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Talk About Tulsa => Other Tulsa Discussion => Topic started by: TeeDub on November 20, 2008, 09:28:01 AM

Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TeeDub on November 20, 2008, 09:28:01 AM

How long before this gets swept under the rug?


3....  2....  1....

http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=9384415
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Tulsa police are investigating the use of alcohol at an event at the police training center and whether alcohol was involved in the crash of a patrol car.

Police Chief Ron Palmer says Internal Affairs is looking into the incident at his request.

Police records show that a patrol car driven by Officer Danny Bean hit a power pole and a security gate about 10:40 p.m. on Oct. 16.

The 2007 Dodge Charger patrol car was totaled.

Palmer says members of the police department's Special Operations Team held a barbecue after a day of training at the center and alcohol apparently was involved.

Palmer says alcohol should not be allowed at the center.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: brianh on November 20, 2008, 09:32:18 AM
I will be a little disconcerted if my tax dollars go to replacing the police car if this is found to be alcohol related.  That should be an insurance thing.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TeeDub on November 20, 2008, 09:46:22 AM

The Tulsa World has a little more detail...  

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081120_11_A1_hTPDIn946575

Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on November 20, 2008, 09:49:03 AM
Gee, what a stupid place to put that phone pole [:o)]
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081119_298_Inve753221
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: grahambino on November 20, 2008, 10:00:46 AM
alcohol or not, why on earth was this guy driving an 'estimated' 55 mph through the training center?


Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on November 20, 2008, 01:21:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by grahambino

alcohol or not, why on earth was this guy driving an 'estimated' 55 mph through the training center?


After a woman drove into the flashing lights of a car stopped beside I-75 last night I was expecting some sort of "Zero Tolerance" photo-op today, but how does the pot call the kettle black now?
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: carltonplace on November 20, 2008, 03:52:03 PM
One thing they don't learn at the training acadamy is "How not to tailgate". I can't tell how many times one of the trainees has ridden my @$$ on HWY 75 in the construction zone until I could find a place to get over and out of their way. As soon as I get over they zoom past at warp speed.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Ibanez on November 20, 2008, 04:03:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

One thing they don't learn at the training acadamy is "How not to tailgate". I can't tell how many times one of the trainees has ridden my @$$ on HWY 75 in the construction zone until I could find a place to get over and out of their way. As soon as I get over they zoom past at warp speed.



and he was probably on a cell phone at the same time. I've never seen people glued to cell phones as much as the TPD seems to be.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TURobY on November 20, 2008, 04:08:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

One thing they don't learn at the training acadamy is "How not to tailgate". I can't tell how many times one of the trainees has ridden my @$$ on HWY 75 in the construction zone until I could find a place to get over and out of their way. As soon as I get over they zoom past at warp speed.



I've got a ticket because of this B.S. A few years ago, I was on 129th between 31st and 41st and a patrol car was riding my tail. I sped up to get to the part of the road where it widens, thinking that they were in a rush and needed to get around me. As soon as I hit the speed limit, they flashed their lights and pulled me over for speeding.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: carltonplace on November 20, 2008, 04:21:50 PM
That sucks. Try slamming on your breaks and you'll get "accessive deceleration".
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: mrnotducks on November 20, 2008, 08:03:09 PM
These SOT "bbq"s have been going on for YEARS!!! And have included everyone from current Deputy Chiefs on down over the years. Why hang this poor newbie out to dry now? Why wasn't this type of thing stopped years ago? Besides any bbq-ing should take place at somebody's house, driving their PERSONAL cars.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: MDepr2007 on November 20, 2008, 09:36:04 PM
Why wasn't he given an alchohol test then or sent to a drug testing site? Most companies will send an employee for a test when involved in a wreck with a company car.
They should have to follow DOT rules but then again they would be over hours too often.... Maybe he just fell asleep at the wheel???
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: JessnT on November 20, 2008, 10:14:51 PM
{Police records show that Bean was driving at an estimated 55 mph when he lost control of his car on a curve at the training center. The car struck a utility pole, knocking out power to a nearby building and apparently setting off an intrusion alarm, according to dispatch records.

