any VA Troopers on the air?

[ilkevinli]

Hi,
It probably had something to do with making sure everyone gets home safe (car accidents, flat tires, etc...). Also it helps to insure no one gets lost.

Again as has been stated numerous times already, the NYPD did not REQUEST escorts. They were graciously given by their respective agencies on their own doing.

People call us for non-issues all the time. We all know there are plenty of ways to "blow them off" when it is deserved without telling them to "**** off". I'm not talking about this incident specifically, I wasn't there. But IMO the caller needed to STFU and get over it.

But anyways, the real reason I posted here is to ask a question. It's just a question, not a critique, so don't get your panties in a bunch. I'm just wondering why the NYPD had to maintain a convoy to begin with? They were on their way home from what I understand, so i'm assuming their mission was over. Why tie up units from various agencies for escorts, and back up traffic, just so there aren't any gaps? Couldn't they just meet back in NY and call it good? It's EXTREMELY cool that they went down to help out, i'm just wondering why it's so important to stay together in a convoy on the way home. Right now I work for a small agency, so our convoy would consist of a short-bus, so maybe I just don't get it...

[orlandofed5-0]

Does anyone remember the footage of the black officer (a major I believe) who was stopped by a trooper (southern I believe) and the major was a total [email protected]? I think that he got sprayed or tazed on the side of the road in the end. Eventually he identified that he was a cop, but only way after he crossed the line and assaulted some troopers.

He was a Metro Dade (Miami Dade) major who was pulled over by an Orange county FL deputy.The major was an ahole and deserved for what he got for being an ahole to the deputy. He tried to claim race in his lawsuit but did get some money. He almost had his cert pulled by fdle.

[Omega4]

The one advantage I have as the Coroner is that I almost always sit in the corner, eat my popcorn and watch the show when a couple agencies do battle with each other. It is often a great show in silliness at it's best.

Here is the bottom line in this duel of agencies. Neither one did the right thing and are now looking like John Q. Citizen in trying to blame someone else for their own mistake(s). Yeap, I said that, out loud and in public.

NYPD. The convoy was no longer responding to the emergency. VSP couldn't / wouldn't provide an escort for whatever reason. The convoy was running lights and acting like LE in someone elses jurisdiction and probably didn't have the legal authority to do so. You were already getting some PC from VSP as they were turning a blind eye to NYPD running with lights on. Something that is probably illegal for NYPD to do in VA.

VSP. Is there something wrong with your dialing finger? A simple phone call from one watch commander to another probably would've resolved your citizen complaint. Without the public humiliation of the "traffic stop" on another agency. I would bet a healthy portion of my next paycheck that the NYPD Watch Commander had a way to communicate with the detail/convoy coming back from NO. Even if VSP brass wasn't paying overtime for an escort, you don't have one or two troopers that could've volunteered some time to help out another agency. An agency that was probably suffering from a severe case of drag-*** and just wanted to get home from their nobel deed?

Both agencies made mistakes. If both agencies admit to them, then this whole argument becomes moot. All this argument has done is reenforce some negative stereotypes about both agencies that neither one should be burdoned with.

[VAsteve20]

Its this attitude that I can see why other LEO have been issued summons from the VSP. There is obviously no talking to some of you guys. Its a sorry shame.

You seem to have no common sense. Oh well.

lol your a trip brother...
get over the fact that nypd did a booboo and still got away with it scott free... whats the big deal?

[ilkevinli]

Nice post.

The only problem with it is that VSP didn't "turn a blind eye to it". They conducted a car stoy (actually a convoy stop) and told the lead car to turn the lights off.

The one advantage I have as the Coroner is that I almost always sit in the corner, eat my popcorn and watch the show when a couple agencies do battle with each other. It is often a great show in silliness at it's best.

Here is the bottom line in this duel of agencies. Neither one did the right thing and are now looking like John Q. Citizen in trying to blame someone else for their own mistake(s). Yeap, I said that, out loud and in public.

NYPD. The convoy was no longer responding to the emergency. VSP couldn't / wouldn't provide an escort for whatever reason. The convoy was running lights and acting like LE in someone elses jurisdiction and probably didn't have the legal authority to do so. You were already getting some PC from VSP as they were turning a blind eye to NYPD running with lights on. Something that is probably illegal for NYPD to do in VA.

