Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Near Miss is a voluntary, non-disciplinary officer safety initiative that allows law enforcement personnel to read about and anonymously share stories of close calls or “near misses,” which provide lessons learned that can protect fellow officers in similar situations.
Event summary
I was close by to an assault call in which two males were fighting, and one appeared unconscious. Second broadcast reported one male down on the pavement and the other walking away. I drove to the injured male to render aid. We are a large agency, and fights and disturbances are very common calls.
I arrived on scene first and contacted the injured male. His brother had assaulted him and choked him to the point of going unconscious. I determined a crime occurred and broadcast the suspect’s name, description and direction of travel to responding deputies. A patrol deputy arrived, and I left the scene to help look for the suspect.
A short time later, I heard a motors deputy call out with the suspect. I was about a quarter mile away. I drove with emergency lights activated on a four-lane highway (two westbound lanes and two eastbound lanes). I observed the motors deputy struggling with the suspect on a sidewalk. I stopped, blocking the far-right lane of travel, quickly opened my driver’s door and began to exit. A vehicle westbound in the left lane of travel struck my door and nearly struck me at approximately 25-30 miles per hour. I was so focused on helping the deputy that I did not look for traffic behind me.
Lessons Learned
- Regardless of the situation, you must maintain your situational awareness and resist being so focused on providing assistance that you put yourself in danger. Taking a second to evaluate your environment and associated risk before rushing into a situation will ensure your safety and enable you to provide the assistance needed
- Operating in a roadway or highway situation requires extra focus and extreme care. You should assume vehicles will not stop or respond correctly to your emergency equipment. Never turn your back on traffic and never put yourself in a position where you can’t get off the roadway to a safe location; always have an out when on a roadway.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR NEAR MISS
Support this critical officer safety initiative by reading and sharing the near-miss stories and lessons learned that your fellow officers have shared, and consider sharing your own near-miss experiences at LEOnearmiss.org.