The car continued on and struck a security gate, which serves as an entryway to the United States Shooting Academy,.....}

Here's my question:  
So he's going 55 mph and hits a utility pole and somehow manages to recover from that pole smack to go on and hit a security gate and take that down??  Wonder what his grade was in the police driving course at the academy?

In all seriousness folks, don't people get killed by driving into utility poles???  I know what goes on at those barbeques and I can bet you my right pinkie finger that he was hammered.  A lot of it due to SOT (peer/beer) pressure!!  I really hope that this kid isn't the only one who takes the heat for this, like possibly getting canned.  
I do like how they are naming names and calling all the supervisors to the carpet, but as TD said, 3....2....1....Sweeeeeeep!!

In the end, I'm really glad the guy didn't run into another person or a family!  Imagine the covering up they'd have to do then!  Whew!!  
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: grahambino on November 21, 2008, 08:50:11 AM
quote:
Originally posted by TURobY

quote:
Originally posted by carltonplace

One thing they don't learn at the training acadamy is "How not to tailgate". I can't tell how many times one of the trainees has ridden my @$$ on HWY 75 in the construction zone until I could find a place to get over and out of their way. As soon as I get over they zoom past at warp speed.



I've got a ticket because of this B.S. A few years ago, I was on 129th between 31st and 41st and a patrol car was riding my tail. I sped up to get to the part of the road where it widens, thinking that they were in a rush and needed to get around me. As soon as I hit the speed limit, they flashed their lights and pulled me over for speeding.



that is a known tactic that cops will use.
they will tail like that you for a while, looking for any reason to pull you over.  it happened to me once from a OHP officer.  I had cruise set, just driving and look up in my rear view to see a cop inches from my bumper.  He rode my butt for a few miles before finally going around.  

You could also try throwing your car into low gear next time.  they will see no brake lights then...

not that i would suggest that at highway speeds.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: grahambino on November 21, 2008, 09:00:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MDepr2007

Why wasn't he given an alchohol test then or sent to a drug testing site? Most companies will send an employee for a test when involved in a wreck with a company car.
They should have to follow DOT rules but then again they would be over hours too often.... Maybe he just fell asleep at the wheel???



exactly.  i'm not sure of the CoT's policy but at one of my former places of employment if you get in a wreck in a company car, your supervisor comes and gets you immediately and you go right then for drug and alcohol testing.  If you're not seriously injured that is.  It doesn't matter if someone ran a red light and broadsided you, you'd still get tested immediately.

so, lets give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he wasn't drunk, right.  55 mph through that training area could certainly be considered reckless driving, shouldn't it?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=6066+East+66th+St+N,+Tulsa,+OK+74117&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.14027,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=36.247059,-95.908231&spn=0.005771,0.009656&t=h&z=17&iwloc=addr

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=q16wcg706svv&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=16538353&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

i'm assuming that's the place based on the address in the article.  I am not sure where this accident occurred, however. I can see a couple probable gates, but nothing definitive.

Either way, no one should not be driving 55mph though this area, that much is obvious and also applies to a person that has went through extensive driving lessons / training.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Townsend on November 21, 2008, 09:18:02 AM
I'm surious about cost liability.  Any idea whose paying for the damage?
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: tim huntzinger on November 21, 2008, 09:19:38 AM
And what would have happened if there was a tactical emergency? This was only the most drunk of the crew - who else was drinking? How much did they have? Why was he allowed to get that drunk?

Oh well.  No one cares.  No one is going to do anything. Big deal.  Suck it up you ungrateful peons.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: nathanm on November 21, 2008, 10:14:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller


Get 'em Rick!  Heads need to roll!  I want to hear of no taxpayer money going to pay for these BBQs.  We pay for public safety, not debauchery.


