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Main Page MSP defend their drivers
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Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Friday, September 7, 2007

Police defend their drivers

Selectman airs complaint

WEST BROOKFIELD— If state police are observed speeding or breaking the law, Maj. Kenneth E. Sullivan of the State Police Academy in New Braintree wants to know about it.

Allegations of troopers speeding on New Braintree Road were made at a recent West Brookfield Board of Selectmen’s meeting, but Maj. Sullivan said he has received no complaints from residents on that road, which leads to the academy, or elsewhere in town.

“If somebody were to give me a number or a car number, I would certainly take action, but to date nobody has provided me with that,” he said. The major is the academy’s deputy commander of training.

State police cruisers have a vehicle number on the left and right front fender and that number is duplicated on the license plate number, Maj. Sullivan said. “It’s pretty easy (to see). They’re 4 inches high."

If a violation is observed, he invited residents to call him at the academy at (508 867-1000. “I commute myself,” the major said. “Most of the people I observe ... are local guys on the way to work. I haven’t seen too many cruisers fly by me, but I’ve seen some civilians.”

The accusation of state police cruisers observed speeding on New Braintree Road was triggered by a letter to selectmen from Theresa A. Kramarz of 127 New Braintree Road. In it, she said she rides horses and walks dogs on that road, and people do not yield or slow down for pedestrians or horses, thus creating a dangerous situation.

She made no mention in the letter of state police speeding, but Selectman John V. Tivnan said he had a follow-up conversation with Ms. Kramarz and the discussion centered on allegations of state police speeding on New Braintree Road.

Mr. Tivnan said state police were doing anything they want on that road and he asked his colleagues to request local legislators to seek the removal of the academy from New Braintree.

The other two selectmen opposed such a move. Selectman Thomas H. Long said Mr. Tivnan’s opinions about state police were his own and not the board’s.

The speeding violations likely were committed by police recruits attending the academy, Mr. Tivnan said, but Maj. Sullivan disputed that.

“The allegations were made about this summer, I believe,” he said, “and we haven’t had a recruit class here or a large amount of activity, so I find it kind of strange.”

Maj. Sullivan said he discussed the complaint with West Brookfield Police Chief C. Thomas O’Donnell Jr. and assured him that substantiated allegations will be dealt with.

“I indicated to the chief that if he has specific instances where state police cruisers are involved, let me know,” the major said. “If it’s an individual car, I will take action against that officer.”

There are cases when state police have been observed traveling too fast, according to Chief O’Donnell, but he did not classify it as a significant problem.

“Every once in a while, we’ve been running radar and we’ve stopped people in unmarked cruisers that I didn’t realize were cops,” he said. “It hasn’t happened in a long time.”

The chief agreed with Ms. Kramarz that there is a problem with motorists not slowing down when approaching a rider on horseback or a pedestrian along the road.

New Braintree Road is a back-country road that seems to invite speeding, Chief O’Donnell said, but not just by state police. There are other people who have business at the academy who speed on that road, he said, “and a fair number of residents who live on the road or travel it a lot ... doing the same thing.”

For the most part, he said, the speed limit on that road is 40 miles an hour.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

The speeding violations likely were committed by police recruits attending the academy, Mr. Tivnan said, but Maj. Sullivan disputed that.

I highly doubt that...in addition to the fact there hasn't been SP recruits in New Braintree in over a year, recruits who get caught speeding are crucified on return to Camp New Braintree...the vast majority of recruits drive like old ladies. There was an SSPO class that graduated recently and they commute daily to New Braintree. But again I highly doubt someone in the infancy of their police career is going to risk getting "noticed" by their DI's or their Chief's to bomb down West Brookfield road...I suspect most of them drive like SP recruits...slowly.

Quote:

Mr. Tivnan said state police were doing anything they want on that road and he asked his colleagues to request local legislators to seek the removal of the academy from New Braintree.

Sure, I'll agree to that, just so long as they put that prison that was supposed to go into New Braintree back there. These are the same residents who cried bloody murder fifteen years ago to not have a prison in their town, so the governor mollified them by putting the academy there. I'm sure the town residents would be happy to exchange troopers for some convicts in orange jumpsuits picking up trash on the side of their precious roads. Worried about horseback riding past them? Do the convicts make you feel safer than police? Jerks.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard.

Posted by: bbelichick

Major Sullivan is that extremely rare breed of Command Officer-an intelligent, grounded good guy who doesn't throw his own people under the bus to make himself look better.

Posted by: Killjoy

Quote:

Major Sullivan is that extremely rare breed of Command Officer-an intelligent, grounded good guy who doesn't throw his own people under the bus to make himself look better.

Posted by: Sniper

screw you AND your horse lady............... hahahhaaa

Posted by: 5-0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy

There was an SSPO class that graduated recently and they commute daily to New Braintree. But again I highly doubt someone in the infancy of their police career is going to risk getting "noticed" by their DI's or their Chief's to bomb down West Brookfield road...I suspect most of them drive like SP recruits...slowly.

We only had 1 schmuck that got pegged on the way in, and he was driving his PC... That was the one and only time that happened. DI's made sure of it.

