Trooper Hits, Arrests Firefighter En Route to Call

[Porsha911gt3 8]

This Article is From Firehouse.com

SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn.-- The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating whether a trooper went too far in forcing a firefighter answering a call to stop.

Michael Huskey was in the family minivan with his wife and kids when he heard a call from dispatch needing an emergency driver to help a nearby ambulance.

Huskey turned on his flashers and drove 85 in a 55 mile per hour zone when a state trooper tried to pull him over.

Huskey radioed dispatch to call off the trooper but he says the trooper swooped in front of him, causing an accident.

"Once he stopped my client, he found that out and yet he still handcuffed and arrested and investigated it further and took him to jail." says Jim Gass, Huskey's attorney.

Huskey got a speeding ticket and was charged with failure to yield to lights and sirens.

According to the report, the officer did not intend to crash into the minivan.

Huskey will go before a Sevier County judge in a few weeks.

Republished with permission of WATE-TV.

[Porsha911gt3 8]

How stupid can this guy be, not only did he break the law, he was dumb enough to put his family's life in jeopardy to be a hero

[aowen 0]

Chances are if he stopped the trooper would have probably just sent him on his way. But what a moron, especially with his family in the car.

[Guest]

Glad to see he was arrested and held. Hats off to the trooper for doing the right thing in a difficult situation. It's instances like this that really make me wounder about some (some does not mean all - this is simply an observation, which does not reflect every agency or individual, and is no way a pot-shot on volunteers, i respect them just as much as anyone else!) of the mentalities volunteerisim breeds. First and foremost, 85 MPH...i cant even think of any instances where i have maintained that speed in my 96' VW Jetta. I can only imagine what 85 in a min-van is like. Throw your wife and kids into the mix, that just leaves me speechless. Why do some people think that this kind of behavior is acceptable and justified - so much so that this guy had the balls to ask that the trooper be turned away. This just goes to show how deadly tunnel vision is. While i am critical of those volly agencies who cannot get adequate personnel out the door when a call comes in, this is an instance in which i would condone not responding to a call.

Edited January 23, 2007 by 66Alpha1

[Arrowxt 8]

Glad to see he was arrested and held. Hats off to the trooper for doing the right thing in a difficult situation. It's instances like this that really make me wounder about some of the mentalities volunteerisim breeds. First and foremost, 85 MPH...i cant even think of any instances where i have maintained that speed in my 96' VW Jetta. I can only imagine what 85 in a min-van is like. Throw your wife and kids into the mix, that just leaves me speechless. Why do some people think that this kind of behavior is acceptable and justified - so much so that this guy had the balls to ask that the trooper be turned away. This just goes to show how deadly tunnel vision is. While i am critical of those volly agencies who cannot get adequate personnel out the door when a call comes in, this is an instance in which i would condone not responding to a call.

←

I can agree with most of your post. Yes he should have been arrested not for just speeding but for endangering the welfare of a child , and for just flat out being a moron!(and ignoring a police officer)

But what is with the "volunteerisim". Yes there are some of the "blue/red lighters" out there.

I find your post offensive and just plain ignorant.

I see you are an EMT . Something you just walked into or were you a "volly" to begin with ?

And if you were or were not I do not care , as a Volly (as horrid as that sounds) I would choose to not drive over the speed limit to start with , let alone with my daughter in the car.

I have met a few "pros" that are not worth the same that comes out of there mouths.

There are a few in every bunch.

Arrow

[ems731 0]

I think the Trooper did the right thing. What a moron, with his family in the car. And unless I'm mistaken, unless your in a marked vechile and/or running red emergency warning lights, you must obay all traffic laws including speed. That guys reckless action could have then created a need for 2 or more drivers, the second one to transport him and his family.

[khas143 13]

I can agree with most of your post. Yes he should have been arrested not for just speeding but for endangering the welfare of a child , and for just flat out being a moron!(and ignoring a police officer)

But what is with the "volunteerisim". Yes there are some of the "blue/red lighters" out there.

I find your post offensive and just plain ignorant.

I see you are an EMT . Something you just walked into or were you a "volly" to begin with ?

And if you were or were not I do not care , as a Volly (as horrid as that sounds) I would choose to not drive over the speed limit to start with , let alone with my daughter in the car.

I have met a few "pros" that are not worth the same that comes out of there mouths.

There are a few in every bunch.

Arrow

←

With all do respect ArrowXT; I find it offense to call another members post ignorant. While the wording may not have been ideal that is not the issue here.

