The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
DANGER ON THE ROAD
Law enforcement officials face ‘unpredictable’ dangers when pulling over vehicles
Signs bearing the names of Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Kenny Velez and Cleveland police Officer David Fahey Jr. were placed along Interstate 90 this summer.
Both men were tragically killed in a similar fashion — struck by vehicles while conducting traffic stops. The signs serve as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face when pulling over vehicles on a highway.
Officer Kyle Gelenius of the Lorain Police Department Traffic Bureau encourages motorists first and foremost to move over.
“If an officer is stopped on Route 2, the highway, on a
“On numerous occasions, officers have been injured and killed while conducting traffic stops on the side of the road.” — Lorain officer Kyle Gelenius
four-lane road and if an officer is on the side of the road, the safest way is for the motorist to move over to the left to give the officer space,” Gelenius said.
As president of Fraternal Order of Police Lorain Lodge #3, Gelenius is involved in the Move Over campaign in educating the public about the dangers faced by officers when conducting traffic stops in addition to other emergency personnel who have to park on the street during times of need.
“We see time and time again motorists just buzzing by,” Gelenius said. “On numerous occasions, officers have been injured and killed while conducting traffic stops on the side of the road.”
Lake County Sheriff Daniel Dunlap said extensive training is done in the police academy covering methods of safely pulling over vehicles.
What makes officer safety difficult, he said, are things like weather or heavy traffic on a highway.
By law, drivers are required to move over one lane when approaching stationary emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights. Sometimes, however, not everyone is able to do that because of the traffic, Dunlap said.
“At minimum slow down,” the sheriff said.
Many area departments often share posts on social media instructing drivers of their responsibly when approaching emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
“Education is always an important aspect,” he said.
The more media — be it traditional or social — talks about this issue, the more people will be aware of their responsibility in these situations.
There are also things law enforcement officers can do to keep themselves safe, he said.
Proper lighting is one. If the lights are too bright, drivers may not be able to see more than a shadow of the officer, he said.
He also said that officers don’t have to pull someone over right away. They can find a parking lot or another, safer space off of a busy road way.
Officers “just can’t drop their guard,” Dunlap said.
“People do unpredictable things,” he said.
“You have to consider some will not do what is appropriate. You may have to take extraordinary measures to get out of the way.”
The first snows of the season have fallen and compound the problems law enforcement already faces.
Winter can compound the challenges law enforcement faces.
“We have to be mindful, even more so in the winter,” Highway Patrol Lt. Charles Gullett said.
The roads are slick and people don’t react as quickly. Windows can be snow-covered or fogged up and officers can’t see into them as well.
“You have to keep your head on a swivel,” Gullet said.
Dunlap tells drivers to make sure they’re cleaning their lights of snow not just their windshields before entering the roadways.
When serving as a first responders, Gullett said officers need to drive safely and carefully in inclement weather. They face the challenges as anyone else when getting to point A to point B in a snowstorm. They’re driving the same types of vehicles.
“We try to be safe to get help to the people who need it,” he said.
Officers need to drive slower and with more caution, Dunlap said.
It doesn’t matter how fast you were trying to get there if your cruiser gets disabled and you can’t get there at all, he said.
“You don’t do anyone any good if you don’t get there,” Dunlap said.