Veteran police officer killed in motorcycle accident
A motorcycle officer that had been with the LAPD for almost 27 years was killed recently after an SUV rear-ended him while he was stopped. The 33-year-old driver responsible for the accident was allegedly operating her Chevrolet Blazer while high on cocaine. The officer was waiting at a red light when the motorcycle accident occurred. The woman is now facing a prison sentence of up to 10 years on a charge of felony DUI. She has entered a plea of not guilty in the case.
The police chief for the LAPD has stated that the officer’s death is tragically ironic, as the deceased policeman had made over 3,000 DUI arrests during his career. The police chief said that the officer likely “saved countless lives” in his pursuit of DUI offenders. The officer was also highly renowned within the department, as he had just received a commendation for his performance as a motor officer in the field only days before the fatal collision. He had also been named “officer of the year” with the LAPD twice in his career.
This recent accident is part of a string of tragedies that the LAPD has endured recently. Last month, one officer was killed and another injured when a dump truck lost control and collided with the officers’ patrol car. Two recent shooting incidents have also led to the injuries of two more officers. One of the incidents involved a gunman who opened fire inside a police station.
While the death of this beloved police officer is incredibly saddening, any traffic fatality caused by a driver’s negligence is equally tragic. The family of any motorcyclist that is killed or injured in California might want to consider seeking justice in the courts.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “LAPD motorcycle officer struck by SUV dies” Hailey Branson-Potts and Joel Rubin, Apr. 09, 2014