The issue is that fact that this persons actions not only endangered the life of his family, other motorists, and the Police Officer it is also embarrassing to Emergency Services as a whole (unfortunately, and in this case volunteers in particular ---Note the title of the aritcle).

Education and Training on all levels (career and volunteer) could hopefully prevent situations like this from occurring but there are always those few bad apples that no amount of training can help. (A little common sense does wonders!)

The question is how do we teach members of Emergency Services how to understand that making a call does mean that they can risk the life of others. In other words, we need to teach them that end does not necessarily justify the means.

Edited January 23, 2007 by khas143

[helicopper 1,050]

Just another example of how we're our own worst enemy! I hope the State Police backs their guy and the defendant's agency takes action of their own against him - maybe revoke his blue/green light permit (if anyone even still uses them).

I think we all agree that this guy's conduct was grossly inappropriate so I'll ask a question related to this type of incident...

Does any agency out there have policies on the use of warning devices while non-members (especially kids) are in the vehicle?

And, to take this one step further, does anyone have policies on how far out of your district you can be and still use your warning devices (blue, green, or red/white) lights to respond to an incident? (This question I ask because it has always baffled me why (and I'm making up this example to make my point) you see a Putnam County volly with blue or green light blazin' flying up the Hutch in lower Westchester County.) I can almost understand a chief officer being a chief officer responding back to his or her district but why would you want to "respond" from 30 miles away?

[Guest]

Just another example of how we're our own worst enemy!  I hope the State Police backs their guy and the defendant's agency takes action of their own against him - maybe revoke his blue/green light permit (if anyone even still uses them).

I think we all agree that this guy's conduct was grossly inappropriate so I'll ask a question related to this type of incident...

Does any agency out there have policies on the use of warning devices while non-members (especially kids) are in the vehicle? 

And, to take this one step further, does anyone have policies on how far out of your district you can be and still use your warning devices (blue, green, or red/white) lights to respond to an incident?  (This question I ask because it has always baffled me why (and I'm making up this example to make my point) you see a Putnam County volly with blue or green light blazin' flying up the Hutch in lower Westchester County.)  I can almost understand a chief officer being a chief officer responding back to his or her district but why would you want to "respond" from 30 miles away?

←

Chris, without knowing it you alluded to what i was trying to convey in my original post. I think tough questions need to be asked here. Responding in a personal vehicle is inherently unique to the volunteer community and every year we see the deadly effects of excessive response speed on too many people. Too often such incidents are shrugged off as occupational hazards. Agencies have to put the heroics aside and establish some form of policy which spells out the parameters of a proper personal response and establish a radius to which is deemed an acceptable response. Additionally, individual members have to put heroics aside as well and understand that there is always next time, and slow down!

[BFD1054 1,552]

Wow lol! What a jack-a** this guy is!!! There is not one good excuse i can convey that this guy had for his actions!

I do not have any lights in my POV. But, If i did, i would understand that i DO NOT have any special privaledges when using such a light.

To start off, i do not have any children, but it is one of my pet-pieves (kids w/out seatbelts and so on). To be traveling at such a high rate of speed with your "loved ones" in the car is totally absurd! If the friggen ambulance can't get out..........GO MUTUAL AID!!! If this moron had wrecked his car and killed his entire family, what good would have that done??? Man, as i write this, i am getting more angry and frustrated lol! This incident makes me speechless!

Kudos to the Trooper who stood his ground and followed his protocols and the LAW!

Chris, as far as agencies having policies on these things...My FD has a policy and i believe members are supposed to only use a blue light within the "district." Our district is only 1 1/2 square miles, thus the reason why i do not use a blue light lol! As far as having family members and such in a vehicle, i am not sure how my agency deals with that. I know of surrounding agencies that strictly prohibit their Chiefs from responding (lights and siren) with family members in their vehicles. When i say that, i mean with department owned vehicles.

Rules, regulations and SOP's/SOG's aside, EVERYONE should be using their heads and common sense. I choose to volunteer yes, but would i put my familys life at risk because the local VAC can't get an ambulance out...absolutely not!

Lets use our heads people and stay safe!

Edited January 23, 2007 by BFD1054

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

Wait......was this guy trying to make the call for a ambulance in another district or his own.

If it was his district then he still acted completely recklessly, could have nearly killed his entire family and broke the law, but felt that there was a legitamite reason.

