MARYLAND OFFICER'S DEATH LEADS TO POLICY CHANGES
A Howard County police officer killed while working a traffic detail is being honored in a way that goes far beyond the wearing of black bands of mourning.
Less than two weeks after Officer Scott Wheeler's death, numerous police agencies have discontinued the type of detail in which Wheeler, 31, was participating when he was struck standing outside his vehicle as he tried to stop a car for speeding.
Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police and law enforcement agencies in Anne Arundel and Howard counties have largely suspended the practice that involves officers stepping out of their cars to wave down and stop cars.
"We will continue to look at whether or not we should reinstate the practice on roadways with lower speed limits," said Greg Shipley, a Maryland State Police spokesman. "We will not return to using this procedure on the interstates. There's no debate on that."
State Police Superintendent Col. Terrence B. Sheridan had ordered a review of "stationary stopping teams" when he took command June 6, Shipley said, but the policy decision wasn't made until June 22 -- the day of Wheeler's funeral.
Shipley said he was unaware of how many other police agencies were following suit, but he said: "I'm sure everybody's taking a look at it."
Police in Prince George's and Montgomery counties said that even though they have not changed their policies concerning roadside traffic enforcement, they are making efforts to train officers to be as safe as possible when making stops. And since last year, Montgomery police have been advising officers to approach cars from the passenger side only, said Lucille Baur, a department spokeswoman.
In Virginia, state police officers stand by the side of traffic ramps when pulling over cars in violation of high-occupancy rules for commuter lanes, but they don't engage in the practice when stopping speeders, said Sgt. Terry Licklider, a police spokesman.
"We have never been trained in that, and we do not do that," Licklider said.
Anne Arundel had followed the practice until June 22, when County Executive John R. Leopold (R) issued a directive to discontinue the "step out and stop policy" pending a 30-day review, said Cpl. Mark L. Shawkey, a police spokesman.
On Thursday, Maryland Transportation Authority Police suspended the policy of officers making traffic stops outside their vehicles. Cpl. Jonathan Green said the department is reviewing the policy to determine "what's the safest thing for motorists and officers."
Because Howard police were preparing for Wheeler's funeral, the department's policy change did not take effect until this week, police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn said. Wheeler was struck June 16 while hailing speeders on Route 32 in Savage. "We were back to work this week, and the chief directed our deputy chief to issue an e-mail department-wide that they should not be participating in stop teams enforcement," Llewellyn said.
Police had exercised caution when employing stop teams, she said, making sure that officers wore reflective vests and that they worked on roads "without visual impediment," such as curbs and hills. Nonetheless, investigators believe the 24-year-old woman driving the car that struck Wheeler did not see him in the roadway.
He suffered serious head injuries and died two days later at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. An investigation continues, and no charges had been filed by late Friday. Howard police, however, will continue to step into traffic in residential areas and school zones where the speed limit is 35 mph or lower.
"The number-one complaint we receive from our citizens is speeding in residential communities and school zones," Llewellyn said. "So the current status of our stop teams operations allow the officers to continue to conduct enforcement in school zones and neighborhoods, if necessary."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/30/AR2007063000770.html