4/18/13 -- At approximately 5:30 PM today two police cruisers in high speed pursuit crashed into slower moving traffic they apparently were not able to avoid as they accelerated up the rise of the Springs Rd. highway 80 overpass towards Miller St..
One police cruiser ended up at the bottom of the embankment adjacent to the overpass on the Miller St. side.
It seems pretty clear both cars are totaled (electronics etc. likely salvageable).
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries. A total of five cars were involved in the incident.
Two cars in one day is real enough for me. What's that? $60-70 grand? How much will be added in liability? That blue Saab looked brand new.
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
Got it. You're just talking nonsense and have no idea if our vehicle attrition rate is out of the ordinary or not.
at what cost
|April.21.2013
Other than this article, the other "wild accusations" were reported in the un-biased Times-Herald. (Of course no one accused them of being cop haters for merely reporting on an accident.) I have driven by the totaled fire truck that has been sitting in the lot of the training center for some time now.
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
You're making wild assumptions. Where do you get the data on "crashed" city vehicles. How have you determined we have "numerous crashed city vehicles". Please show your work.
My Dime My Opinion
|April.21.2013
Prejudice: an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
No, it's not prejudice. After experiencing the shrinking police force for the last three years, a limited revenue/funding stream, numerous crashed city vehicles, employee workforce on worker's comp. and recents modification in policing policy based on past mistakes/misjudgements, I'd say my comments were based on facts, not prejudice. Police are humans. They make mistakes. I am not a public safety apologist nor am I a cop hater running on emotion and not logic. If we are destroying too many vehicles, how are the cops going to get around town? Cop cars aren't bought off a cop car lot and come ready for service. As with all insurance companies I'm sure that rates go up with every accident. Two cops with neck braces are two less cops riding the streets. Why can't you understand that?
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
ghetto anonymous does it all the time.
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
How can you even express a semi-intelligent judgement before you know the facts? Isn't that what they call prejudice?
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
criticizing policy does not mean you hate police officers. they don't set policy. they carry it out. i have great respect for most police officers. i have no respect for the former police chief. i do have respect for the new chief. people that blindly support ANYTHING totally without question are weak and intellectually lazy.
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
The police chase is always an issue. If it works, and the criminal/thug is caught without any incident during the chase, everyone says GREAT work!!!! and no one criticizes the chase. Auto chases are risky and can end up like this one... non-police/non-criminals hurt with damaged property, and police officers injured and out on WC, with all of us living with 2 less officers on the force, and a bill to replace 2 police vehicles.
This ended poorly, but the end does not always means the decision was wrong. It may have been. It may not have been.
Write the police chief and CM about the Vallejo policy on chases.
LAPD Pursuit Policy: Number and Type of Police Units Participating. The initial pursuing police unit (primary unit) and the back-up unit(secondary unit)shall be the only units to pursue the suspect vehicle "Code Three." However,the senior officer of the primary unit may request an additional unit(s) to join the pursuit if it appears certain that the officers in the two vehicles involved would not be sufficient to safely effect the arrest of the suspect. (Also see "Supervisory Responsibilities." Officers in all other units shall stay clear of the pursuit, but remain alert to its progress and location.
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
This inciden left us with on cop out on wc (and a great excuse for a retirement disability down the road), two destroyed cars, three civilian cars hit (and a garage?) where there will be multi hundreds of thousand dollar+ lawsuits. Vallejo can't afford mistakes like this.
And that's what this was. An error in judgement. For which the taxpayers must pay. I expect better from our PD.
at what cost
|April.21.2013
Maybe you don't care that we have two less cars on the street and possibly two less officers because they are on worker's comp. but I do. It has little to do with "making judgement calls on wrong tactics" and everything to do with keeping the cops on the streets. We have a large aging fleet of cop cars and not a lot of money to replace them. We have a decreasing workforce of cops and can't afford to have them out from avoidable traffic collisions. Get a grip. Every criticism of the police department isn't an attack against them. It took a couple of years to come up enough money replace our fire truck that was totalled as a result of unsafe driving speeds. Where will the funds come from to replace the police cars? Does it affect the money available to hire more cops? This John Wayne go get em attitude has a downside. I can fully appreciate the job our police do and still question their policies at the same time.
And I take offense at your characterization of people in Vallejo. Maybe you should tone down your attitude and stop thinking everyone who expresses an opinion on the PD is a cop hater.
Anonymous
|April.21.2013
@at what cost
It's not possible for us to sit around and make an accurate judgement of right and wrong police tactics. The chief and senior officers will do that and then train accordingly. The overall impression I get through conversations and observation of police work in Vallejo is favorable. These guys and gals are working their a$$es off each and every day. Police work is damn dangerous so I could give a flying fig about a destroyed car or two.