VSP. Is there something wrong with your dialing finger? A simple phone call from one watch commander to another probably would've resolved your citizen complaint. Without the public humiliation of the "traffic stop" on another agency. I would bet a healthy portion of my next paycheck that the NYPD Watch Commander had a way to communicate with the detail/convoy coming back from NO. Even if VSP brass wasn't paying overtime for an escort, you don't have one or two troopers that could've volunteered some time to help out another agency. An agency that was probably suffering from a severe case of drag-*** and just wanted to get home from their nobel deed?

Both agencies made mistakes. If both agencies admit to them, then this whole argument becomes moot. All this argument has done is reenforce some negative stereotypes about both agencies that neither one should be burdoned with.

[ilkevinli]

LOL !!!

Yep they did a big booboo

Thank you so much mister Police man for being so kind. You really know how to treat your fellow brothers.

lol your a trip brother...
get over the fact that nypd did a booboo and still got away with it scott free... whats the big deal?

[28Blue21]

"Futher more, just because your a PO doesn't mean you will automatically "get off the hook". If your respectful, you will be shown courtesy. Well maybe not in VA."

Now, Kevin, isn't that the whole point? I believe that we are going to agree on this one thing! Maybe they weren't being respectful. If they were driving like it is alleged, then that would not be respectful of the VSP that were policing that area. And maybe they threw an attitude at the scene. I don't know.

But the bottom line is the police (and yes, even the NYPD) is not above the law - just as you are implying.

[ilkevinli]

I agree.

However, the facts have been shown that it was physically inmpossible for the NYC transit busses to go over 65mph. So they weren't speeding. Was going too slow disrepectful ? How about the lead car having its lights on. Disrespectful ?

Lets say they were speeding. Does it rise to the level of neeeding to be pulled over ? We are not talking about an off duty PO in a personal vehicle. We are talking about marked cars with people in uniform.

I guess it really comes down to personal views of courtesy.

"Futher more, just because your a PO doesn't mean you will automatically "get off the hook". If your respectful, you will be shown courtesy. Well maybe not in VA."

Now, Kevin, isn't that the whole point? I believe that we are going to agree on this one thing! Maybe they weren't being respectful. If they were driving like it is alleged, then that would not be respectful of the VSP that were policing that area. And maybe they threw an attitude at the scene. I don't know.

But the bottom line is the police (and yes, even the NYPD) is not above the law - just as you are implying.

[cleetus0219]

get over the fact that nypd did a booboo and still got away with it scott free... whats the big deal?

The big deal is you and your boys' attitudes towards other cops. You can guarantee if you were getting your *** handed to you on the side of the road, the convoy would've stopped to help you, but you still find it "offensive" that they were breaking a stupid motor vehicle law.

Get a clue, and don't take motor vehicle laws too seriously. Eventually you guys might get something REALLY bad like a shoplifter.

[hoohoo]

The bottom line:

To the boys from Virginia. Your opinion in this matter is irrelevant. I'm not a diplomat, and I doubt there are any words besides "we are sorry" that the VSP could say. God knows we are not perfect, but we have the stones to call out one of our own if we feel he was wrong in a case like this.
Virginia was wrong because they didnt have the intelligence to identify the appropriate course of action to deal with sworn ( and I believe, Federally Marshalized) on duty officers, who's only apparent offense was driving in a convoy. It never occurred to the VSP to flex those legal muscles at the alleged (I say alleged, because I have my doubts) complaintant, after identifying (without bothering) the people in the convoy. Their lack of skills and courage in dealing with the public resulted in picking on the ones who wouldnt argue the point.

This matter will continue, because of the VASP's official and unofficial attempts at justifying their actions. It called for an apology, dopey. The NYPD traveled to the opposite end of the coast to help fellow citizens. Virginia showed their appreciation with what many would consider one of the top discourtesies to another cop.

Come on up. Welcome to NYC. The difference is that we, even now, wouldnt treat you like that.

