Download this week’s episode on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify or via RSS feed, and watch the video version on Police1’s YouTube channel.
Every officer knows traffic is dangerous — but most don’t realize how fast everything can change. Bob Bemis didn’t either, until March 27, 2015. Responding to a vehicle fire, he was struck by a swerving car, crushed and left fighting to walk, see and live again. Today, the retired Pennsylvania State Police sergeant is on a mission to change how agencies prepare officers for roadside dangers.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley speaks with Bemis and Jack Sullivan, Director of Training at the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, about the urgent need for stronger gear, better training and a cultural shift to protect responders from a threat hiding in plain sight.
Tune in to discover:
- What happened the day Bob Bemis was struck while helping at a roadside fire
- Why even well-trained officers often overlook traffic risks
- How new helmet standards and PPE can mitigate injury severity
- What the public needs to know about Move Over laws and distracted driving
- Why helmet adoption for officers must follow the model of body armor campaigns
- How cross-agency partnerships and public education are essential to changing outcomes
Officer safety resources
- Previously on the Policing Matters podcast: Crashes, not accidents: Fixing our broken approach to roadside officer safety
- Protecting the pedestrian officer: LEOs rank among the highest number of “struck-by” fatalities of any responders. Could helmets be one answer to this safety crisis?
- “Forged in Scars and Stripes: A Trooper’s Victory Over Critical Injury” by Bob Bemis
- Annual Struck-by-vehicle fatality reports
- Report struck by incidents here: www.ReportStruckBy.com
- Studies about emergency lighting and high-visibility graphics
- Responder Safety Learning Network offers free online training modules
- Free training videos and PSAs for use in public education and social media content
Key takeaways from this episode
- Roadways remain one of the deadliest environments for officers: Most officers will be involved in at least one significant crash in their careers. Between 2017 and 2021, 87 officers died after being struck by vehicles, often while conducting routine duties.
- Distraction is the new DUI — and it’s everywhere: Today’s “D-drivers” — drunk, drugged, distracted, drowsy and dangerous — are an overwhelming and growing threat. Flashing lights and reflective vests often aren’t enough to protect officers from inattentive motorists.
- High-visibility vests aren’t sufficient — helmets should be the next standard: Bemis and Sullivan advocate for a new safety helmet designed specifically for roadside responders, much like the push for body armor in the 1970s. Protecting the head from lateral impacts can be the difference between survival and death.
- Leadership must drive the cultural shift: From academy training to field expectations, officers need more support and encouragement to prioritize traffic safety. Agency leadership plays a critical role in modeling and mandating the use of lifesaving gear.
- Technology and teamwork offer hope: Digital alerting systems, body-worn lighting, synchronized LED flares and improved scene management techniques are advancing quickly. But adoption is slow without regional Traffic Incident Management (TIM) coordination and public awareness.
Rate and review the Policing Matters podcast
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Policing Matters team at policingmatters@police1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.
