Motorcycle LEO killed in the line of duty today (Plano, TX)

[TowJam]

"PLANO – An on-duty Plano police officer whom colleagues described as a good-natured, hard-working country boy died Saturday morning after being thrown from his motorcycle while pursuing a motorist..."

 

Full story here.

 

Any eyewitness that was interviewed by a local TV station reported that Officer Hardy was running with full lights and siren when he collided with an automobile.

[texasaggie97]

Wow that is awful and i will extend my prayer to the family.

[AZKomet]

How sad, and the motorist who he was pursuing?? The reality is that an on duty LEO is killed every 60 (yes 60) hrs in the U.S. Sad testimony to a country that is so advanced technologically and puprorted to be one of the most civilized on the planet.

So young and a family too....

[rdfrantz]

I feel sad at the loss of a helpful brother, and resentful that his duty called him into such grave jepardy - I'm needing more peace and security than that.

 

Motorists very often don't see us anyway. It's such a risk to be riding even faster as in pursuit. The emergency lights don't make a difference because they can be off when glanced toward, or "just on" in the span of a glance and not regiter either. There's so little margin left for a pursuing officer.

 

I hope you motor officers will back off a bit; I'd rather you just kept the citizen in sight until more crashworthy units can be brought to bear. Even that exposes you, so I hope for extra alertness and a wide view to pertain. Don't let anger/whatever tunnel down your focus.

 

Best wishes.

[Lawman]

http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=18947

[Stormrider]

Damn it, Damn it, Damn it!

Deepest sympathy to the family and the Plano Police Department. I was a North Texas resident for over 15 years and worked in Plano for years. Those guys were great bunch.

[ericfoerster]

A true shame. Words will not fill the void left behind by this tragic event.

[waylap]

I just removed myself in January from motor patrol because I lasted 3 years without being killed but had too many close calls and never wanted to ride my RT off duty after working on a Harley all day. I don't know what type of motor he was on but my bet is that it wasn't a BMW.

I rode an Electra Glide harley and it was perfect for low speed maneuvers and foot board scraping turns BUT... That thing was a BEAST when chasing down people going in the 70 to 90 mph area. The high speed wobble would scare the crap out of you and after one peticular event when the wobble was so bad I nearly jumped off on purpose I decided it was enough. Now I'm in a car again and lok forward to getting home to my RT!

[BailyD]

Last picture showed him on a Kawasaki. KZ1000-P

 

My deepest sympathies to his wife, children and family.

[TheGreatGazoo]

CBS NEWS LINK http://tinyurl.com/2hk6gt

[TowJam]

More details here.

 

Net/net: the driver turned left in front of the office - claiming she didn't see him.

 

It's hard for me to fathom that a LEO was killed while trying to make a traffic stop.

[AZKomet]

After 28 years as an LEO this is not surprising, however tragic. We do not call them "accidents" but rather MVC's (motor vehicle crashes) as there is no "accident" about them. Always an infraction on somebody's part (unless mechanical failure). Most hospitals and EMS units are forbidden to call them that here. Righfully so.

The wife would always be amazed on ride alongs with me as to how people would ignore the golden rules when an emergency vehicle approaches either from front or rear...now fire trucks!!!!!...Most people get out of the way!!! Well most.....

[E30TECH]

Slightly off topic...does a LEO have to slow or stop at a red light when they are pursuing a traffic violator?

 

I understand the article states It is standard procedure, he said, that officers must sometimes run red lights to catch up with traffic violators.

 

But I would assume they would atleast stop/slow down at an intersection when they have a red light.

[Rocket_Cowboy]

Slightly off topic...does a LEO have to slow or stop at a red light when they are pursuing a traffic violator?

 

Every emergency vehicle that I've seen roll through a red light has slowed or even come to a stop before proceeding through the intersection.

 

I haven't been to the intersection in question since the accident, but from what I've read of the conditions, based on his lane presence, he could not have seen the lady pulling out until too late, and she couldn't see him until the hit. I'll have to go look for myself, but it is sad indeed ... this was less than 3 miles from my house.

[waylap]

Yes, we're still required to use due care when going through a red light. Which means pretty much stopping and crawling through. Reasonable and prudent is the buzzword of the times. What makes more sense especially for a motorman is "what am I willing to lose to catch xyz"? and for the car cops, " who am I willing to sacrifice trying to catch xyz?"

[E30TECH]

I'm not placing blame - just curious of policy.

 

It almost happened to me once when I had a green light and the LEO flew thru the intersection with no siren, only lights. I was able to avoid collision - thankfully.

