Editor's note: Through the end of the year, we will be posting a series of articles that focus on common-sense officer safety. Use them for briefing and squad meetings, and send them to everyone you know who wears a badge.
We’ve all heard the words “Start me another unit, send me back-up,” or some radio code or signal that means the same thing. When we hear those words our brains sometimes kick into high gear and our gas pedal often is stomped to the floor. Since 2010, more than 15 officers have died while responding to these “assistance” calls. In fact, when you take a close look at summaries on the Officer Down Memorial Page, it quickly becomes apparent that more officers have died responding to calls for assistance than have died while waiting for assistance. We’ve got to change this.
Every situation is different and we all have to make decisions based on the information available at the time, not with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Regardless, the facts speak for themselves and this is definitely an area where we can improve and save lives. During Below 100 training presentations, we share the tragic stories of officers who have died in the line of duty and we do it for one primary reason: We must honor our fallen by training the living. That’s what this article is all about.
The Requesting Unit
If you’re requesting another unit, your actions, words and tone of voice when requesting assistance play a significant role in the safety of other officers. You have an inherent obligation to your fellow brothers and sisters (as well as the citizens) to let responding officers know your level of urgency. We often request assistance from other officers but many of these situations don’t require emergency response. To the degree possible, clearly convey the situation and provide an update as soon as you can.
Consider the case of California Highway Patrol Officer David “Ryan” Bunting. Officer Bunting was shot once in the hand and once in his vest during an ambush. Bunting did several things right during the ambush, but the thing that stands out was a single sentence in one of his radio transmissions: “Tell units to slow down … one of the shots went into my vest, one into my hand … neither are life-threatening.” With these few words, he let responding officers know he was OK and reminded them to slow down and get to the scene safely. It is very possible that Bunting’s actions prevented a tragedy—he is to be commended for his clear thinking.
The Responding Unit
If you’re responding to a call for another unit, you must get there if you’re going to be any help. Driving recklessly or too fast for conditions is ultimately dangerous for us and for the officer requesting assistance. If you crash on your way to help a fellow officer who has a life-threatening injury and you wrap your car around a pole, not only do you fail to help anyone but you draw precious resources away from the requesting officer. I’m not talking about just law enforcement resources but fire and EMS personnel as well. Consider this: If your crash diverted resources and the officer who needed help is seriously injured or killed, can you live with that? Do you have the words to explain to the other officer’s family how your irresponsible behavior hurt their loved one?
Don’t run to your death. Consider the consequences of your actions. You have a responsibility to more than just yourself. You have an absolute obligation to your fellow officers, citizens, friends and family to do the right thing. This is not a “veteran officer” problem or a “rookie officer” problem; it’s a law enforcement problem.
This article is dedicated to two fellow Georgia officers who died this year while responding to calls for assistance: Corporal Thomas Keith Slay of the Columbus (Ga.) Police Department, a 30-year veteran, and Officer Ivorie Klusmann of the DeKalb County (Ga.) Police Department, who had been only been on the job 10 months. Both officers had so much to live for, yet died while responding to assist another officer. Let’s honor our fallen by training our living. We can’t help anyone if we don’t get there.
More information on Below 100 can be found at www.Below100.com.