I don't think the bbq is the problem. The problem is the drinking to excess.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: tim huntzinger on November 21, 2008, 10:29:14 AM
quote:
Originally posted by nathanm

quote:
Originally posted by inteller


Get 'em Rick!  Heads need to roll!  I want to hear of no taxpayer money going to pay for these BBQs.  We pay for public safety, not debauchery.


I don't think the bbq is the problem. The problem is the drinking to excess.



The problem is ANY alkeehaul on the job site.  Period.  I cannot begin to imagine that having booze on City property is allowed at all.  They all need to be disciplined and at least the top dog on site needs to be fired. Period. End of story. Zero tolerance.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: sgrizzle on November 21, 2008, 10:34:55 AM
quote:
Originally posted by nathanm

quote:
Originally posted by inteller


Get 'em Rick!  Heads need to roll!  I want to hear of no taxpayer money going to pay for these BBQs.  We pay for public safety, not debauchery.


I don't think the bbq is the problem. The problem is the drinking to excess.



I'm not sure about that. I've seen Conan get wild at a party  after a few too many smoked sausages.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TeeDub on November 21, 2008, 10:35:07 AM

Personally I believe that those in the public trust (cops, firefighters, city officials) need to be held to a higher standard.

What were all of his friends doing letting him drive out of there if he was in fact drunk (not that he was.)  You would think that the other cops would have at least offered him a ride so as to keep the potential egg of their faces as well.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Michael71 on November 21, 2008, 12:15:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mrnotducks

These SOT "bbq"s have been going on for YEARS!!! And have included everyone from current Deputy Chiefs on down over the years. Why hang this poor newbie out to dry now? Why wasn't this type of thing stopped years ago? Besides any bbq-ing should take place at somebody's house, driving their PERSONAL cars.



After drinking?

They should be allowed to celebrate completing training if they want, but be bound to the same laws/penalties we PAY them to enforce.

All it takes is one incident like this to screw it up for the rest of them.
When was the last time you went to a company xmas party where you got hammered on the companies dime?...okay, I may have contributed to why my company doesn't anymore...but that was years ago.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: nathanm on November 21, 2008, 10:14:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by inteller


yeah but that is private sector.  If my tax dollars are paying for a cop BBQ that pisses me off.


And you wonder why public employees are often such joyless a**holes. When you get **** on from every angle, it makes it hard not to be.

Give the poor ****s a party. What did it cost you, 70 cents?
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on November 21, 2008, 10:34:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by nathanm

quote:
Originally posted by inteller


yeah but that is private sector.  If my tax dollars are paying for a cop BBQ that pisses me off.


And you wonder why public employees are often such joyless a**holes. When you get **** on from every angle, it makes it hard not to be.

Give the poor ****s a party. What did it cost you, 70 cents?


Maybe what might be so unsettling is the mental picture of police snipers sloshed out of their minds.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: nathanm on November 22, 2008, 09:03:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by patric


Maybe what might be so unsettling is the mental picture of police snipers sloshed out of their minds.


That is disturbing, at least if they're responding to calls while inebriated. Which I doubt has happened or will happen.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: MDepr2007 on November 22, 2008, 11:22:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by nathanm

quote:
Originally posted by patric


Maybe what might be so unsettling is the mental picture of police snipers sloshed out of their minds.


That is disturbing, at least if they're responding to calls while inebriated. Which I doubt has happened or will happen.



They usually have 3 plus hours to sober up before TPD is set up enough to need their accuracy anyway [:o)]
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on November 23, 2008, 02:05:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by grahambino

alcohol or not, why on earth was this guy driving an 'estimated' 55 mph through the training center?


Given that there were no grinning mugshots or reports of poop in the patrol car (//%22http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10593%22) maybe he wasnt drunk after all?
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TeeDub on November 25, 2008, 10:02:47 AM

*sweep sweep*

How long does an "investigation" take?

Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: JessnT on November 26, 2008, 01:38:57 AM
Not long when there never was an "investigation" to begin with.

Do ya really think there will be a follow up story?? [:D]
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Sardonicus Rex on November 28, 2008, 12:08:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by brianh

I will be a little disconcerted if my tax dollars go to replacing the police car if this is found to be alcohol related.  That should be an insurance thing.



It's possible that "an insurance thing" and "my tax dollars go[ing] to replace the police car" may be one and the same. If the city is self-insured on its vehicles, then tax $$ would go to replace it.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on November 28, 2008, 12:38:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by JessnT

Not long when there never was an "investigation" to begin with.

Do ya really think there will be a follow up story?? [:D]


You would never have known if the Tulsa Whirled hadnt sued TPD under the Freedom of Information Act.  
Most crime reporting (especially broadcast) is just spoon-fed from police reports and PIO's.  If there's no police report, it didnt happen.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on December 05, 2008, 11:27:38 AM
Yesterday was quite a day for DUI's...
A former judge, an on-duty OKC cop and two cops from Okay (their whole police force) were busted.

Im assuming they were separate incidents, or there was a hell of a party I wasnt invited to.
Title: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TeeDub on February 12, 2009, 04:21:41 PM

Bump to remind people of the problems we like to sweep under the rug.
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on April 25, 2009, 11:23:18 PM
Drinking during a barbecue at the Tulsa Police Department's training center last year led to the totaling of a police car and the suspensions of three officers, Police Chief Ron Palmer told the Tulsa World.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090425_11_A11_Drinki368092

Nearly 20 Tulsa police officers, including one who crashed the patrol car, drank alcohol during the cookout, an investigation has revealed.

Officer Danny Bean told investigators that he drank two beers before heading home in his department- issued squad car, Palmer said. He reportedly knocked over a power pole and crashed into a security gate as he left the facility at 6066 E. 66th St. North.

Bean was suspended for 80 hours without pay and will not be allowed to take his new patrol car home for 120 days, Palmer said.

The department's Internal Affairs Unit found that Bean was not given a field sobriety test and that his blood-alcohol level was never measured. Palmer said it also wasn't clear who brought the beer or how many officers were drinking at the event.

The police union appealed the decision shortly after the officers were suspended, said Ron Bartmier, chairman of the union's board.
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: custosnox on April 26, 2009, 03:16:38 AM
Quote from: grahambino on November 21, 2008, 08:50:11 AM
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by TURobY</i>

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by carltonplace</i>

One thing they don't learn at the training acadamy is "How not to tailgate". I can't tell how many times one of the trainees has ridden my @$$ on HWY 75 in the construction zone until I could find a place to get over and out of their way. As soon as I get over they zoom past at warp speed.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

I've got a ticket because of this B.S. A few years ago, I was on 129th between 31st and 41st and a patrol car was riding my tail. I sped up to get to the part of the road where it widens, thinking that they were in a rush and needed to get around me. As soon as I hit the speed limit, they flashed their lights and pulled me over for speeding.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

that is a known tactic that cops will use.
they will tail like that you for a while, looking for any reason to pull you over.  it happened to me once from a OHP officer.  I had cruise set, just driving and look up in my rear view to see a cop inches from my bumper.  He rode my butt for a few miles before finally going around.  

You could also try throwing your car into low gear next time.  they will see no brake lights then...

not that i would suggest that at highway speeds.


hehe, I've actually done this.  Had a catoosa cop riding my tail going from 44 to 66.  I threw it down a gear and slowed down to the minimum speed.  By the time I got to where there were it was a four lane, the cop was so pissed (and I still hadn't broken a law) that he sped around me gunning the engine.  I just laughed and kept going on down the road.  And for the record, I've never put up with bs from cops, and I'm rrreeeaaalllyy surprised that I haven't been hauled off to jail for it.
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Wilbur on April 26, 2009, 07:15:49 AM
Quote from: TeeDub on November 25, 2008, 10:02:47 AM
*sweep sweep*

How long does an "investigation" take?


