http://www.kvsun.com/articles/2012/07/18/news/update/doc500714fa8fcf3526243324.txt An audio tape was released by the California Highway Patrol on Tuesday in which a CHP officer describes being shot just moments before on Highway 178 in early May. The officer told the dispatcher that he was struck twice — once in the hand and in a bulletproof vest — and that he returned fire to the vehicle, which sped off. The officer seemed a little out of breath as he told the dispatcher what happened, but he was able to give descriptions of the suspects and suspect vehicles. The Bakersfield Area CHP released the dispatch tapes and some photographs of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 6, 2012, at 10:45 p.m., on Highway 178 at Borel Road. Photo courtesy of the Bakersfield Area CHP. The Bakersfield Area CHP released the dispatch tapes and some photographs of the officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 6, 2012, at 10:45 p.m., on Highway 178 at Borel Road. Photo courtesy of the Bakersfield Area CHP. He also told the dispatcher his injuries weren’t life-threatening. The California Highway Patrol has yet to release the officer’s name. Also released Tuesday were photographs of damage to the officer’s patrol vehicle. The Kern County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of the investigation. The shooting happened 10:45 p.m. May 6 at Borel Road. Deputies reported the officer was operating his radar unit inside his vehicle on Highway 178 when an SUV passed him, slowed and made a U-turn. The SUV came back toward the officer and the left rear passenger fired numerous times, striking the officer, deputies said. The officer returned fire and may have struck the suspect vehicle on the driver's side, possibly also shattering the rear driver side window....(cont in link)
Wow. Good example of staying in the fight. I'm always amazed by the calmness of the officers and dispatchers on tapes like these.
Yeah the calmness, and radio etiquette in California police agencies is outstanding. Not that we aren't mostly professional on the east coast, but let's face it, many of our dispatchers and officers talk way too much and waste valuable airtime, and frankly in many departments, it sounds like shit. JMHO You don't hear a lot of that out west. The dispatchers catch every word the officers say and both can rattle off information calmly and effectively at high speed.
The only thing I dislike about west coast radio traffic is that they like to put stuff out so fast that it's hard to get it all down (especially when writing) and they also sometimes don't repeat it (but maybe that was just the agency I worked for). If you have a computer in the car that is networked and linked to the CAD it's not really a big deal though.
Yeah they put it out fast and in code so as not to tie up the air. Plus, once you know what you're listening to, you pick it up.
I can see here some college administrators now, "See, having a gun didn't help HIM now, did it?" This is a real hero with all my respect and hopes for a good solid recovery.
