By:  Cpl. Scott Barthelmass
Courtesy:  MPOA Magazine

Never before in the history of this country has there been so many vehicles, traveling so many miles on local, state and federal roadways.  The nation's roadways are utilized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the transport of persons and property, be it for leisure or commercial purposes.  As a result of the volume of traffic, the number of vehicle crashes remain high.

Statistics published by the Missouri State Highway Patrol have consistently shown, that on average, well over a 1000 people die each year on the state's roadways.   Tens of thousands of more people are injured.  The dollar value loss as a result of these crashes is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Each year numerous police officers are killed and many more injured on the nation's roadways as a result of crashes.  As of this writing, of the seven law enforcement deaths in 2005 in the state of Missouri, 4 are the result of vehicular crashes.  Officer Scott Armstrong (Bridgeton P.D.) was killed by a wrong way drunk driver.  Trooper Ralph Tatoian was killed after being involved in a crash while responding to assist other officers in the search of a suspect that had shot a deputy in a nearby county.  MSHP Corporal John (Jay) Sampietro was struck and killed while directing traffic at the scene of of a previous collision, and Trooper  Donald (Kevin) Floyd was killed after being struck roadside while conducting a traffic stop.

An exact number of officers injured as a result of vehicle crashes for the same period,  in the state of Missouri, is not yet available.  Some estimates are that hundreds of officers have been injured.  Some of these injuries undoubtedly have cost officers their careers.

In recent years, efforts have targeted the reduction of the number of line of duty deaths and injuries resulting from vehicular crashes.  Agencies and professional organizations across the country have been working - both independently and collectively  - to develop policies, legislation, training and programs aimed at reducing police related crashes and the resulting injuries and deaths that often occur.

Though primarily aimed at reducing the carnage that results from these crashes, efforts of agencies and professional organizations have also targeted reducing civil liability for officers and the entities they are employed by.  According to Bill Stephens, senior instructor at the Law Enforcement Training Institute in Columbia, crashes involving police vehicles result in more suits filed, with more judgments against peace officers and their agencies than any other area of policing.  Each year millions of dollars are paid by agencies, and the insurance companies that represent police departments, as a result of crashes involving officers and their patrol cars.

Policy development has lead to some significant changes in police operations, while enhancing safety on or near roadways.  Over the years, agencies have - through policy - mandated the use of traffic safety vests, increased the number of units dispatched to roadway incidents with lane blockage to assist with traffic control, and established more stringent criteria for police pursuits.  The latter has reshaped the typical police pursuit with many departments eliminating pursuits for traffic charges only and limited vehicle pursuits to violent offenders only.   The International Association of Chiefs of Police (www.iacp.org) has developed a series of well-developed and thought-out policies that relate to traffic safety and pursuit issues.  Other agencies - including those of the Kansas City and St. Louis County Police Departments - can be seen on-line at www.PursuitWatch.org. 

Legislation has been enacted with the purpose of protecting officers.  Missouri legislators seem supportive of protecting officers.  Missouri state law does now require motorists to change lanes to avoid roadside emergency vehicles.  However, there is a high rate of non-compliance.  Law enforcement officers have applauded  this and similar laws, but have sited the need for more public awareness.   Local, county and state officials need to work with legislators to identify problems and work to bring forth statutues that promote roadway safety.

Training is another area that has evolved.  Typically only officers involved in on-duty crashes have been sent for additional drivers training.  Many officers view such training as punishment, not skill development.  Travis Yates, a Captain with the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Police Department and a leading  advocate in safe police driving, has documented positive results achieved by agencies that have initiated annual in-service driver training requirements. Results include less crashes, fewer officer and civilian injuries, reduced agency liability issues and less complaints about officer driving.  Nationwide there is a movement to mandate continuing education training in driving techniques, pursuit driving and related liability issues.  Many entities across the country have developed training programs including the Sacramento (California) Sheriff's Office  (http://www.srdtf.com/home.2.htm) and the Tulsa Police, which has developed a Precision Driving Unit (http://www.tulsapolice.org).