[AZKomet]

Most dept policies rquire a full stop or at lease to a roll where the officer can safely proceed, however policy is a guideline in which the officer will use judgement based on circumstances. I have been in countless pursuits as a patroman and no MVC's during the pursuit. The dept will always find out if the officer violated policy when an MVC takes place and guess what?? If policy was not followed, HANG ON!!!!! Cuz things about to get ugly!! Lucy you got sum splainin' ta do!! The best rule is safety, no matter how one accomplishes that. Hope it helps.

[eddd]

After 28 years as an LEO this is not surprising, however tragic. We do not call them "accidents" but rather MVC's (motor vehicle crashes) as there is no "accident" about them. Always an infraction on somebody's part (unless mechanical failure). Most hospitals and EMS units are forbidden to call them that here. Righfully so.

The wife would always be amazed on ride alongs with me as to how people would ignore the golden rules when an emergency vehicle approaches either from front or rear...now fire trucks!!!!!...Most people get out of the way!!! Well most.....

 

Fire trucks??? forget it...they don't move for those either. Tuesday I had to ride behind THREE vehicles that would not pull over despite my lights, siren, and very loud air horn. They knew I was there, but couldn't be bother to get out of the way until they got to where they were going. I wish we had a LEO follow us and ticket these self-centered morons.

[Agent_Orange]

What about the dickweeds that follow you while running a '3'? Those really ticked me off.

[wellcraft]

After 28 years as an LEO this is not surprising, however tragic. We do not call them "accidents" but rather MVC's (motor vehicle crashes) as there is no "accident" about them. Always an infraction on somebody's part (unless mechanical failure). Most hospitals and EMS units are forbidden to call them that here. Righfully so.

The wife would always be amazed on ride alongs with me as to how people would ignore the golden rules when an emergency vehicle approaches either from front or rear...now fire trucks!!!!!...Most people get out of the way!!! Well most.....

 

Fire trucks??? forget it...they don't move for those either. Tuesday I had to ride behind THREE vehicles that would not pull over despite my lights, siren, and very loud air horn. They knew I was there, but couldn't be bother to get out of the way until they got to where they were going. I wish we had a LEO follow us and ticket these self-centered morons.

 

it's beyond my comprehension why some people are so damn ignorant that they refuse to get out of the way of emergency vehicles. in a life threatening situation seconds count and can be the difference between someone living and someone dying. whenever an emergency vehicle comes up behind me i get the hell out of the way. there should be a law passed that provides a minimum of 30 days in jail and a stiff fine for anyone failing to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.

[Carnadero]

it's beyond my comprehension why some people are so damn ignorant that they refuse to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.

Presumably, these people did take and pass the test administered at the local DMV for their DL.....

[AZKomet]

After 28 years as an LEO this is not surprising, however tragic. We do not call them "accidents" but rather MVC's (motor vehicle crashes) as there is no "accident" about them. Always an infraction on somebody's part (unless mechanical failure). Most hospitals and EMS units are forbidden to call them that here. Righfully so.

The wife would always be amazed on ride alongs with me as to how people would ignore the golden rules when an emergency vehicle approaches either from front or rear...now fire trucks!!!!!...Most people get out of the way!!! Well most.....

 

Fire trucks??? forget it...they don't move for those either. Tuesday I had to ride behind THREE vehicles that would not pull over despite my lights, siren, and very loud air horn. They knew I was there, but couldn't be bother to get out of the way until they got to where they were going. I wish we had a LEO follow us and ticket these self-centered morons.

 

it's beyond my comprehension why some people are so damn ignorant that they refuse to get out of the way of emergency vehicles. in a life threatening situation seconds count and can be the difference between someone living and someone dying. whenever an emergency vehicle comes up behind me i get the hell out of the way. there should be a law passed that provides a minimum of 30 days in jail and a stiff fine for anyone failing to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.

 

Studies in New York City has shown that stubborn drivers who do not yield to fire and police has resulted in deaths of citizens and patients. Again, if it was one of the idiot's family member, or even themselves they would want everyone else to yield to EMS and police.

[Schupo]

At some point in their driver training, if we can call it that, every licensed driver in the USA has learned to "move right for sirens and lights". And yet, here in the northwest, far too many drivers intentionally pull left in front of emergency vehicles with lights on, either to stop in the center left-turn lane or to turn onto a cross street (!). For some reason this actually makes sense to them. I've seen quite a few morons (sorry, nothing else fits) actually come to a complete stop in the left lane on four-lane highways or even freeways. As a supervisor, I often follow my officers or fire/EMT units on code-runs and snag up these idiots. I've never been a traffic officer and don't usually write citations, but re-educating knuckleheads is, as far as I'm concerned, one of law enforcement's missions.

