Richard & Friend
The Morro Bay Police / Community Newsletter is heading for its 18th monthly issue. It attempts to bridge the gap between the police department and the community with interesting tid-bits about the department, its members, new laws, crime news and tips and an assortment of other eclectic items of interest. It is sent out to folks via a free email distribution list that is used only for the newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter, contact Richard Hannibal at mbpoanewsletter@charter.net
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We Get Questions . . .
Why Are There So Many Morro Bay Police Cars at the Scene of Someone Getting a Ticket?
by Officer Richard Hannibal
Well, first of all, when you say "many," you must not be referring to Morro Bay. The Morro Bay Police Department simply does not have the personnel to constitute "many" on any given shift. But, you may see two or three cars at a traffic stop or incident, depending on the severity and potential of risk to the officers. If you see more than three police cars I suggest a cautious, wide path around the cars, because there is something unusual or critical happening or about to happen.
For the most part, the Morro Bay Police Department fields single officer cars. This allows maximum coverage with limited personnel. If you see two officers in a car it is usually a special assignment car, separate from the usual city patrolling cars, such as a drunk driving suppression unit or a new officer in training. In fact, our Field Training Officer (FTO) program will be in progress during the next couple months with a new officer in training as the second officer in the car.
When a Morro Bay officer stops a car, he/she radios it in with the location, license number, and make and color of the car being stopped. At that time the officer will usually complete the stop alone with a warning or citation. However, if the officer feels uncomfortable with the occupants or perceives a potential threat, he/she will call another car for a backup. If the officer says nothing and there is another car in the area, it may casually drive by to see if everything is alright.
The officer making the stop will usually put out a Code-4 (no further assistance needed) over the radio or signal the passing police officer that everything is alright. If no radioed Code-4 or signal is received within a couple minutes, the officer in the area will stop and render assistance in the form of a routine back up. Our professional dispatchers are very conscious of officer safety and will quickly run the license number to see if there is anything to indicate sending a second officer. This could be the registered owner is wanted on an arrest warrant or the car is stolen or involved in a crime. The dispatcher will also inquire if the situation is Code-4 if they do not hear from the officer within a reasonable time.
The officer making the stop will then write a traffic citation or issue a verbal warning and the incident clears.
On occasion, the driver or passenger of the stopped car has a warrant or there are other circumstances requiring a second police car. Other circumstances could be a vehicle search incident to a parole or probation condition. Here the officer making the stop will search the car for contraband while a second officer merely stands by in a backup position.
When there is a real or perceived threat, you may see a third car at an incident. Or, it could merely be a field supervisor doing his job giving insight or quality control. As soon as the threat - or perceived threat - is over, police officers will clear to continue their routine patrol.
So you see, it is simply a matter of officer safety, utilizing what resources we have in order to safely go home to our families when the shift is over. We try not to over-react or escalate a situation beyond reason. We try to use tactics learned through years of training and experience and yet not overwhelm a situation or street scene.
Every occupation has its hazards and safe guards. In the life of a police officer, manpower and deployment with efficient tactics are our safe guards and allow us to serve you another day. |
