Why cops run red lights...

[cannon_fodder]

I raised this point with great frustration a while ago, and recently emailed the TPD to see what their take on it was as I see it continue to happen.  It is only fair to post their response, which I must say is as good as I could have hoped for.  Thank you TPD.

quote:This is an issue that is addressed frequently with in any police organization. I will say that you are correct in stating that officer are required by policy to follow the rules of the road when not running with lights and sirens. So it is an issue we talk to our officers everyday about driving within the law.

I will say that our policy states that officers may only drive with lights and sirens when another persons life is endanger. Unfortunately 98% of our calls don't rise to this level when the call is received. For instance, your wife or girlfriend is being assaulted by a person that is attempting to take her purse that does not rise to the level but is a serious situation. This is the reason that the officer may hit his lights and travel through an intersection. While I know that there are officers everyday that do this because they feel they can, most are trying to get to a call quicker than they can by driving by the rules of the road. I will not make excuses for these officers but rather offer an apology for their behavior.

I hope the behavior of some does not change your view of the whole organization!

Ask A Cop!
Officer Jason Willingham
Tulsa Police Department
askacop (a***t***) cityoftulsa.org

Thanks again. For your work, and your response.

[RecycleMichael]

Good answer.

When you need an officer, they can't get there too fast for me.

[mrhaskellok]

quote:  Good answer.
When you need an officer, they can't get there too fast for me.

[]  I like that answer.  I wish this forum had voting like yahoo answers do.  I would nominate RM's response as "Best Answer"  []

Actually, I would rather pay fewer officers and give them more liberty to use their discretion to get the job done and done safely then saturate the area with police officers that will usually be bored.  

We paid for those lights and sirens, I don't mind if they feel like getting to the call will aid them in resolving a dangerous situation quicker.  

Also, domestic disputes, are as I understand it, rarely "life threatening" or warrant lights and sirens under the current policy.  But, having spent hundreds of hours in the passenger seat of a police car, I know they are often the most dangerous call officers respond to.  

One other twist I thought of to this issue.  Because of the communication technology (laptops feeding live data about calls and such) perhaps it is time to rethink some of our policies for them.  I am wondering if there is less "guess work" now because of our more advanced communication systems like 911, that officers may indeed know enough about an upcoming call that they should give it more priority than current policies allow.   Perhaps a simple check and balance could be a simple request to run code made to dispatch.  Dispatch replies with a yes/no based on their knowledge of the call.

Just rambling but I think that CF brought up a good point.  Interested to see what the officer on the forum thinks.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I raised this point with great frustration a while ago, and recently emailed the TPD to see what their take on it was as I see it continue to happen.  It is only fair to post their response, which I must say is as good as I could have hoped for.  Thank you TPD.

quote:This is an issue that is addressed frequently with in any police organization. I will say that you are correct in stating that officer are required by policy to follow the rules of the road when not running with lights and sirens. So it is an issue we talk to our officers everyday about driving within the law.

I will say that our policy states that officers may only drive with lights and sirens when another persons life is endanger. Unfortunately 98% of our calls don't rise to this level when the call is received. For instance, your wife or girlfriend is being assaulted by a person that is attempting to take her purse that does not rise to the level but is a serious situation. This is the reason that the officer may hit his lights and travel through an intersection. While I know that there are officers everyday that do this because they feel they can, most are trying to get to a call quicker than they can by driving by the rules of the road. I will not make excuses for these officers but rather offer an apology for their behavior.

I hope the behavior of some does not change your view of the whole organization!

Ask A Cop!
Officer Jason Willingham
Tulsa Police Department
askacop (a***t***) cityoftulsa.org

Thanks again. For your work, and your response.

...life is endanger?

[EricP]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I raised this point with great frustration a while ago, and recently emailed the TPD to see what their take on it was as I see it continue to happen.  It is only fair to post their response, which I must say is as good as I could have hoped for.  Thank you TPD.

quote:This is an issue that is addressed frequently with in any police organization. I will say that you are correct in stating that officer are required by policy to follow the rules of the road when not running with lights and sirens. So it is an issue we talk to our officers everyday about driving within the law.

I will say that our policy states that officers may only drive with lights and sirens when another persons life is endanger. Unfortunately 98% of our calls don't rise to this level when the call is received. For instance, your wife or girlfriend is being assaulted by a person that is attempting to take her purse that does not rise to the level but is a serious situation. This is the reason that the officer may hit his lights and travel through an intersection. While I know that there are officers everyday that do this because they feel they can, most are trying to get to a call quicker than they can by driving by the rules of the road. I will not make excuses for these officers but rather offer an apology for their behavior.

I hope the behavior of some does not change your view of the whole organization!

Ask A Cop!
Officer Jason Willingham
Tulsa Police Department
askacop (a***t***) cityoftulsa.org

Thanks again. For your work, and your response.

...life is endanger?

Hehe, that's a good one... don't forget:

"there are officers everyday that do this"

Luckily the "plice" (Fox news pronunciation) don't participate in spelling bees with criminals.

[tulsa_fan]

Yes, I was very embarrassed at the poor grammar used in Jason's response.  OUCH!

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by tulsa_fan

Yes, I was very embarrassed at the poor grammar used in Jason's response.  OUCH!

But I give him points for candor:

quote:I will not make excuses for these officers but rather offer an apology for their behavior.

Much more palatable than the "I should be able to do as I please in case you need me to protect you from people who do as they please" excuse.

Conversely, traffic infractions are sometimes persued, as in this case:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/04/private-citizen.html

[cannon_fodder]

Agreed patric.  These guys are probably answering questions in their down time, I am willing to give them a wide berth and tons of leeway in grammar and spelling in exchange for a candid answer. I really appreciated it.

[TulsaFan-inTexas]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I raised this point with great frustration a while ago, and recently emailed the TPD to see what their take on it was as I see it continue to happen.  It is only fair to post their response, which I must say is as good as I could have hoped for.  Thank you TPD.

quote:This is an issue that is addressed frequently with in any police organization. I will say that you are correct in stating that officer are required by policy to follow the rules of the road when not running with lights and sirens. So it is an issue we talk to our officers everyday about driving within the law.

I will say that our policy states that officers may only drive with lights and sirens when another persons life is endanger. Unfortunately 98% of our calls don't rise to this level when the call is received. For instance, your wife or girlfriend is being assaulted by a person that is attempting to take her purse that does not rise to the level but is a serious situation. This is the reason that the officer may hit his lights and travel through an intersection. While I know that there are officers everyday that do this because they feel they can, most are trying to get to a call quicker than they can by driving by the rules of the road. I will not make excuses for these officers but rather offer an apology for their behavior.

I hope the behavior of some does not change your view of the whole organization!

Ask A Cop!
Officer Jason Willingham
Tulsa Police Department
askacop (a***t***) cityoftulsa.org

Thanks again. For your work, and your response.

NEAT. I like Officer Willingham's response. It gives me faith in the integrity of the TPD. Thank you Officer Willingham. Although I'm not a current resident, I plan to be someday.