Agent_Orange Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 DALLAS, Texas (CNN) -- A police officer was killed Friday in a motorcycle accident as Sen. Hillary Clinton's motorcade made its way through downtown Dallas, the presidential candidate said. Officers inspect the scene of a fatal accident involving Sen. Hillary Clinton's motorcade Friday in Dallas. The Dallas Police Department said a motorcycle officer was involved in an accident during Clinton's escort but did not immediately confirm the death. The identity of the officer has not been released. Clinton said she called the Dallas police chief and would contact the officer's family at an appropriate time. CNN affiliate WFAA-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth reported the officer lost control of the motorcycle and struck a concrete abutment. The officer was thrown about 30 to 40 feet, according to reports. No other vehicles appeared to be involved. Clinton said she is "greatly heartsick over this loss of life in the line of duty." "I just want to express my deepest condolences to the family and to the Dallas Police Department on this tragic, tragic loss," she said. "I am certainly grateful for all they do for me and more importantly what they do for the citizens of cities like Dallas." Clinton is attending rallies Friday in Texas and Ohio ahead of those states' primaries on March 4. In the past 18 months, there have been two fatal involving motorcycle officers escorting President Bush. On August 27, Germaine Casey, an officer from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, died when his motorcycle crashed as the motorcade approached the airport in Albuquerque. The 40-year-old had been the lead motorcycle in the motorcade when the crash occurred. On November 21, 2006, Steve Favela, a Honolulu police motorcycle officer, crashed on wet roads in Hawaii while part of the president's motorcade. Favela, 30, died of his injuries a week later. Two other officers were injured in the crash Link to comment
motorman587 Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 http://www.odmp.org/officer/19229-senior-corporal-victor-lozada-tirado Link to comment
BUSTED Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Actually the thread about this topic that was closed in Motorcycle Talk was started more then 3 hours before this one. Link to comment
Tony_K Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Actually the thread about this topic that was closed in Motorcycle Talk was started more then 3 hours before this one. Yeah towjam started it first and it got locked. I cry Shenanigans! Seriously though it is a tragic loss. Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Actually the thread about this topic that was closed in Motorcycle Talk was started more then 3 hours before this one. We apologize for our error and have credited you the next 2 months of your BMWSportTouring.com membership fee in the hopes that you can forgive us for this mistake. Link to comment
TowJam Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Actually the thread about this topic that was closed in Motorcycle Talk was started more then 3 hours before this one. We apologize for our error and have credited you the next 2 months of your BMWSportTouring.com membership fee in the hopes that you can forgive us for this mistake. Russell, I guess you can disregard my PM. Link to comment
russell_bynum Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Sorry folks. I was in a hurry and just popping in. I didn't notice the posting date/time on the two posts. One was in the wrong place and one was in the right place. I locked the one in the wrong place. Remember that we're volunteers with jobs and a life (or a reasonable facsimile thereof). Sometimes we do what we do because it's the easiest way to get something done. Sorry for the hassle. Link to comment
Twisties Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Honest question, and if this is not the time or place for it, just ignore it. But given the number of deaths referred to in the locked thread, I think three in the last year, and the discussion on this board of how dangerous this duty is, why is motorcycle escort deemed necessary? What functions do moto's perform that are unique and require two wheels? Link to comment
Quinn Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 So then, what is so dangerous about escort duty? Do all these charity rides lose people at the same rate? If this many are killed, how many more are injured? Link to comment
TowJam Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Lots of local news coverage on this - no doubt in part due to the high profile assignment Officer Lozada was working. Here's some misc. videos from the local coverage... Officer Dies Escorting Clinton To Rally (This video really humanizes Office Lozada and can be tough to watch.) News Conference: DPD On Fallen Officer Clinton Cancels Fort Worth Rally After Officer's Death Link to comment
LarryM Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I took a look at the videos. Yes, they are very tough to watch. Thanks for posting the links. My wife and I have been on a number of 'runs' with motor officer escorts - Gooch's Garlic Run to Little Italy in NYC, a run in Philadelphia and Valley Forge, others to Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Washington DC, and Chattanooga. Some others ...... In every case I was awestruck by the activities of the motor officers. They really pulled out all the stops in order to insure our group's safety. At the end of the run I always made it a point to go over to some of the motor officers to thank them for their assistance. Their skill and dedication should be noted. Link to comment
TowJam Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Here's a video of yesterday's funeral. Approximately 4500 attendees, over 200 motor officers, a 5-helicopter flyover, full honor guard, etc. What amazes me is Officer Lozada's son was able to perform an pitch-perfect rendition of "Ava Maria" for his father's funeral. A very moving and fitting tribute. Link to comment
onmyrt Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 I watched some of the precession on CNN and yes, it was moving, but, seeing all of those bikes riding side-by-side, so closely, made me think that safety is something that motorcycle LEO's may need to concentrate on a bit more. I cringed at the thought of seeing another accident occur right there before my eyes. I don't think anyone will argue that riding like that is very dangerous, and always discouraged. But, I see cops riding like that all the time, wearing the minimum in protective gear too. I just don't get it. Link to comment
TowJam Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 The fallout and second guessing has begun and as result, at least two local LEO agencies have disbanded their motor units - one of them as direct result of Officer Lozada's accident. Ironically, it was Cpl. Lozada's tragic death last week that prompted Lewisville Police Chief Russell Kerbow to disband the unit. Flower Mound made the same decision last year after an officer was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. Link to comment
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