Officer Struck by Vehicle but Uninjured
The following is an excerpt from the Swampscott Police logs. Where charges are mentioned it does not indicate a conviction.
Saturday, Feb. 2
- At 1:12 p.m., police received a report from Beverly Road of a lost white gold and diamond bracelet valued at approximately $10,000. The bracelet was reportedly lost between Dec. 25, 2012 and Jan. 1, 2013.
- At 1:15 p.m., an injured seagull was found on the sidewalk at 217 Humphrey St. The bird was alive but had a broken wing.
- At 9:46 p.m., a hydrant was struck at 24 Vaughan Place. An SUV fled to Foster Road. It was possibly a red Jeep Wrangler if the broken motor vehicle parts found at the scene were an indication.
Sunday, Feb. 3
- At 8:36 a.m., a 51-year-old woman on Essex Avenue had extreme stomach pain. She was transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital.
- At 9:56 a.m., police received a report of neighbor problems on Paradise Road.
- At 10:22 a.m., police received a report of a motor vehicle breaking and entering on Banks Road.
- At 5:52 p.m., a police officer was struck by a motor vehicle while the officer was in the crosswalk outside St. John's Church. A police sergeant responded to the scene. The officer did not appear to be injured. A citation was due.
- At 7:57 p.m., police received a report of screaming on Valley Road.
Paul
9:39 am on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
I'm not surprised an officer was struck in a crosswalk; relieved to know s/he is OK. Unless a serious effort is made to slow down the commuters that whip through Swampscott every day, one or more of our citizens will end-up seriously injured or dead.
According to one Police Officer I've spoken with, the average speed on my small 20mph 'cut-through' street is in the mid 30's. Based on the thousand or so cars each day, that means a fair number are driving at 40+ (twice the speed limit).
According to another officer (who appeared as frustrated as I), the reason there isn't more desperately needed traffic enforcement is manpower and money. Because towns/cities in MA only receive 10% of the money paid on a traffic citation, this (and low manpower) act as a disincentive for police administrators when assigning officers to traffic enforcement duties.
On some streets however (and everyone knows which ones), an officer on overtime for 8-hours (roughtly $500) writing speeding citations (1ST OFF: $75 SUBSQ. OFF: $150) would break-even if not ‘turn-a-profit.' More importantly, a couple $75-150 citations in a span of a week or so to the same speeder would change the behavior of these commuters and make our community safer. And looking beyond the $ issue (which I contend can be mostly neutralized), isn't that what it's all about?
George Potts (speaking as a private citizen, not a member of the Swampscott Planning Board)
8:18 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
I saw the officer struck in the crosswalk. I was driving the other way.
I couldn't believe that the driver continued to accelerate after she hit the officer.
Paul
9:28 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Unfortunately I’m not so surprised by the driver’s actions. I see similar acts of complete disregard for anyone else several hundred times a day; I know most of it (besides the young drivers who are just being reckless) is derived from the commuter’s determination to ‘get-to-work’ (or back home in time for something).
I see them drive by my house gripping the wheel tight, with that determined/stressed look on their face and foot heavy on the gas. Most exceed the speed limit (by Police Officer’s own admission) by an average of 12 mph and quite a few by double the speed limit (that’s a lot when you’re talking a 20mph street).
To be fair, the officers I’ve spoken with recognize the problem, want/are trying to do something about it, but are overwhelmed.
If a child on my street (and there are LOTS of them) runs/wanders out of a driveway/front yard chasing a ball, sibling, etc., there is little chance someone doing up to 40mph is going to be able to stop in time (especially with these snow banks); thus the 20mph speed ‘limit.’
If the Police are unable to slow down this deadly stream of speeding steel, then we as a community Must come-up with other solutions. Perhaps speed-bumps on cut-through side streets, or changing certain streets into one ways, etc. will work.
If we just throw our hands-up, someone we love sooner or later will end up dead.