforce the law and maintain order. That being said, after working the street for a awhile and making a lot of arrests associated with varying charges…majority of officers know the major laws and how they apply.

If an officer doesn’t understand a law or are unsure about what to do in reference to determining if an action meets the criteria for a violation of law they have a few options; he/she can ask co-workers to see if any of them have the answer, if that doesn’t work he/she can call the supervisor on duty requesting some help, if that doesn’t work either he/she can contact the states attorney on duty and they will have an answer. The point is that LEOs have help when faced with a situation or incident where we aren’t exactly sure on how to move forward when it comes to applying the law.

Enforcing the law isn’t an easy thing to do, the laws change all the time, and the way they are enforced also changes all the time. It may seem like it is black and white, however that isn’t the case. It is up to Law enforcement to be that Grey area, that deciding factor that steps in to determine whether or not something is a violation of law and requires further action. 

Learning the law and maintaining an understanding of the law requires officers to constantly be studying the law through in-service courses, roll call trainings, or even just simply taking the time to read the actual law and understand what is being said. It isn’t hard and the resources are available to everyone interested in learning and understanding the law.

LEOs Aren’t Lawyers…But Do Know The Law!   

CONVICTS V. CRIMINALS...

Crimes are committed by criminals, Law enforcement stops said criminals, and upon conviction those criminals are given punishment in the form of financial obligations or time in jail/prison. 

Not all criminals are the same, majority are normal people that just make mistakes or have fell prey to an opportunity that happen to be illegal. There are those criminals, and then there are those criminals that commit crimes over and over again because it is all that they know. These types of criminals are habitual offenders and have come to be known as convicts.

Throughout my career in Law enforcement I have had the luxury of dealing with all types of criminals, when it comes to convicts I have had the opportunity to speak to them and get a feel for the reasoning behind the constant criminal behaviors. Unfortunately majority of them are hardened criminals that have no problem serving time in]1 jail or prison and will not ever get out of the criminal justice system.

Convicts differ from regular criminals because they know the system because they have been through it all too many times. Convicts don’t normally commit small level crimes because it isn’t worth it in their mind, so normally a convict will have served time in prison or jail in their past for criminal actions taken against society. Convicts aren’t out to prove anything to anyone because they have already done so in their minds through their documented criminal backgrounds. If you were look at a convict’s criminal history it would tell a story and provide a timeline of their lives from beginning to end.

Convicts are normally rather respectful as long as you treat them with the same level of respect that you’d like in return. In addition to that, Convicts will normally not act out unless provoked to do so or they have an opportunity to right what they think is a wrong. But in a normal situation, Convicts are just like any other person, however it should be known that they have a criminal mindset so any opportunity given they are liable to take. 

I have witnessed convicts commit criminal acts of violence, theft, and civil actions as well. However, I have also witnessed convicts defend someone that couldn’t defend themselves and express remorse for the criminal actions that have led them to become convicts.

After speaking to a few convicts it is clear that majority believe that society is flawed and against them, that the system has failed them, and thus the reasoning behind them committing crimes. It can be said that crimes committed by certain convicts are a cry for help in a sense in a society that doesn’t understand that everyone doesn’t have the same opportunities to grow and strive for something.

Of all the convicts I’ve had the opportunity to speak to, none of them ever didn’t take responsibility for their actions. They will tell what they did, why they did it that way, and whether or not they expected to get away with it. 

Convicts are an interesting group of people in society, some show concern for them and others just want to condemn them forever. Nevertheless, if a crime was committed and they are convicted, they will serve their punishment.

Convicts V. Criminals...

SEATBELTS ARE NOT OPTIONAL...

Law Enforcement Officers respond to traffic accidents; majority of the time they are property damage crashes where whether it is or isn’t reportable is irrelevant because our main focus is making sure everyone is okay. Most people have wised up, started wearing their seatbelts while driving…I definitely have given my share of citations for it...so society is at least aware of the issue and are moving towards the goal of everyone wearing their seatbelts while driving a motor vehicle. 

The topic of discussion today will be surrounding the seatbelts purpose and why it is so important. Before moving forward due understand that even if it wasn’t against the law I’d still advocate for wearing a seatbelt while operating a motor vehicle. That goes for everyone including my brothers and sisters in uniform operating vehicles 8-10 hours a day. That being said, lets discuss the topic further.

The purpose of wearing a seatbelt while operating a motor vehicle is literally to protect the occupants of the vehicle in a situation where the vehicle is out of control or comes to a sudden halt in movement without dissipating all its momentum.

