Sheriff on Patrol...again?

After seeing this news article and the picture attached, I felt the need to post it. I feel safer already!

KINGSTON, Mass. (WHDH) -- Four Silver Lake High School juniors were taken to the hospital Friday morning after their car collided head-on with a school bus.

The car and the bus, which was empty except for the driver, collided on Chipman Way and Lake Street by Silver Lake High School. Police say the small sedan may have crossed into the path of the school bus.

All four students were taken to the hospital, three by med flight. Police say three of the students are female and one is a male. The female driver had to be taken from the car with the Jaws of Life.

An official on the scene said some of the students appeared to be in serious condition, though the exact extent of their injuries was not immediately known. The bus driver was reportedly also transported for minor injuries.

The Silver Lake High School junior prom is tonight.

Stay with 7NEWS and WHDH.com for updates to this developing story. If you have information related to the story, please e-mail newstips@whdh.com.

(Copyright (c) 2012 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Read more: http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12007080531154/school-bus-involved-in-accident-in-kingston/#ixzz1qbmJLVyW

What is the issue?

No I understand they do not patrol in this state. But all I see is a picture of a non patrol vehicle and no info in the article saying anything about them patrolling.

EJS, I like that patch...is your fathers name Jor-El.?

How did you know?
And I did not mean to start something. I am in no way saying Sheriff's should be patroling. They have no legal authority or the training. All I was asking was what made him think they were on patrol.

It is BCI. They come to all major crashes, crimes scenes etc. They basically document everything that can and may be used in court and help supplement Police Reports. They take pictures, and help search for evidence.

PDs call them they do not come on their own unless it is a huge event where they would be called anyway.

It is a Plymouth County thing and for the most part every one gets along.

Oh that makes sense then. I was trying to figure out what BCI was on their bumper.

That is one of the thing about pictures. They can be so misleading. Especially profile pictures people use.

Yes, but they don't need a fully-marked "cruiser" to do those functions. What's wrong with an unmarked car?

BCI has been doing crime scene work /photography for the PD's in Plymouth county forever. I know they've been doing it since at least 1978, when I started with my first PD in Plymouth County.
As far as why it's marked- who knows? Maybe they're afraid they'll be screwing off somewhere all night if they've got unmarked cars. More likely the sheriff wants publicity for his dept.
Plymouth County is odd. Back when I was there in the days before cellphones the Clerk-Magistrates had police radios with the county regional channel in their personal cars so the PD's could reach them when they had someone to bail.

I don't believe I have ever seen an unmarked crime scene unit. What would be the benefit of not using a marked cruiser?

Plymouth acts as a support agency with the mobile range, transport of prisoners , BCI, training academy and covering details local departments can't fill.

have heard the Sheriff personally state he has zero interest in doing anything but helping out police departments in Plymouth County and of course running a safe and secure institution.

.

The $600 used for the graphics could have gone to MSP for (insert whatever purpose they say is their job but another agency is stealing money to use for unnecessary and dangerous redundancy).