Here's your so-called sweep:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090425_11_A11_Drinki368092
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Wilbur on April 26, 2009, 07:17:09 AM
Quote from: JessnT on November 26, 2008, 01:38:57 AM
Not long when there never was an "investigation" to begin with.

Do ya really think there will be a follow up story?? [:D]

Here's your followup story.  Oh, wait, this never happened.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090425_11_A11_Drinki368092
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: Conan71 on April 26, 2009, 09:23:57 PM
Quote from: patric on April 25, 2009, 11:23:18 PM
Drinking during a barbecue at the Tulsa Police Department's training center last year led to the totaling of a police car and the suspensions of three officers, Police Chief Ron Palmer told the Tulsa World.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090425_11_A11_Drinki368092

Officer Danny Bean told investigators that he drank two beers before heading home in his department- issued squad car, Palmer said. He reportedly knocked over a power pole and crashed into a security gate as he left the facility at 6066 E. 66th St. North.



It's always: "Just a couple of beers, officer."  ::)

Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: swake on April 27, 2009, 07:15:11 AM
Quote from: Conan71 on April 26, 2009, 09:23:57 PM
It's always: "Just a couple of beers, officer."  ::)



A cop friend told me once that when he pulls someone over and they say they've only had a couple that he always knows that means "a lot", but if the driver said "one" or "three" he usually figured that was an honest answer.
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: custosnox on April 27, 2009, 07:41:33 AM
Quote from: swake on April 27, 2009, 07:15:11 AM
A cop friend told me once that when he pulls someone over and they say they've only had a couple that he always knows that means "a lot", but if the driver said "one" or "three" he usually figured that was an honest answer.

I've heard this as well, the only problem I've got with it is that there have been many times that I have stopped at two.  I've been waiting to get pulled over on this and see what happens when I tell the cop two.  I always figured I would just say 1 and a half lol
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: TeeDub on April 27, 2009, 08:44:18 AM

"The police union appealed the decision shortly after the officers were suspended, said Ron Bartmier, chairman of the union's board. "



A two week suspension for drinking on the job?!?!?     Fair?

Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: cannon_fodder on April 27, 2009, 09:46:21 AM
Quote from: TeeDub on April 27, 2009, 08:44:18 AM
A two week suspension for drinking on the job?!?!?     Fair?

That's what I was thinking.  A DUI generally leads to a loss of a CDL or at very least a person that it is very expensive to insure.   I know many truck drivers, equipment operators and cabbies that have been out of work because of drinking.  And that was OFF THE JOB.

If they think being suspended for crashing a public vehicle while drinking is too tough they're crazy.
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: custosnox on April 27, 2009, 01:31:09 PM
I made the stupid mistake of getting behind the wheel after drinking too much once, and, of course, got stopped.  That brilliant moment of stupidity cost me thousands of dollars in fines, classes, and fees.  It also meant six months of a suspended drivers license, and I didn't even have a wreck.  So yeah, two weeks suspention is not enough.
Title: Re: DUI in a Tulsa Patrol Car
Post by: patric on March 22, 2010, 11:51:04 PM
I understand the cautionary practice of paying police while suspended, but it should be pointed out that not all states or departments do this:

DENVER (AP) — An on-duty Colorado state trooper was pulled over Monday and accused of driving drunk after several people called 911 to report a State Patrol vehicle driving erratically, authorities said.

After about a half hour deputies brought what appeared to be a trooper in uniform out of the driver's seat of the patrol car. The suspect had his hands behind his back while walking over to the deputy's cruiser and once he got there he was handcuffed and placed in the back seat.
Dolan was placed on unpaid leave, and an internal investigation is under way.

http://cbs4denver.com/crime/state.trooper.dolan.2.1580332.html