was only a matter of time

ohskigod

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354402,00.html

Basically, a Police Officer died for virtually nothing. Why does this bother me so much?, let me explain

Let me take you all back to Polkfest 2005. It was a fest held at Polk HQ and then Doro's abode. It was a good time. At the end of the festivities, I was driving home on what I believe was I95 heading North back to Jersey. I was in the fast lane, going faster than the speed limit I'm sure, but rolling with traffic at the time (which is what to do in Jersey)

As I was driving, I see the truck in front of me stopping.....FAST!
I follow suit, feeling lucky that I left a safe following distance, as I usually do. AS this truck is literally coming to a stop in the fast lane, I'm thinking to myself, "what is this @ssclown doing?" As he is at a near stop, he pulls off to the left and I see a Maryland State Trooper, pointing at my car and pulling me off the road, along with other cars that were in the side as well.

It hit me, this was a speed trap.

Now look, I Know speed traps are a part of life, i didnt care about that. What did chap my **** was that a trooper walked into the fast lane of a f%^king interstate to do it. I know alot of cops and have alot of respect for the **** they go through, so seeing a cop so recklessly risk his life for the sake of speeding tickets really drew my ire.

The trooper walked up to my car. To his credit he was professional. He even asked me about my State ID credentials when he saw my badge. I told him what it was , and then mutterred the words that made me getting a ticket a forgone conclusion

"If you pulled that **** in Jersey, you would be a Fu*king DEAD MAN!!"

Stupid? yep, but thats how pissed off I was, I hardly gave a whoop about a ticket at the time (truth be told, i would have done the same thing if I had to do it all again)

He came back with my ticket, he was still very courteous and professional, again to his credit. I signed the ticket, thanked him genuinly and told him to be safe, and that "no life is worth handing out tickets, least of all yours".

I though to myself how that could be the standard operating procedure for speed traps without a cop getting killed. I truly thought it was a matter of time only, hoping I was wrong.

well, i wasn't, as the news link above will attest.

for a G^&damn traffic ticket. does Maryland need the cash that bad that this guy risked his life in such a way? Cops always are at risk, it doesnt mean you up the ante so recklessly.

I dont blame the cop, I blame their leadership that thinks standing in the fast lane of highways is the best way to enforce speed laws.

My heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer Scott Wheeler, as well as the Maryland law enforcement community in general

PhantomOG

I've seen cops do this in Texas as well. All it takes is someone to be changing radio stations or something similar and the cop's life is over. Seems downright stupid to me.

Sami

"The officer was working a speed enforcement detail and had stepped into the road to flag Grissom down when he was struck."

Damn, that's probably Darwin Awards material.

F1nut

Howard County has suspended that activity as a result of the officer's death. A real shame it took the loss of a life for the leadership to pull their head out of their ****.

Lou, I had an experience on I-95 like you did. I did not think I was going to be able to stop without hitting the cop and remember thinking WTF is wrong with that guy, he's going to get killed.

George Grand

They do the same thing on the airbase, albeit at much lower speeds. I'm getting ready to drive out the gate one day and at the last moment this security cop steps into the lane with his hand out. One of those random drug search with the dog things. I told the guy he had a lot of balls stepping out into the road like that and expecting a happy ending every time.

ohskigod

George Grand wrote: »

I told the guy he had a lot of balls stepping out into the road like that and expecting a happy ending every time.

and every word you said was true when you said it, now transcribe that to an interstate. George, if you didnt see it you probably couldnt wrap your mind around just how mind boggling it was without being there. standing in the middle of the fast lane like's he's the Terminator.

Hell, Even Terminators got damaged when hit by a car. Guy V Car = Guy loses every time

what hapenned to hopping in a squad car and pulling them over the old fashion way? Hell, stand on the shoulder with a red flag or something even. still dangerous bordering on ridiculous, but not absolute insanity like the maneuver I saw.

ohskigod

F1nut wrote: »

Howard County has suspended that activity as a result of the officer's death.

glad to see this, barely a silver lining.......but is one none the less. It should be stopped permanently

zingo

Officers do that around here, but only on streets that are 35mph and under which is smart. I have no problem with that, and injuries don't occur because of it. Stepping in front of freeway traffic is a death wish, no matter how good the driver.

Prayers to Officer Wheeler's family.

George Grand

Lou, this was at 25mph. I can't imagine at 3 x speed.

exalted512

I would love to agree with you to not blame the cop, but I can't. Yes, management is part of the problem, but if you're stupid enough to do something like that...well...darwinism will come into effect.
-Cody

Jstas

That happened to me. It wasn't a speed trap, they were just closing down lanes for construction equipment to move to the other side of the highway. But I was cruising through Maryland on the way to MIR and this trooper just walks out in front of the guy in front of me. The dude in front of me locked them up and was sliding in a cloud of smoke. Then I see the brake lights go off, the smoke stops and he darts around the cop and pulls over. Next it's my turn!

I put ferro-carbon brakes on my truck a couple of years ago and been using them every since. With crossdrilled and slotted rotors, it drags the truck to a complete and violent stop from 60 MPH in about 90 feet, probably less. Impressive IMO since the truck tips the scales at 4700 pounds. Well, the smoke cleared and at the last second I see this cop in the road looking away from traffic. I had both feet on the brake pedal and I was pushing so hard the anti-lock brakes stopped anti-locking and the right front was screeching and billowing tire smoke. The cop finally turns around and sees my truck trying to bury the front bumper in the asphalt. The look of horror on his face was just something you don't forget.

I stopped but I was so close his pants were obscured from view by my hood. He had blue eyes.

Then I hear more screeching and the guy behind me shoots off to the left across the median barely missing me and stops on the shoulder of the opposite lanes. By now the cop is running to the first guy and I see more traffic in the rear view including the guys towing the car we were taking to the track that day. I stomped the gas and left rubber to get out of the way. I pulled over and got out of the truck to check on the guy that almost hit me to see if he was OK. By now there are 11 cars stopped in the left lane with 4 on the side of the road and one dude is flipping out at the cop.

Somebody said exactly what you said Lou, in Jersey, he'd be a dead man.

I always thought Maryland State Poopers had a superiority complex because of that asinine practice alone.

danger boy

that is so stupid for any law enforcement person to be stepping into high speed oncoming traffic..


have you seen what a person's body looks like after being hit by a car traveling 70+ MPH? it's not pretty... lets just say... all that is left are bloody body parts... parts, not an entire torso, parts.

Strong Bad

I remember the day that happened and YES, I too thought it was only a matter of time before someone got killed. I see speed traps like that all the time and think WTF!!! They just jump out in the middle of the highway with cars and trucks blowing by just to get what amounts to a few measly bucks in revenue.

There is plenty of electronic technology out there today where officers DON'T have to do that.

ohskigod

Lasareath wrote: »

I've never seen them do that up here in North NJ/NYC area.

thats because while cops can be jerks up here, there not frikkin insane. at least there superiors/leadership isnt.

I can imagine a PD Capt saying......."what are you doing? just pull them over with the f&*king squad car, your not robocop!!!!!!

Hawkeye

I live in southern Maryland and the deputies and staties do this all the time. I'm suprised there are not more smeared cops than there is.

The first time I got pulled I gave the deputy an ear full. He actually made me get out of the car and "inspected" my truck. I just could not believe a sane person would jump out into traffic for a lousy $50.00 ticket. I said this was a pretty busy road to be getting out of truck for no good reason. He put his hand on his weapon. I got out. Maybe they are not as sane as I thought.

Gordo