Class 12-15 Week #10
Week #10 Class: May 21 -- Chapter 90 (Motor Vehicle law) and patrol procedures.
This week's class focused on Patrol Procedures and the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law. Lt. Guillemette and Sgt. Lawrence discussed the very important advantages of strict enforcement of the motor vehicle laws, including the fact that enforcement reduces deaths and property damage, uncovers other crimes, improves community confidence in the police department, and forces the "bad guys" to move elsewhere. Class covered the two broad categories of motor vehicle law: Civil Infractions, such as speeding and running a red light; and Criminal Offenses, such as OUIs, OTEs, and driving with a revoked/suspended license. Officers have various enforcement options, such as giving a driver a verbal or written warning, writing a civil citation or criminal complaint, or arresting the driver. Officers are given broad discretion over their enforcement options, using their own judgment concerning the seriousness of the incident, time of day, location of the incident, and prior knowledge of the driver. It was noted that speeding and marked lanes violation are the most prevalent citations. Class members adjourned outside to the parking lot for a demonstration of actual patrol procedures, including a "routine" traffic stop involving a minor incident, such as an expired inspection sticker; to a felony traffic stop involving multiple cruisers and officers. Class concluded with a discussion of the stress that officers face on the job and how they deal with it. Sgt. Josh Bound described an incident he faced 3 years ago in which he had to respond to a call involving the death of a newborn infant. He struggled with the emotional and psychological toll this placed on him, finally realizing that he needed help and that there were no procedures in place at the Sandwich PD to help police officers deal with just this type of situation. He spearheaded a peer support program, now in place, designed specifically to help officers deal with the emotional trauma that they face all too frequently.
~ Donna Leiss, Contributing Editor
This week's class focused on Patrol Procedures and the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Law. Lt. Guillemette and Sgt. Lawrence discussed the very important advantages of strict enforcement of the motor vehicle laws, including the fact that enforcement reduces deaths and property damage, uncovers other crimes, improves community confidence in the police department, and forces the "bad guys" to move elsewhere. Class covered the two broad categories of motor vehicle law: Civil Infractions, such as speeding and running a red light; and Criminal Offenses, such as OUIs, OTEs, and driving with a revoked/suspended license. Officers have various enforcement options, such as giving a driver a verbal or written warning, writing a civil citation or criminal complaint, or arresting the driver. Officers are given broad discretion over their enforcement options, using their own judgment concerning the seriousness of the incident, time of day, location of the incident, and prior knowledge of the driver. It was noted that speeding and marked lanes violation are the most prevalent citations. Class members adjourned outside to the parking lot for a demonstration of actual patrol procedures, including a "routine" traffic stop involving a minor incident, such as an expired inspection sticker; to a felony traffic stop involving multiple cruisers and officers. Class concluded with a discussion of the stress that officers face on the job and how they deal with it. Sgt. Josh Bound described an incident he faced 3 years ago in which he had to respond to a call involving the death of a newborn infant. He struggled with the emotional and psychological toll this placed on him, finally realizing that he needed help and that there were no procedures in place at the Sandwich PD to help police officers deal with just this type of situation. He spearheaded a peer support program, now in place, designed specifically to help officers deal with the emotional trauma that they face all too frequently.
~ Donna Leiss, Contributing Editor
Photos courtesy of Pauline Fortin, John Leiss and Sue Vibberts