Remember When...

 

Just about everyone has a remember when. First love, first kiss, first beer, first date, first car, where you were when JFK was assassinated, MLK Jr, RFK, September 11, 2001…it is a long list. Too often they do involve events that are etched in memory by tragedy and not as gentle as the first kiss or first date.

Sadly, this remember when involves tragedy as well. The event itself was tragic. No matter the circumstance, loss of life is tragic. But the circumstances that took place during the investigation and the rapid development of a process that would become a major part of my law enforcement career took the edge off, sprouted some humor that resides within the boundaries of the brother/sisterhood with those you work with and helps maneuver through the tragedies dealt with almost daily.  

It is in the early hours of the morning, around 0100, (1:00AM) when we got the dispatch broadcast a traffic collision southbound Hollywood Freeway south of Sunset On Ramp. My Field Training Officer (FTO) grabbed the microphone and with a commanding voice announced that 15-70 would handle the call. It was my third day on the job, my first accident call and my wakeup call of what all that academy training over the last five months was about.

Within a few minutes we arrived at the scene. Two vehicles, one up the embankment that bordered the S/B Hollywood Fwy at this location. Two individuals lying injured on the pavement, one male individual (later determined as one of the drivers) crawling around on his hands and knees patting the pavement and another male seated behind the wheel of the second vehicle. The latter being the driver under the influence and later convicted of Felony Drunk Driving. One individual was still in the car upon the embankment. Arriving at the scene my FTO uttered something like,

“You get all the statements and evidence you need. I’ll start the diagram of the scene.” Then disappeared into the darkness.

Thankfully, other units began arriving, the scene had been isolated, traffic lanes blocked, and others had taken up the task of directing freeway traffic safely by the scene. Ambulances were in route, as were tow trucks.

I will admit to being totally in the dark…which had nothing to do with the clock or the position of the sun. All I could recall of the last few minutes was “get all the statements…” Like I said, other units arrived, my FTO returned and I began walking through, with a lot of help, the process of collecting evidence, driver’s statements, as well as motorists who had witnessed it all and stuck around to provide their description of the events that led up to this collision and taking photographs of what would become a double fatal, felony DUI traffic collision.

We were at the scene for some time and then to the hospital, morgue, and to the office to begin the long process of reports. Once the sun came up, we were back at the scene for more photos and recovery of evidence that may have been overlooked in the darkness. This in itself was quite a task. With the help of Cal Trans, picture this, we had to close the S/B Hollywood Freeway a little after 0900, (9:00 AM). It was for only about 15 minutes, mainly for photos of skid marks and any evidence that we may have missed. You remember the man crawling around patting the pavement. We found his glasses. One victim succumbed at the scene while the second expired at the hospital. The at fault driver determined to be under the influence of alcohol was arrested and booked at LAPD’s Parker Center.

It took three days to finalize the report. Log evidence and complete the diagrams and catalog the photos. I learned as well that your lack of experience can be the brunt of some off color humor. Apparently, there was a span of time, someone related equal to an extra inning baseball game, that I stood in one spot looking around in the dark for the door marked “EXIT.” It was these same individuals that came to my rescue. Pointed me in the right direction, assisted me in every possible way and cemented my choice of careers to be the right choice. At the right time, in the right office, with the right FTO, and 119 California Highway Patrol Officers that I shared the tragedies, victories, failures and successes with in the beginning that makes this “remember when” more than just a memory. It also stood as a reminder of the lessons learned from my father and grandfather, that the development of thick skin will go a long way in life. A lesson not frequently alluded to today. 

When we got back in our unit to leave the scene for other tasks, to this day I remember my FTO’s comment. “Welcome to the CHP.” 

 Don’t let too much of yesterday take up today.