If it was not his district then why the hell was he trying to make ambulance in the first place, other then what I stated above there is no reason WHAT SO EVER that he should be responding to another departments call.

not even as a member of the emergency service but as a civilian i find this one of the most disturbing things and should NOT be taken lightly at all.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

could have nearly killed his entire family and broke the law, but felt that there was a legitamite reason.

I'm sure that would hold up in court well if this guy got into a wreck or killed someone else.

In addition, with his kid in the car is the fact that CPS could easily come into this. What he did is called reckless endangerment.

Wait......was this guy trying to make the call for a ambulance in another district or his own.

Wait...what difference does this make? If its your own district...drive like a moron. THERE IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER do what he did whether the call was in his district or not.

The fact is regardless of what is going on, if a police officer attempts to stop you, pull over. You may get an ear full, but you'll probably move on at least to the call, or until the next time that cop finds you doing something stupid. Regardless of what you feel or find "legitimate."

[biglew 3]

I have read that original article at the top of the post and I am not even sure the FF had any warning lights on. ( not that he should be responding with the family, but I'll touch on that later.

The way I read it, and correct me if I missed something, it says he turned on his flashers, I took that to mean 4 way flashers/hazard lights, not warning lights. If thats what he had flashing at 85 mph, this guy is really lost. Now he radioed "dispatch" to tell the troper to back off, I am wondering why he has a radio if he wasnt a company officer. Did he call on a cellphone? Is the article acccurate?

Anyway, EVERYBODY knows you pull over for a officer who is attemtping to stop you. This rocket scientist, decides to keep going, (1st mistake) with his family in the car,(2nd miscue), tries to call off the cavalry( unssucessfully, 3rd lapse in judgement) and caused an accident by failing to stop after the trooper activated his lights and sirens.

Even if you wife was giving birth, or having a critical medical problem, you still stop, and it will only be 3 seconds before that trooper gets back in his cruiser and escorts you to the hospital. ( or helps you with ther medical problem)

This guy's actions are inexplicable and give everybody a bad reputation. I usually like to give members the benfit of the doubt, but not this time.

Good intentions, yes, bad plan to achieve desired goal.

Hopefully, the judge will not make hime turn 16 colors of red when he admonishes his behavior. Not sure what just punshment is, maybe the lesson is good enough. (Aside from having the bracelets put on you in front of your wife and kids)

[Arrowxt 8]

With all do respect ArrowXT; I find it offense to call another members post ignorant. While the wording may not have been ideal that is not the issue here.

The issue is that fact that this persons actions not only endangered the life of his family, other motorists, and the Police Officer it is also embarrassing to Emergency Services as a whole (unfortunately, and in this case volunteers in particular ---Note the title of the aritcle).

Education and Training on all levels (career and volunteer) could hopefully prevent situations like this from occurring but there are always those few bad apples that no amount of training can help. (A little common sense does wonders!)

The question is how do we teach members of Emergency Services how to understand that making a call does mean that they can risk the life of others. In other words, we need to teach them that end does not necessarily justify the means.

←

Good points. And a very good question as instances of this always seem to appear. In the end the entire organization is hurt by the actions of just a few.

Arrow

[Arrowxt 8]

I know this may spark some outrage, but the older I get the less I like the Blue/Green lights, They are just courtesy lights to begin with. Having one on when responding does not permit you to do anything above what is legal to do with out one in operation. They seem to just cause more accidents and pose more of a risk to the public.

I know some are used in a responsible manner( I SOMETIMES and I mean Sometimes use one ) but never out of district and never to disobey the speed limit or a traffic control device. And when I do have my daughter with me I either do not respond or just drive in at a very normal rate of speed.

Our district has rules governing them as for what calls they are to be used and how far out of the district you are. I will give credit where credit is due, we do not and have not in the past had many if any issues at all with them.

Arrow

[helicopper 1,050]

I know this may spark some outrage, but the older I get the less I like the Blue/Green lights, They are just courtesy lights to begin with. Having one on when responding does not permit you to do anything above what is legal to do with out one in operation. They seem to just cause more accidents and pose more of a risk to the public.

I know some are used in a responsible manner( I SOMETIMES and I mean Sometimes use one ) but never out of district and never to disobey the speed limit or a traffic control device. And when I do have my daughter with me I either do not respond or just drive in at a very normal rate of speed.

Our district has rules governing them as for what calls they are to be used and how far out of the district you are. I will give credit where credit is due, we do not and have not in the past had many if any issues at all with them.

