Gordon Graham
Category: Law Enforcement, Corrections
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in public safety assigned to arrestee or inmate transportation duties. And folks, it’s all about safety.
How many times have you heard me talk about the importance of wearing a seat belt? And I’m not just talking about when you drive your personal vehicles. You should buckle up anytime you drive or ride in any agency vehicle.
But this isn’t just about you. Don’t forget about the safety of your passengers, who are often handcuffed or even shackled.
Any vehicle used to transport arrestees or inmates should be equipped with functional seat belts or another safety restraint system.
I recently read an article about a couple officers who were taking an arrestee to the local detention facility for booking. The arrestee was handcuffed behind his back and sitting in the back of the transport van. The van wasn’t equipped with any kind of seat belt or safety restraint system in the backseat. Can you guess what happened? During the ride to the facility, the driver had to brake quickly to avoid a collision at an intersection. The arrestee was thrown forward, injuring his neck and leaving him partially paralyzed.
The arrestee’s injuries could have been avoided if the officers used a transport vehicle equipped with the appropriate safety restraints. The officer who was driving ended up on administrative leave.
This also underscores the importance of pre-transport vehicle inspections. If you find that any part of the seat belt or safety restraint system is not functioning properly, don’t use that vehicle. Document and report the issue and get the vehicle in for repairs ASAP. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times. Seat belts save lives.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