 

As far as officers having to "clear" intersections on code-runs, most agencies have stringent policies requiring a safe traversing of all intersections, even if the officer's signal is green because many states allow right turns on red after stopping. In my agency, two officers have been disciplined after collisions where they failed to properly clear intersections. One was reprimanded, suspended without pay, and placed on probation; the other's employment was terminated, in part because of previous vehicle operation issues.

 

Law enforcement agencies not only have to have defensible vehicle operation policies in place; they also have to appropriately train officers to comply with policy and further to demonstrate that they fairly and consistently enforce policy.

[Twisties]

and yet, here in the northwest, far too many drivers intentionally pull left in front of emergency vehicles with lights on, either to stop in the center left-turn lane or to turn onto a cross street (!). For some reason this actually makes sense to them.

 

Once I was stopped for a red light in the center travel lane with an empty lane to my right. A fire truck came up behind me with sirens and lights. I stayed put. I was treated to an indignant blast of his very loud horn as he pulled right behind and essentially forced me to pull right. He went on through the center lane.

 

Ok, if I'm moving I pull right, but when I'm at a stop, and pulling right will mean moving too far into the intersection? Why didn't he just go around me?

 

My other beef, you pull right and stop. The joe behind you then cuts you off from behind as the emergency vehicle clears. These jerks could use the 30 days too.

[BailyD]

Twisties,

 

We have to be VERY careful about passing cars on their right. You'd be surprised the amount of people who don't notice you, then suddenly swing to the right. I always feel like I'm out in the breeze when I maintain that right lane going code 3, then come upon a car in the left lane. They could suddenly change lanes directly into me heading for the right shoulder leaving me with an "at fault" crash or something a lot worse.

 

I almost always keep in the left lane in an attempt to move cars to their right. Oh, boy, the cars in that left lane in front of you that just slam their brakes on coming to a full stop staring at you just amazes me!

[eddd]

and yet, here in the northwest, far too many drivers intentionally pull left in front of emergency vehicles with lights on, either to stop in the center left-turn lane or to turn onto a cross street (!). For some reason this actually makes sense to them.

 

Once I was stopped for a red light in the center travel lane with an empty lane to my right. A fire truck came up behind me with sirens and lights. I stayed put. I was treated to an indignant blast of his very loud horn as he pulled right behind and essentially forced me to pull right. He went on through the center lane.

 

Ok, if I'm moving I pull right, but when I'm at a stop, and pulling right will mean moving too far into the intersection? Why didn't he just go around me?

 

My other beef, you pull right and stop. The joe behind you then cuts you off from behind as the emergency vehicle clears. These jerks could use the 30 days too.

 

Since the law requires you to pull over to the right and stop, that is exactly what you should do (Vehicles traveling in BOTH directions. Yes we do actually need to sometimes make left turns to get to the call.) Passing on the right with an emergency vehicle is a really bad idea, since that is where the other traffic is supposed to go. We can not read your mind. We have no way of knowing you are going to stay stopped in the center or left lane. Just about the time we decide to go by on the right might be the exact moment you finally turn down the stereo, get off the phone, realize there is an emergency vehicle coming and move over to the right. Emergency Vehicle Operators are trained to stay to the left. You were taught to move to the right and stop, not stop in the middle and leave the EVO guessing.

[pbbeck]

Let me start by saying that I always slow and pull right. As a rider/driver who pontificates at length about how bad the drivers are are here, I figure I should lead by example. Also, as a motorcyclist, I feel that I have a heightened situational awareness most of the time (whether riding and driving) so I always notice the sirens from quite a distance. I have to ask, though...

 

What's the rule on a two-direction, multi-lane road divided with an island? It drives me nuts that people around here pull to the right for a fire truck or police car when they are coming the other way and the only possible way that vehicle will cross the median is if they are airborne.

[TowJam]

Here's a news video of Officer Hardy's funeral. The local media is estimating the funeral procession to be anywhere from 2 - 4 miles long.

[motorman587]

Here's a news video of Officer Hardy's funeral. The local media is estimating the funeral procession to be anywhere from 2 - 4 miles long.

 

 

Thanks for the link. He had twin daughters. So do I. He was a motor cop. So am I.

 

When it thunders in the sky, it is a motorman giving "God" an escort. Thunder is the Harley's back firing, the quiet soft rain are beemers. God rides a BMW, that is why the sky is Blue and White.

 

RIP

 

Remember. left turning vehicles will "KILL YOU", lights siren, no lights or siren.

[motorman587]

Here is Motor Officer Hardy at a rodeo. Maybe one you computer super hero's can post his picture with this thread.

 

http://www.motorcops.com/od-plano/index.asp