The seatbelt locks when the vehicle detects an accident or when the brakes are applied quickly indicating a need to stop the vehicle as soon as possible. When it comes to an accident, without the seatbelt an occupant remains untethered to the vehicle. Hence, when the momentum of the vehicle experiences to sudden stop or change in direction there will be nothing stopping the untethered occupant from continuing on. This can cause that untethered occupant to be ejected from the vehicle resulting in serious harm or even possibly death from the injuries sustained.

The seatbelt keeps the occupant safely tethered to the vehicles momentum, so if the vehicle stops or changed directions suddenly in connection with being struck by another vehicle or object the occupant will have significantly less chances of being ejected and thus increased odds of survival.

There was an argument made in the Law enforcement community a long time ago, it was falsely believed that wearing a seatbelt added significant time to exiting the vehicle under stress or in pursuit of a fleeing suspect. A study was conducted, the result revealed that the added time was less than second, and thus insignificant. Majority of Law enforcement agencies are aware of the insignificance and as a result have implemented policies that state units are required to wear a seatbelt while operating a motor vehicle. Some still don’t in rebellion, but we are slowly becoming compliant as a whole.

Even if there wasn’t a policy in place, I personally would still wear my seatbelt when driving around on patrol for one simple reason…I have no desire to get ejected from my vehicle at speed…or worse get slammed face first into the windshield because nothing was tethering me to my seat…that is just me though, maybe I am just sane.

Seatbelts are Not Optional…

RESPONDING TO TRAFFIC INCIDENTS...

Throughout the tour of duty, a Law Enforcement Officer can and most likely will run into a wide variety of calls for service. One of the most common calls for service that Law Enforcement Officers respond to are traffic incidents, that means traffic accidents, traffic complaints, and traffic hazards. Majority of the time these type of calls for service don’t require too much involvement to resolve, however LEOs have to be present nonetheless to make sure any situation is resolved.

There are two types of traffic accidents when it comes to Law enforcement, Reportable and Non-Reportable. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles have mandated specific situations where a formal report of a traffic accident is required. A report is required under the following situations when working a traffic accident; all Hit & Run accidents, if the property damage to the vehicles involved exceeds a certain amount ($1500), if injury occurs to anyone involved with the accident, if property damage to any property belonging to the Department of Transportation occurs, and if the subjects involved request that a report be generated. Even if the accident doesn’t meet the reporting requirement if a citizen involved in the accident request a report be generated it should be done and noted why it is being generated.

Non-Reportable traffic accidents are a lot simpler, a report is not required under the following circumstances; if the accident occurred on private property, if the damage present on both vehicles don’t meet the $1500 minimum requirement, if only one vehicle is present at the scene. Non-Reportable traffic accident normally are handled with LEOs present on scene to make sure all parties involved are provided with insurance information pertaining to filing their claims with insurance.

Moving on, traffic complaints can range widely, but majority of the calls for service that come out for this can be surrounding a specific problem that is on-going concerning traffic. This can be someone reporting that cars are speeding through their neighborhood, that people in the community aren’t parking on the streets facing the correct direction, or a vehicle that is blocking someone from leaving their residences. It can vary widely, but these calls don’t normally require a formal report, just notes attached to the call stating what the resolution was concerning the incident.

Traffic hazards are normally reported by citizens that observe things that aren’t right while they are driving concerning the road. This is restricted to hazards or aspects that may lead the citizens to believe that if left alone will cause an accident or get someone hurt. A lot of traffic hazards are things dropped in the roadway by vehicles in transport, or animals observed in the roadway. it is simply remedied by removing whatever is in the roadway and making sure all lanes of travel are free to travel without incident.

This is a quick overview of several traffic incidents LEOs respond to on the daily basis, obviously each state and agencies have their way of doing things, but this can serve a general overview how things get taken care of on the roadway.

Responding to Traffic Incidents…

HAPPY NEW YEARS, 2020

It is finally time to say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020! It is the beginning of a new decade so it warrants some most needed changes. That being said, I want to wish you and all the love ones around you a Happy New Years. I truly hope that this year is filled with joy, happiness, love, wealth, challenge, and experiences that will never be forgotten. 

To my brothers and sisters in uniform, be safe while working in the field. We made it to another year, but not without some losses along the way. Protect everyone including yourselves, and know that you are not alone. If something is off or a situation is escalating fast…get some help there right away! Our ultimate goal for the year is for all of us to make it 2021 without serious Injury or Death. 

Some people make New Year Resolutions, I don’t because it doesn’t take the beginning of a new year for changes to be made or challenges for growth to be striven for. That can and should be happening all throughout the year. 

However, I do challenge everyone this year to make it one of the best years of your life. Take chances and do things that you want to do, visit new places, change your diet, move to a new location, etc. Whatever it is…I challenge you to stop holding back and do it this year!

Happy New Years, 2020