http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/07/14/appeal-for-trooper-fired-over-fatal-crash-underway Comments On: Twice-fired state trooper reinstated by David Koon en-us Copyright 2013 Arkansas Times. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Arkansas Times readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Arkansas Times. robert@arktimes.com (Arkansas Times Webmaster) Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:01 -0500 Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
My impression was that the commission had made up its mind ahead of time, whatever the reason. This was a disciplinary action by the Colonel of the State Police based on the trooper breaking a law that requires lights and sirens to be on when they respond to a call or whatever. The trooper's arguement was basically "everybody does it." During one break I heard one Commissioner say to the other "I hope we get this done today." The other replied, "Well, we know which way we're going with this." And the State Police attorney hadn't even finished his case yet at that point. I can't say for sure what they were referring to but can only assume since I think they took about 5 minutes to go deliberate before voting. If this had been in a real court the State Police attorney would have surely won. There was a violation of a law (something, something "202") and their policy, the trooper admitted didn't have his lights and siren on and the black box showed 103 mph 1 second before he killed the woman.

Several of the dead woman's daughters were in sitting the audience right in front of me. After the trooper got a year probation in the criminal trial and the governor-appointed Commission (apparently they all own banks according to one of the chairman's little jokes during the thing) reversed the termination, I would bet they will be after a huge lawsuit. Their attorney, Johnny or Billy Coleman I think, was there watching the whole thing with them and had to keep trying to get them to calm down. One of them clapped sarcastically when the vote was taken. Of course those millions they get are our tax dollars. I wish the least the rich Commissioners would do pay that bill for us.

A bad deal that will just get worse over time is my impression of the whole thing. I think I'll give the Governor's office my 2 cents on his appointees at the State Police Commission since I don't think they are elected. I wonder if any of them have any former law enforcement experience at all.

Now about that Highway Department....
Posted by Blanchard Springs]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:47:21 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by John A Arkansawyer]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:00:40 -0500 Arkansas Times
Who said the woman who was killed was "doped up"? I didn't see it in the story. If you know something we don't, tell us.

And when you say, "When lights and sirens are on people stop in the road, want get over and panic and cause a crash themselves in certain instatences," I wonder: Why do we never hear of ambulances or fire trucks or EMTs running at a hundred plus with their lights and sirens off?
Posted by John A Arkansawyer]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:57:42 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by Doc]]> Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:56:05 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by Joe Bob]]> Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:13:58 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by AllenK]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:22:48 -0500 Arkansas Times
And no, I've never seen another state police/highway patrol vehicle doing over 100 mph w/o sirens/lights in my life.

I've seen them going fast but not 100 mph.


Posted by wannabee conservative]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:09:55 -0500 Arkansas Times
If you are 20 miles away, there is no damn reason not to be using both your lights and sirens. You need both as new cars are almost sound-proof and the siren alone can be an issue. Go in heavy traffic and see what I mean and watch or park near a busy intersection with the windows shut and the radio on and see if you hear a damn thing.
Posted by couldn't be better]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 06:28:57 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by arkansasmediawatch]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:58:20 -0500 Arkansas Times
As you will see by clicking this link, Rhew was over twenty miles from his destination while he sped with neither lights nor siren on: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q…

I find that to be irresponsible behavior. You're welcome to call that observation Monday morning quarterbacking. I'd prefer to call it common sense.

As for someone maybe raping my wife and my daughter--at the same time? That's a pretty remarkable rapist you know, Jeff--what about the real daughter who is dead?
Posted by John A Arkansawyer]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:12:01 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by Jeff]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:54:33 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by moveoverboys]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:27:52 -0500 Arkansas Times
Actually that would seem to make my case, Citizen. It seems both drivers made a tragic mistake, but two wrongs obviously don't make a right, as the saying goes.
Incidentally, my comment about sound referred to my understanding that there were witnesses that saw the trooper's driving just before the accident. Upon rereading, I see that I may have misread or misinterpreted that portion of the story.
One final comment about misunderstandings, misinterpretations, misjudgement, mis-(anything): The trooper said he first saw the Freemeyer car pulling out about 200 or 300 yards ahead. My guess is he meant feet rather than yards since even at 100+ mph, he should have been able easily to stop within the space of two to three football fields.


