Keystone Cops: Minneapolis Division 2 Dead, 3 Wounded: Bad

[ttousi]

FWIW

It's possible to overdrive an opticom...........in other words get to the intersection before the opticom has a chance to cycle. Not an excuse but a possibility

[xd ED]

FWIW

It's possible to overdrive an opticom...........in other words get to the intersection before the opticom has a chance to cycle. Not an excuse but a possibility

I can't say about that intersection, but it seems like only the busiest intersections in Mpls are protected. The coverage seems hit and miss.
The view from Google Earth appears Blaisdell & 26th doesn't have it.


Also, in this morning's paper, the police statement is supportive of the officer driving in the MC collision:

A few blocks from the shooting, another officer driving his squad car to the incident collided with a motorcycle at the intersection of West 26th Street and Blaisdell Avenue South. The male driver of the motorcycle was killed.

Initial reports show the squad car was "well below" the posted speed limit as it approached the intersection and at the time of impact, police said.

"It is clear from video evidence that the motorcycle struck the rear passenger side of the squad car as it proceeded through the intersection with red lights and siren both activated," according to police.

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_23217536/two-minneapolis-police-officers-and-suspect-shot

[xd ED]

My understanding is that lights and sirens are merely a request to yield the right of way, and that when a cop runs a red light, sirens or not, he does not have a right to recklessly endanger the population. They are still required to operate their vehicles in a safe and controlled manner.

If a cop running a red light killed another motorist, it should be treated no differently than if Joe citizen did the exact same thing. I understand that there were officers down, and that seconds can make the difference between life and death in those scenarios, but that can't possibly justify the inadvertent killing of a bystander while trying to reach the scene.

The idea that the cop had a green light, and that a guy on a motorcycle just happened to run a red light and crash into a patrol car that was speeding to a crime scene is beyond preposterous.

As one can be cited for not yielding to an emergency vehicle, I believe red lights and siren carry some legal implications. That's not to say there can or should be any reckless behavior allowed.

[Shawski]

Star Trib this morning says the two wounded officers had been IN the hospital for 35 minutes when the motorcyclist was killed. So the SUV running the light was just in a hurry to get to a crime scene, not to back up a crime-in-progress.

[Hmac]

169.03 EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

Subdivision 1.Scope.
The provisions of this chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highways shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state, or any county, city, town, district, or any other political subdivision of the state, subject to such specific exemptions as are set forth in this chapter with reference to authorized emergency vehicles.

Subd. 2.Stops.
The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, upon approaching a red or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as necessary for safety, but may proceed cautiously past such red or stop sign or signal after sounding siren and displaying red lights, except that a law enforcement vehicle responding to an emergency call shall sound its siren or display at least one lighted red light to the front.

169.17 Emergency vehicle.

The speed limitations set forth in sections 169.14 to 169.17 do not apply to an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency call. Drivers of all emergency vehicles shall sound an audible signal by siren and display at least one lighted red light to the front, except that law enforcement vehicles shall sound an audible signal by siren or display at least one lighted red light to the front. This provision does not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of persons using the street, nor does it protect the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the consequence of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.

[xd ED]

Star Trib this morning says the two wounded officers had been IN the hospital for 35 minutes when the motorcyclist was killed. So the SUV running the light was just in a hurry to get to a crime scene, not to back up a crime-in-progress.

That's a damming bit of information the police statement left out.

[xd9]

damming evidence? Not quite, there are other facts that need to be taken into account. What was the radio traffic like? Perhaps they thought others were at large and involved. You can't draw any conclusions by what the strib says at this point.

[xd ED]

damming evidence? Not quite, there are other facts that need to be taken into account. What was the radio traffic like? Perhaps they thought others were at large and involved. You can't draw any conclusions by what the strib says at this point.

I actually wrote :"damming information", and if the strib's timeline reporting is accurate- which it probably is as it was not refuted, corrected, or explained by the police spokesperson.- it is damming information.

[Nalez]

From the MPD Policy and Procedures manual
7-403 VEHICLES - EMERGENCY RESPONSE (10/12/01)
(B-D)
Only police vehicles with lights and sirens are authorized for emergency response. All MPD officers shall use red lights and sirens in a continuous manner for any emergency driving. Officers responding to a Code 3 emergency shall exercise caution and due consideration for the safety of the public. Although Minn. Stat. §169.03 and 169.17 exempts officers from traffic statutes, the use of the red lights and siren does not exempt officers from the need for caution nor does it exempt them from criminal or civil liability. Officers driving low profile, unmarked, motorcycles, or other MPD vehicles should be particularly aware of the less visible nature of the emergency equipment in/on the vehicle and should use extra caution. (12/14/07)

Officers are advised that circumventing light rail intersection crossing arms is a very dangerous practice. Officers going around the light rail crossing arms when they are down causes the light rail train operator to emergency brake the light rail car. When the light rail car is emergency braked, it causes passengers to be ejected from their seats and thrown to the floor, which could cause serious injury or death. Due to these risks, officers are prohibited from going around the light rail crossing arms when they are down at an intersection. (02/23/05)

[gunsmith]

Bad Feeling: this incident of the dead motorcyclist will never be properly investigated. No one in the PD is going to go hard on the Officer, right? and the dead guy was a Mexican. It's not like he was a state senators son home from Harvard for the weekend.

The real bad news is: This will happen again because a 'liability shockwave' will not ripple through the department and officers will not feel "Proper" anxiety about running lights.

On the other hand, we know that the other two officers would have been 'shot at' if the perp had a weapon.

[redaudi]

I doubt we will ever know the full details.

[Inspiribomb]

As a result of this chase, someone totally uninvolved in the original situation is now dead. I ride and know the dangers that go along with it. You have to assume that every car is going to do something stupid and hit you. This is incredibly tragic, and infuriates me to no end.

[connsolo]

Blaisdale is a gauntlet in that area. Two tight lanes, a bike lane, and cars parked on the left side of the street. Lights or no lights, it would be hard to stop for a car blowing a red light.