Police Activities Expert Witnesses Evaluate Reckless Driving by Officer

This case involves a car accident involving a police officer in Idaho. The Plaintiff was a 14-year-old boy who was riding as a backseat passenger in an automobile that was hit by a police car. At the time of the accident, the police car was traveling the wrong way down a one-way street with no lights or sirens activated, although they allege it was in response to an emergency. Eyewitness reports stated that the police car was going very fast – upward of 80 MPH. It is alleged that the officer was behaving recklessly and dangerously, and as a direct result caused the accident in which the Plaintiff was injured.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Please briefly describe your familiarity with police procedures as it relates to police car emergency protocol. 2. In the course of active duty, has this situation ever happened to you?

Expert Witness Response E-007801

As a police chief serving in three different commands I was responsible for writing and updating police policy and procedure including those that cover police vehicle operation and emergency response. In two of the departments, a complete overhaul and update of the P&Ps was accomplished. I also served for approximately four years on the Police Accreditation Commission as a Commissioner. Before commenting on the specific case I would have to review the police department’s policy on vehicle operation and emergency response. I would need to determine if it is a contemporary policy that includes nationally accepted standards. It must be determined whether the officer's driving was consistent with or outside of the department’s policy on operation of police vehicles and if not, how the operation was outside of the policy. I would want to review the officers training records for Emergency Vehicle Operation Classes (EVOC) and prior department sanctions for driving related incidents involving the police department. I am currently the principal of a PI company that involves conducting internal affairs investigations in administrative reviews for municipalities that include their police and fire departments as well as other city in town departments.