Remember, we are all on the same side. The side that wants car thieves, burglars, home invasion gangs, gun runners and dope dealers off the streets. We have a huge population of folks that have been raised with handouts from the taxpayers. These dummies have chosen to drop out of school and their "parents" have chosen to let these feral children run rampant on the streets. Once you get your mind right and realize what we are all up against, you'll see things differently. Until that time you'll probably continue to criticize the people who are working 24/7 to keep you safe.
wharf rat
|April.20.2013
ok so lets look at it from a different
perspective , when pursuing a perp driving a stolen Car , if you total your
Unit , then You and the other unit that has been wrecked can no longer pursue the perp .. then you have given them a tactical advantage , by virtue of disabling two patrol units .. This equates to a potential tactical advantage
for the Perps .. This is why many hold back and observe , waiting for the right
moment to intervene , when no innocents
are in the sphere ..
at what cost
|April.20.2013
For the record, It's as accurate as I remember from what went out on the scanner.
Balance
|April.20.2013
Thanks for the details.
This is what I do not like this report/video. No details and no context. Just two crashed police car and then people jumping in to bash the police. Can we do a little better than this?
With the added details, I can see the two police cars are a bit over excited.
I do not have a good answer but saying police should not chase the bad guys because they run just bothers me.
This report is on the same level as publishing an article named "Get the facts straight" by some family members while there were full of lies in the article.
at what cost
|April.20.2013
There were two cars already in pursuit right behind the stolen car. They were on Columbus Pkwy headed south and already past Springs Rd. The two that crashed didn't need to drive as fast as they were going on a busy street. Remember the cop car that lost cintrol and ended up in someone's garage wall? How about the time Nick Jr. drove on the wrong side of the street and caused a collision? Claimed the truck driver making a legal left drove into the motorcycle. Except they never explained how a truck could travel sideways to crash into a motorcycle that broadsided the truck. This recent accident sent two officers to the hospital and maybe worker's comp. We also have two totaled fairly new looking cars, and three civilian cars that will also cost us. When you weigh it against a stolen car which they knew the license plates for, that will be paid by the insured owner, did the end justify our cost? What if someone died? Still worth aggressive force? Coming over an overpass at high rates of speed, not knowing what's on the other side, is a bad call. Did the cop cars run into each other? Did one smack the other one off the bridge?
Balance
|April.20.2013
Law abiding citizens act within the bound of the law. However. we have many people in this town who do not follow the law.
The question is "How do we deal with people who do not follow the rules of law? Who is going to deal with them?"
anon
|April.20.2013
driving beyond your field of view is illegal if it causes an accident you are at fault thus liable
Balance
|April.20.2013
Let's not mixing VPOA compensation with police doing their job.
It is easy to have 20/20 hindsight. e.g. it is just a fake gun ...
I do not like the fact that 2 cars get destroyed but this is like you released a new version of program (or whatever you do) and it crashed the accounting operation for a few hours and then next day, it is the headline for local news?
I do not agree with being so harsh with the police doing their work. compensation is a different story.
Anonymous
|April.20.2013
Good hustle out there police. I like an aggressive force. Not undisciplined but highly competitive. Our team needs to win, every time. So we loose a few vehicles along the way. Small price to pay as long as the officers stay safe. Keep up the good fight, it is appreciated.
wharf rat
|April.20.2013
It is a basic case of "risk management"
pardon the insurance vernacular,Ibew is right why expose an Officer and the public to high risk far outweighing the
value of a car .
@Balance- what I am saying is that engaging in a pursuit for something that is really not a serious crime (auto theft) is dangerous and in my opinion, catching a car thief is not worth risking lives. How would you feel if cops ran through the parking lot of a grocery store shooting at shoplifters who would not stop for store security? Would catching a shoplifter justify accidentally shooting an innocent bystander?
madi
|April.20.2013
Can any of the above commenters' give a solution to this problem without spitting vile at each other? Nothing ever will be solved for this city with this kind of rhetoric. Get out of the problem and work on solutions. Opinions don't solve problems. Idea's do. Come on we're better than this!
Balance
|April.20.2013
So where is the balance?
If a cop chase me and I speed over 80 mph and I get off free? That does not sound too hard to do.
wharf rat
|April.20.2013
@ IBEW I believe the Chief established
policy for high speed chases I have heard
several called off when speed reached 80 + MPH on surface Streets . You are right
if a vehicle theft/ chase results in major injury or even death it escalates
from a property loss to loss of life or limb this is why most departments have rigid rules for high speed chases . Human nature being what it is Officers involved in a chase experience a big adrenalin boost this often overcomes sound judgement and training wich is why Supervisors often call off chases .
Anonymous
|April.20.2013
You have a good point IBEW. It is the Police Chief that can change that policy.