Numerous programs have been developed, across the state as well as the country, that focus on officer and traffic safety issues.  These include:

-  Missouri Peace Officers Association (MPOA).  Jim Huff, Executive Director of the organization has committed the organization to fostering and supporting programs focused on roadway safety.  Several porgrams are under development.

-  Missouri Police Chiefs Association (MPCA).  MPCA has purchased a technologically advanced police driver simulator that is housed in their Jefferson City headquarters.  The simulator  offers officers an opportunity to develop skills through a variety of computer-generated scenarios.

-  Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  At both the national and local levels, MADD has for years supported law enforcement efforts to remove impaired drivers from the roadways.  Nationally, MADD has begun to convene law enforcement summits to foster roadway safety programs.   Here in Missouri, for well over a decade, the Gateway Chapter (St. Louis) of MADD (Contact Number: 314-426-1595) has honored metropolitan area officers with "Heroes for Heroes" awards.  These awards are given to officers who go above and beyond to remove drunk drivers from area roadways;  drivers who are a major threat to traffic safety and the lives of both law enforcement officers, as well as the motoring public. 

-  Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS).  COPS (www.nationalcops.com) has worked for years to remind officers of the perils of the nations roadways.  Leadership of the organization has voiced concerns and penned editorials reminding officers and the public alike that patrol officers operating on or near the pavement are often just feet away from serious injury or death.

-  National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).   In 2005, after recognizing that nearly fifty (50) percent of all line of duty deaths are the result of vehicle crashes, the NLEOMF has formulated a Drive Safely campaign.  In a very proactive effort, the Drive Safely campaign not only focuses on officer safety, but also on educating the public as a whole on ways to be safer on the road.   This effort utilizes the vast network of support the fund has developed over the years to promote roadway safety issues.  These efforts include weekly safe driving tips on their well known website (www.NLEOMF.com) to the drafting of timely articles by fund chairman Craig Floyd in major police publications that highlight the dangers officers face on the nations highways.

The programs promoted by these organization enhance policy and training issues.  Many of the advocates behind these programs are also actively involved in legislative issues promoting safe road initiatives for roadways.

Numerous books, videos, associations, institutions and internet resources are available to assist in efforts to develop relevant policies, training and programs.  Resources include:

-  The Missouri Safety Center which offers police driving and police driver instructor schools.

-  The Emergency Responder Safety Institute offers resources - be it training videos or "Lessons Learned: analysis of incidents - for police agencies.

-   PoliceDriving.com offers a very comprehensive and useful on-line resource for police agencies and officers.  This site is "dedicated to law enforcement driver training with an emphasis on assisting officers and the public with a safer environment as it pertains to police pursuits."  Topics covered include information on current headlines, vehicles, training, course diagrams, policies and the like.

Law enforcement safe driving efforts cannot be limited solely to officers.  Most incidents that involve officer injuries or death involve civilian drivers in some manner.   To make roadways safer for officers, agencies must also educate the public in areas related to traffic safety.  Collaterally, the general public's own safe driving experience is enhanced.

Police agencies have moved toward hosting safety fairs, developing public service announcements and hosting meetings to educate the public about roadway safety.  A Webster Groves (MO) Officer - Jason Flanery - has developed an innovative "Traffic Safety Forum"  program that educates local citizens about traffic laws and allows for an open discussion about traffic safety issues.   All such programs are working to make roadways safer.  Safer roadways make possible a safer work environment for officers.

Unfortunately, crashes will continue to occur.   And unfortunately both officers and civilians will continue to be injured and killed and crashes.  Police officers, deputies, troopers, and administrators, however, can and should work to make the state's roadways safer - your safety, your fellow officer's safety, your family and friends' safety and the safety of the public each officer has sworn to protect depends on it. 


Scott Barthelmass is a Corporal with the Overland Police Department in north St. Louis County.  Scott is actively involved in public safety training and has worked with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's Drive Safely campaign.