Arrow

←

This same point came up in a thread a while back and I'm someone more saavy on this site will find it and post a link to it here again. Why do we still embrace the use of "courtesy" lights so much? They're just that - a courtesy light to indicate that someone is going to a fire/EMS call. Nobody is under any obligation to yield to these vehicles and the operator has no special privileges under the law but we all here stories time and time again about someone being bullied to move over by a blue/green lighter or stories like the news story that started this thread.

Unless there is substantially more education for the users of these lights, I think they're a dis-service to our services.

[firecapt32 282]

That Trooper just lowered the line of duty deaths for the year--because that guy would have added to the number of firefighters deaths, maybe not that time but for sure some where along the way.

We have said it before and will say it again SLOW DOWN the life you save just might be yours.

[Jybehofd 85]

We have said it before and will say it again SLOW DOWN  the life you save just might be yours.

←

Good point.

But I think they both are wrong. Granted the volunteer set off this mess by doing 85 in a 55 with his "flasher on". I know some areas have a speed chace limit or a no chace at all. But to hit the car not too sure if that was warranted but I wasn't there and I am sure there are more sides to this story then meets the eye. It just has that feeling that there is some history here. Has anyone heard what the outcome was. It would be nice to know.

[Porsha911gt3 8]

But to hit the car not too sure if that was warranted but I wasn't there and I am sure there are more sides to this story then meets the eye.

The article states

"According to the report, the officer did not intend to crash into the minivan."

[AS702 0]

He should know not to become part of the problem..

[firecapt32 282]

No they are not both wrong--one broke the law one was upholding the law.

Doing 85 is bad enough but 85 with your wife and kids is just out right crazy.

OHHh wait he had his Flashers on that makes it ok?? Where was this guys mind??

question would you let your wife and kids in a car knowing that the driver was going to drive 85 mph?? I dont think so.

[FDNYDCHI 38]

As i am reading these posts all i can say like it was stated many time. Slow down, Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

As for blue lights/green lights I feel that they are more of a distraction. I had a blue light untill it got stolen. After that time I don't even want to get another one. How many times have you had to sit at a red light with all of your lights going until it turns green? Remember this the job will be there when you get to the firehouse.

[nycemt728 49]

At the point where dispatch couldn't let the trooper know the situation, that should have been his final "duh" moment. He should have pulled over. (And yes I agree w/ all the other posters, he should NOT have created the need for him to be pulled over) When I first joined a VAC I was told, sometimes PD will pull you over (in ambulance or otherwise). We were then instructed to tell them we were on an emergency call and show the officer the pager w/ the dispatch information The bottom line however, was to always cooperate, even in an emergency.

Things like this really scare me. I am fresh off taking another CEVO class, and I guess no matter how many POV LODD we have, it still isnt enough. We need to get the following messages across more strongly b/c obviously after somthing as stupid as this it is not uniformly getting accross:

1. Studies have shown, lights and sirens only save an average of 1 minute or even less: speed isnt the answer!!

2. Even when engaged in emergent operations, operators must act w/ due regard for saftey!!

3. It is better to get there a minute later than to be another victim a minute earlier. ie can't save a life if your dead.

Finally, even though the guy screwed up royally, his heart was in the right place. Stay safe!

[firecapt32 282]

NYCEMT we just dont want his heart or the heart of his family on the operating table of some hospital.

ONE MORE TIME SLOW DOWN

[ONEEYEDMIC 68]

I still don't get it about these blue/green lights. I was in an ambulance corps back in the day and I didn't have a light. I am now on the other side and when I see people driving down the street with lights on but stopping for all traffic signals like they should it makes me wonder what the point is of having them. I don't care that you are a vollie going to your building. Just get there and get to the scene. Most people live in close proximtiy to there respectable buildings anyway. Maybe it's just me. Oh well if they keep selling them, people will keep buying them.

[sr71 1]

this guy is not in a stable state of mind. he shouldnt be responding from so far away. and he had his family in the car? thats not the smartest thing. your risking your whole families life so you can possibly drive a bus to a call that you dont have any chance of making? its not your emergency!!! slow down or in this guys case let another responder go. its volunteer and sometimes your time is already being used up my other commitments. so dont Jeopardize the lives of everyone around you just to try to make a call.

its safer to go slowly and get there alive and able to do your job than the alterantive. which is either in handcuffs, on a strecher in back of a bus. or worse in the corners van.

so slow down stay safe and remeber its not your emergency