Posted by Doigotta]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:32:28 -0500 Arkansas Times
Here's the link to the Arkansas Times article back in April:

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archi…

I'm thinking any other state employee who was driving a state vehicle would have been fired, and certainly would not have been reinstated.

Rhew just needs to find another job and move on.



Posted by RYD]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:21:49 -0500 Arkansas Times
Incredible.

Posted by Durango]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:19:59 -0500 Arkansas Times
You are correct about the sound of a passing speeder, the issue is more judging a car's speed at a distance approaching. Once a estimate is made and the victim pulls out there is no redo.

I can go wizzing down Cantrell Hill around the curve and always stop before hitting a stopped vehicle but if a car is wizzing up hill in my lane I am not at fault.

100 plus in a 45 is so far beyond an expected situation that someone paying reasonable amount of attention would would mis judge.

If 228% over the legal LIMIT does not shift responsibility, what speed does? Mach 1?(speed of sound)
186,000 miles per second?
(speed of light)
Posted by Citizen1]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:30:41 -0500 Arkansas Times
Ark State Police and local police are better at witness control than the Mafia ever dreamed about.
Posted by eLwood]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:39:43 -0500 Arkansas Times
45 mph=90 feet
60 mph=160 feet
103 mph = 470 feet

In other words, a reasonable driver allowing for reasonable wrecklessness in other drivers (60 mph in a 45 mph zone) would need TRIPLE THE DISTANCE for 103 in a 45.

Fault would be entirely with the driver moving at 228% of the speed limit. No matter the circumstances.

Another occasional poster on this blog is a first responder and years ago convinced me that police speeding should only be done to save the life of another.

His "law and order/if you don't persue criminals they will know and all get away" stance evaporated the instant his firetruck arrived at a car crash scene and they heard the wail of a mother clutching the body of her child killed by a fleeing speeder (didn't stop because he had unpaid traffic fines).

He said that sound will wake you years later and you don't dare go back to sleep for fear the sound might come back.

Warrants would seldom justify the risk to other motorists.
Posted by Citizen1]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:15:44 -0500 Arkansas Times Posted by Doigotta]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:03:51 -0500 Arkansas Times
And if those black boxes are "not accurate", then the police shouldn't ever be allowed to use them in accident reconstruction. Either are accurate as can be or they are not but this excuse is too easy. If did those witnesses who say he wasn't going that fast have radar guns? Most people standing on the side of the road have no idea of how fast a car is going by them.

Posted by couldn't be better]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:27:54 -0500 Arkansas Times
A MOTORIST can come o a DEAD stop at a red light or stop sign, see nothing coming, pull out to go; but if a motorist is flying like a bat out of hell, they are upon you within a split second.
Posted by Zorr10]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:01:40 -0500 Arkansas Times
When from out of nowhere and with no flashing blue lights or siren, here comes Trooper Rhew blasting into her side. Whether 59 mph or 103 mph (as the trooper’s black box showed), it doesn’t matter: Rhew simply should not have been driving in so fast and so careless a manner in a 45-mph zone.

And just to check on somebody with an outstanding warrant? Please.

Vickie Freemyer: An untimely and needless end to her life. She should have lived to see her grandchild who was born a month later. And another grandchild born since then.

I’m usually on the cop’s side. But I believe the ASP director took the correct action in firing Rhew. Were I king, the firing would stand.
Posted by Durango]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:43:20 -0500 Arkansas Times
And that stuff about the blackbox being wrong? Bullshit!!! You should be sanctioned for even bringing up stupid crap like that.
Posted by 70%er]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:02:01 -0500 Arkansas Times