Editor’s Note: Police1 recently launched a new series, “First Person,” where P1 columnists and members candidly share their own unique cop’s-eye-view of the world, from personal nsights on issues confronting cops today to observations and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. This week’s feature is written by Captain Travis Yates, a Team Leader with the Tulsa Police Precision Driver Training Unit. Yates says, “We all shoulder some of the blame” on the issue of EVOC. Do you want to share your own “First Person” perspective with other P1 Members? Email us.
By Capt. Travis Yates
Tulsa (Olka.) Police Department
I was about to finish the scheduled interview with the reporter on the dangers of Text Messaging while driving when she asked one more question.
So Captain Yates, what are your thoughts on the state legislators that will not pass a bill that would require the use of hands free devices while driving.
I paused, and then I said it.
“Let me tell you this, if any legislator votes against that bill, the blood of our young people is on their hands.”
I could tell she was stunned.
She choked over her words and then said “Well that is kind of harsh isn’t it.”
I asked her a question: “Is it true?” She waited to answer, looked at me and said “I guess it is true.”
The fact is the truth is not always pretty. It is not always convenient and certainly is not always politically correct. I have never shied away from telling the truth in this column and I am forever grateful for the editorial team at Police One, who permits the truth to be told without hesitation.
There are a lot of truths when it comes to Emergency Vehicle Operations and some of those truths do not settle well with some. Like when I lay the blame squarely on the Police Chiefs and Sheriffs of this country for not giving their officers and deputies the training they need in driving. I have discussed that particular issue in this column, in newspapers across the country and in seminars where chiefs and sheriffs are present.
Blame that is false or blame without change is complete waste of energy. Let’s face it, much of the change in training and safety in law enforcement has occurred from tragedy. Blame usually precedes that. I could write all day on who is to blame for an epidemic killing an officer a week in this country. There are many to blame who have gotten us where we are today. Some chiefs and sheriffs don’t train their officers enough. Some unions are too busy fighting for salaries to notice how their officers are dying. Some supervisors are not proactive enough when they observe their officers driving recklessly. Some FTOs set a poor example in driving, possibly negating the training a recruit may have received in the academy. State training mandates ignore the issue of EVOC, legislators don’t provide enough resources to academies, private industry isn’t developing the technology to permit the safe management of pursuits, and prosecutors don’t take eluding the police seriously enough.
As you can see, there is plenty of blame to go around and I am not immune to that blame. I certainly have not always made the right decisions in the area of EVOC. We all shoulder some of the blame in this issue. So where does all of this blame take us? What do we do? Where do we start?
Well, as you may suspect, I have some ideas.
Chiefs & Sheriffs
You must take this seriously. You should not only advocate training but actually attend the training. The rank and file notice when you don’t show up and it gives an indication to what your priorities are. If it is not important to you, it will not be important to those under you. A few years ago the Washington State Patrol started an aggressive driver training program for every Trooper. When I spoke to the coordinator of the program he told me how important it was that his Chief actually took the training along with everyone else. It is one thing for the leader of the organization to say it is mandatory and it is important. It is another if their actions show it.
Trainers
Trainers, you have a very difficult job. You are leading and advocating a training module that is relatively new to our profession and misunderstood. You often do not have access to a facility and so many others question why the training is important. After all, why do we need driver training when we’ve been driving since we were 16? Aren’t wrecks just part of the job? Trainers, you must fight the urge to give up. You must continue to evolve your training to more than just driving fast around a track. It is about reality, decision making and hard work. You must fight against complacency and know that what you do matters. The Midwest City (OK) Police Department knows the importance of their instructors. They regularly give their instructors updates and constantly monitor how they are interacting with the students. The State does not mandate this. They just do what they know is right.
Supervisors & Field Training Officers
You are the lifeline to our future. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter what is said in training. Rookies and veterans will model you. What you take seriously, they will take seriously. Your actions will show them their actions. The future of the profession is in your hands and the safety of our officers behind the wheel depends largely on you.
Unions
Yes it may seem strange to discuss unions in the issue of EVOC but the influence they can play on our profession should not be ignored. There is more to a union than advocating salaries and benefits. Unions have a responsibility to advocate a safe environment for their members. That includes EVOC and if management is not giving officers what they need to be safe then it is time for the union to step up. The Omaha Police Union is a great example of this. While that union was recently successful in obtaining a 15 percent raise for their officers, they are working hard to make sure their officers are safe. They have formed a safety committee and they have tackled countless issues including the proper placement of laptops in cars and driver training.
Officers
I was recently told that if it was up to me, I would make every officer drive just 25 mph. While that sounds silly, I know why it was said. My enduring call for safety in regards to EVOC does not always make my fellow colleagues happy. I knew that when I entered this line of instruction and I accept the fact that I am not on everyone’s Christmas card list. That is not why I do what I do. I want my fellow officers to go home at night and I will stop at nothing to ensure they do.
Every officer must have that same attitude. We must recognize that at times, we make bad decisions that put our life and the lives of those we serve in peril. It isn’t always necessary to drive 80, 90, or 100 mph. We don’t necessarily save that much time in response and we sometimes blow intersections without regard to the consequences. It is no secret that speed plays the largest factor in the officers that have been killed and injured behind the wheel of their car. We’ve had officers that have been killed not wearing seatbelts and our officers wonder why they have to train in EVOC.
Police officers are modern day heroes. When gun fire is going off most people run away…not police officers. When the call to help comes in, they go no matter what the conditions are. We must protect the lives of these heroes and that protection starts with them. We (as a profession) must do what is right, even when no one is watching. Our safety depends on it.
Conclusion
This article may seem harsh and even a risk. It is not that I am fearless. Of course I am concerned to make these statements, especially knowing that I continue to work in this profession.
Being fearless is not the issue. The issue is truth. Is what I am saying the truth? If it is, then I can lay my head on the pillow at night with comfort despite if what I am saying is not comfortable. Whether you are a deputy, officer, supervisor, union leader, sheriff, or chief: how about you? Can you lay your head on the pillow at night?
For the safety of your officers, I hope so.