35%-40% of high speed pursuits end up in a collision, so does it really make sense for cops to engage in something that dangerous to catch a car thief? Well over half of auto theft arrests end up being charged as a misdemeanor anyway. IMO discretion is the better part of valor.
citizen
|April.19.2013
just glad everyone is ok. material can be replaced but people can't.
anon
|April.19.2013
@pee test
You are right about the civilian. They are neither trained or expected or encouraged to engage in a chase. I would not be surprised at all if they had an "altered" view of reality and decided to persue a suspect. They definitely should get a drug test.
pee test
|April.19.2013
If a civilian managed to do this I bet ya dollars to donuts there would be drug testing. If you do not anticipate the possibility of traffic in front of you going over a blind hill you have no business driving anything. 1 car off the hill and the other over the center divider? REALLY? Top tier indeed!
Anonymous
|April.19.2013
"...those that fester this website..." LOL. you do more than your fair share of "festering" on this website. i'd be careful about casting stones if i were you. thank the gods i'm not.
@Viva Vallejo
|April.19.2013
Agree.
Clarke Johnston
|April.19.2013
Picked up some rare donuts myself this morning at the Royal Jelly on Springs. Great little shop, this morning with folks discussing today's dangerous events unfolding in Cambridge and Boston. But, tooling early morn down Springs, with the worsening pavement and general street vibe - I could've been on San Pablo Avenue exiting South Berkeley into North Oakland. Maybe it was the harsh morning light. Hope Vallejo can start repaving our streets and fostering bright new businesses pretty soon.
Viva Vallejo
|April.19.2013
Why wouldn't there be anything stated by VIB or those that fester this website about the criminals that were running from the Police? Oh wait, what am I saying? They weren't criminals, they were confused victims that couldn't figure out which pedal was gas and which was the brake. Viva Vallejo! And we wonder why Vallejo keeps circling the toilet bowl waiting for someone to flush.....
Anonymous
|April.19.2013
You are funny ghetto anonymous/cannon in D. You live taking words and phrases that other people originally used to describe you and put them into your responsrs. Is there anything original about you? Have you been a parrot all your life? The more you post the more you seem to suffer from Sam-itious. There surely can't be two of you!
Anonymous
|April.19.2013
Your miserable, evil, racist stuff is getting really old weirdo. I read this site and send some of it to family that used to live here. One example of the people destroying a historic city. Thugs, welfare recipients, drug zombies and the kooky, progressive liberals who won't ease their guilt until California is a third world country. It's interesting to them to read your warped view of the world and then get mad and stomp your feet when you're subjected to reality.
cannon in D
|April.19.2013
Rough day? Sounds like you think that its funny Marc. Is something wrong with you dude? Is there something we can do to help you?
Anonymous
|April.19.2013
Why do you think this website should cover your self serving interests? Why does someone who hates this website spend all day trolling it? You seemed to be in need of misery for others to make you feel better about your miserable life. What's wrong with you?
Anonymous
|April.19.2013
Why do you avoid covering stories involving the PD arresting thugs and confiscating guns daily? Or the 14 year old raping and almost killing a grandmother? If you hate cops and love ghettos, I really wish you would all move to east Oakland. This poor little town is slowly choking to death on your collective progressive mental disorder.
Captain crunch
|April.19.2013
what is the cost of a patrol unit is it insured ? how could this have been avoided , and what was the level of Criminal they were pursuing ?
wharf rat
|April.19.2013
@ Marc "me sorry" should have waited for the video to be posted , looks like there was more damage than you and your clan did in Junior College , "back in the day"
glad to hear there were no major medical
issues . wonder who/what they were pursuing ??
wharf rat
|April.19.2013
Cmon Marc just what did they hit ? and how long were the skid marks ? Iam sure you must have been starving by the time you posted this piece .... Now fortified
please post the facts ..
wr
wharf rat
|April.19.2013
You break it you buy it !! VPD has been
destroying units for years , and all this
overhead comes out of the budget of Public works Vehicle account .. This means when the PD wrecks cars, the funds
for Street repair and basic Public works
must compensate for it ....This includes Our Fire Trucks .. The PD is an equal opportunity destroyer , one that we can no longer afford ... We must seperate the PD Vehicle costs from basic public works and let this fund stand alone ...
VPD must carry their own costs , no longer can these be carried by the general fund .. The VPD must have a anual budget.....
Anonymous
|April.19.2013
What chase? Them were rushing to Royal Jelly before it closes at 5:30.
Anonymous
|April.18.2013
I can just see the lawsuits rolling in. Was the chase worth it?
Anonymous
|April.18.2013
Starsky & Hutch they are not.
Ghost of Bullitt
|April.18.2013
Where is Steve Mcqueen when you need him?
Clarke Johnston
|April.18.2013
Time for a couple of new Dodge Chargers. (The Impala is pretty weak)
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I have driven by the totaled fire truck that has been sitting in the lot of the training center for some time now.
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