Posted by: tazoez

I'll put it this way (lemming stand point). I have only once payed a visit to the MSP academy in New Braintree. I was looking at the speedometer ALOT because I knew that the State Police has a facility down the road and troopers travel said road. I SERIOUSLY doubt that anyone would speed down that road (recruit and or lemming).

As for police officers and or troopers speeding down it, I doubt that too. That road is horrid (atleast the time I went down it, don't know if recent paving occured). Why would someone want to thrash their car, especially a trooper since they basically own it until they trade up for a "newer" one.

I think that some lemming went by her when she was riding her horse and didn't slow down and she just wants something to complain about. The selectman heard about it and put "troopers" in her mind.

Posted by: screamineagle

[quote=tazoez] That road is horrid (atleast the time I went down it, don't know if recent paving occured). .

quote]

you are correct sir. It was and still is a horribly paved road, barely wide enough in spots for one vehicle let alone two.

Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

So I see things have not changed up in New Braintree!! I went through the SSPO back in 1996 and the speeding was an issue then. Several recruits were reemed the first day of class for speeding. That 5 mile stretch of jungle sucks, I guess the whole 16 residents of New Braintree have political power. Larry, Daryl and his other brother Daryl blocked the prison and now have the MSP searching for answers.

Posted by: lawdog671

I almost cried when I read that article and this schmuck politician calling for heads...IF he did his research before he went on a tirade (all politicians are so well informed these days) he would have known he was making himself an ass for a couple reasons....
1. Trainees drive their PC's to New Braintree on Mondays under cover of darkness to be there for 0700. I PERSONALLY know there is little to no traffic on West Brookfield Rd at those hours, because they are parked and ready to go inside the Academy at 0645hrs 99.9% of the time.
2. Once they arrive at the compound, they do not leave it until Friday at approximately 1500hrs, with the exception of one or two occasionally for family emergencies or court.
3. When they do leave on Fridays they clown car out of the compound home, with explicit directions to AVOID police contact even with friends or bear the consequences of the DI's for the upcoming week. Not to mention they commit police encounters to paper so why take the chance???
4. When they commute the drive in normal everyday cars. How can you tell a MSP trainee from a civilian with the exception of business attire and bald heads? Once out of central mass you could be any other dope heading home from court..lol...besides if they're goin so fast how can you tell??
5. If they are indeed cruisers then come up with some cruiser numbers and then talk to me...its only on the roof, both front quarter panels, front and rear plates....wtf
6. If you only knew how many other agencies utilize our compound on any given day, SSPO, narcotics schools, computer classes etc...it is nonstop...
7. It has to be the same old lady complaining about the speed...gimme a name if youre so bent out of shape about it....
8. And finally....I have never seen a horse on that road....and if this lady is so concerned about it....dont ride horse on road if it's skittish...
Oh and WTF with the Chief and the "i stop quite a few unmarked cars before I knew they were cops" comment....Ill give benefit of doubt for the press ...but does that turn into a pissin contest of how many of HIS guys I stopped when I was there?....gimme a break....

Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBC FL Cop

Friday, September 7, 2007

Selectman airs complaint

She made no mention in the letter of state police speeding, but Selectman John V. Tivnan said he had a follow-up conversation with Ms. Kramarz and the discussion centered on allegations of state police speeding on New Braintree Road.

Mr. Tivnan said state police were doing anything they want on that road and he asked his colleagues to request local legislators to seek the removal of the academy from New Braintree.

read between the thick lines. you can practically hear him stuttering.

Posted by: snapbox

I'd be more worried about the guy from Troop D HQ who makes runs to that diner down the road; maybe someone should let him know his rear flashers are on EVERY DAY.

The public is clueless 99% the time as to why police are speeding....

/start excuses

Posted by: EDB78

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapbox

The public is clueless 99% the time as to why police are speeding....

/start excuses

90% of Troopers I see on the highways are speeding, but so is everyone else.

Would you like to be the guy going 65 behind a line of vehicles that are afraid to pass in fear of being stopped.. I can totally understand why State Cruisers driving fast on the highway is something that shoud be done to avoid traffic problems. And I hardly ever see it happen under normal conditions off the highway.

Its when Im in the middle lane doing 70 75 and some knuckle head civilian passes me in the slow lane going 100 because 80 in the fast lane isnt fast enough for them, then does the 3 lane change in one motion. Thats what makes me wish I had the blues sometimes.

Posted by: PearlOnyx

The whole concept of having neighbors call in car numbers and plate numbers is pretty pointless in and of itself. Unless the neighbor is running his own personal RADAR/LIDAR or has completed his required hours of visual speed estimation training, it's an un-sustained complaint anyway =). Everytime I get that, "But he was speeding!" complaint from the untrained eye, I like to ask them what speed measuring device they were using. That tends to end the conversation pretty quick.

Posted by: csauce777

This is easy enough to end. Have a few Troopers run radar on that road, and hammer every civilian resident who is going 5 over for a week. When they stop speeding...then they can complain. Until then...STFU.

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