[actiontrooper]

Caravan etiquette

VAsteve20 "yes
all convoys are to maintain organization in the right hand lane... merging traffic comming onto the interstate will merge after the convoy passes...
is that to tough for you to understand???"
Is that a crime, ie misdemeanor or felony, or traffic violation? I was not aware of Virginia's protocol so yes, it was too difficult to understand without being informed. The NYPD did commit a "booboo" if your statement is fact. In NY State the left lane is used, police escort is provided and it isn't an issue. Motorists do cut into caravans and motorcades no matter what lane is used. Hopefully, clear heads will prevail and it wont be an issue in NY State in the future. VAsteve20 "what makes the nypd any better than a citizen? they obviously dont know how to drive like responisble officers, and find it perfectly fine to urinate will in public view."
NYPD officers are, thankfully, still required to be US citizens, and afforded the same rights and priveleges as other citizens, like the female motorist. You seem to have an attitude problem of your own, with statements like "they obviously dont know how to drive like responisble officers". As for your statement that the officers" find it perfectly fine to urinate will in public view." I won't touch that one, and we are in agreement. On long trips, I never had to resort to that, but wasn't on a bus with no bathroom with someone else dictating when we stopped to use the head. That is very unfortunate and indeed in poor taste, even if they spent three weeks with little sleep doing the right thing as federally deputized workers. The Virginia State Troopers that stopped the convoy never mentioned anything about a complainant being the initial reason for the stop. I think there was some miscommunication here. This may have lead to some of the confusion and the Virginia officers thinking the NYPD was intentionally breaking Commonwealth traffic laws, and being discourteous. VaSteve20, I wonder if you normally assume things when dealing with out of state motorists, and feel slighted, when a little information and an explanation might be more advantageous to all concerned? If so, lighten up, you'll live longer. I haven't seen anyone say that officers from any department, in general, are above the law. The NYPD officers were in fact on duty and in uniform. Is it legal for federally deputized marshals and sworn law enforcement officers to pass through an adjoining state with their marked emergency vehicles after their 3 week stint? I'm not a federal judge or Virginia law expert so can't answer that. That was apparently an issue of concern for the VSP. Thank God our active military units work as one team, in combat, instead of fighting amongst themselves.

[SGTBOB137]

Maybe its just me, but to have you answer your own question, if you had provided an escort then a Virginia State Police unit could have shown the NYPD units the proper Virginia way of traveling through the state and maybe have avoided this whole fiasco.

[28Blue21]

I don't believe for a split second that this will go anywhere productive. The NY guys are going to be ****ed off regardless of what anyone says. The Va boys are going to feel like they were just doing their jobs and since no tickets/summons were issued, no big deal.

I believe that almost every cop out there shows some professional courtesy. And I also believe that there are dicks in every department. Because we all have differing departmental and individual standards for what are considered reasonable levels of PC, these issues will be argued over for a long time. For me, as I said, I have never written another cop. I hope never to be in a situation where I was forced to (depending on the charge). And I hope that I am never put in a posirion to want to (depending on the other cops attitude). But some day I may. Does that make me less a part of the brotherhood???? You decide.

One issue that was brought up about involving the NYPD coming to the rescue of a cop in trouble. My comment on that is this: I work with other officers that are lazy as jello on a picnic table in July. I work with some that I know just hate my guts. I know others that barley know I exist. But I know that if I ever got on the radio with a "help," every last swinging john would be there in a flash. So, it probably goes both ways. Those VSP @sses, as you call them, would be there to help you in need.

[MC34]

Every single PO. on this site has pulled cars (citizens) over and decided not to cite the operator...whether it be for a good excuse given, your in a good mood, or whatever...how can that same cop then justify giving a speeding ticket (raised ins. rates, license points, $$-that no P.O.'s seem to have to casually throw around) to a so-called 'brother' officer??? I mean he does the exact same job as you, risking it all (possibly) every day, but yet he is less deserving than an unknown/random person???

[VAsteve20]

Every single PO. on this site has pulled cars (citizens) over and decided not to cite the operator...whether it be for a good excuse given, your in a good mood, or whatever...how can that same cop then justify giving a speeding ticket (raised ins. rates, license points, $$-that no P.O.'s seem to have to casually throw around) to a so-called 'brother' officer??? I mean he does the exact same job as you, risking it all (possibly) every day, but yet he is less deserving than an unknown/random person???

nypd didnt get ticked for anything... lets just forget about the whole incident... lets look at the big picture here, the nypd made it back to nyc safe and sound and with out any tickets, the vsp made the stop because they had to (according to their policy), and thats about it... could an escort have solved this entire incident? absolutly... but thats a "what if" factor... there was no escort... it happened, its done, who cares who is right or wrong, or what is right and wrong... our ideals are different.