The Value of a Trooper's life...

**Iron Man** · 07-05-06, 05:57 PM

Trooper First Class Anthony Jones
Maryland State Police
Maryland
End of Watch: Sunday, May 9, 2004

Biographical Info
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Sunday, May 9, 2004
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Apprehended

Trooper Jones was struck and killed by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver.

Trooper Jones and another trooper were on the scene of a single vehicle accident on the shoulder of Route 50 near Freeway Airport in Bowie. Both patrol cars were in a lighted area and had their emergency equipment activated. Trooper Jones was removing a tire from a travel lane of the highway when he was struck by a van and dragged several hundred yards. Prior to the collision, Trooper Jones had utilized his flashlight to warn motorist of his intentions.

The driver stopped near the scene and was taken into custody after he exhibited signs of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was charged with several counts in connection with the incident. The suspect was ultimately fined $600 and was required to attend traffic school.
Trooper Jones was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Maryland State Police for 6 years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

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This was in the news all across Maryland for a while and I'd like to know how everyone feels about this.

**Hannibal** · 07-05-06, 06:03 PM

Wow. Sad isn't it? RIP brother.

**refusetostop** · 07-05-06, 07:25 PM

What a bunch of shit. Another reason DUI should be a felony charge!

R.I.P. Brother

**conalabu** · 07-05-06, 08:14 PM

That just pisses me off. I hope the family sues the shit out of somebody or a lot of somebodies. That is bullshit.

Rest in Peace, brother. Next DWI is on me.

**Iron Man** · 07-05-06, 08:44 PM

Yeah stories like this make me want to lock up a DWI.

**Falcata** · 07-05-06, 09:19 PM

It's sad and distressing to read and imagine the scene.

However, some cops around the world still laugh at British cops when we wear this sort of item when on traffic duty...

It really makes sense...especially when you think of what might happen without it....

**TXCharlie** · 07-06-06, 08:56 AM

I wonder if the drunk guy bitched & moaned about his $600 fine & having to go to driving school? I wouldn't be shocked if he did

One cop I talked to once suggested volunteers park a dump truck full of sand behind them whenever they make a traffic stop, and let the drunks run into that. Not a bad idea when you think about it.

**Radar** · 07-07-06, 03:13 AM

Originally Posted by Falcata

It's sad and distressing to read and imagine the scene.

However, some cops around the world still laugh at British cops when we wear this sort of item when on traffic duty...

It really makes sense...especially when you think of what might happen without it....

How do you feel the jacket appearance ultimately protects you? we have drunks here that get transfixed on the emergency lights and rear end the squad cars while staring at the flashing lights.

Knowing my luck, the drunk would see me wearing that, get transfixed on me, and chase me all over the place because i'm wearing that. I don't think the ANSI 3 level clothing would really affect whether or not we get hit by a drunk, to be painfully honest.

I agree, it would be nice if DUI/DWI was a felony charge, but we know that we never happen. What would be nice at the least, would be if and accident resulting from DUI/DWI, whether personal life or injury occured, would be a felony. But that won't happen either. Technically, I don't see why any fatality that results from a DWI/DUI wouldn't be a felony. As far as i'm concerned, that was involentary manslaughter at the very least. Personally, I feel it's murder, after all, you got in the car and drove when you had other choices and knew you might kill someone... It's the equivelant of taking a gun and putting a bag over your head, and spinning around while pulling the trigger. Your taking the chance you might shoot and kill someone, why wouldn't that be murder?

**General Patten** · 07-07-06, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by Memphis

Technically, I don't see why any fatality that results from a DWI/DUI wouldn't be a felony. As far as i'm concerned, that was involentary manslaughter at the very least. Personally, I feel it's murder, after all, you got in the car and drove when you had other choices and knew you might kill someone... It's the equivelant of taking a gun and putting a bag over your head, and spinning around while pulling the trigger. Your taking the chance you might shoot and kill someone, why wouldn't that be murder?

Agreed. This guy had no business being behind a wheel in that condition, and has no business outside of a prison for quite a while. $600 and traffic school? WTF?

**Angry Mexican** · 07-07-06, 04:51 AM

This kind of thing absolutly sickens me. I also agree that DUI's should be a felony with longer jail time and no time cuts on Suspended DL's. I have had 2 friends get DUI's one is on his 2nd but they both got off very light in my opion. They are also both looking to get thier DL back in full in about one-half the original sentence. Something needs to be done besides the party plates (Special plates for the drunks in Ohio).

**TXCharlie** · 07-07-06, 08:55 AM

In addition to making it a felony, I also think the vehicle (or the insurance money for replacement vehicle) should be taken away on each conviction:

One conviction = one vehicle gone bye-bye
Five convictions = five vehicles gone bye-bye

That would be more of an "active deterrent" than a punishment - Most people would have a hard time replacing multiple vehicles.

And keep the vehicle impounded until the end of the trial.

**depusm12** · 07-22-06, 05:35 AM

I personally have been hit by 4 drunk driver's before I became a Leo, 2 vehicles were totaled. I personally think drunk drivers should be hung from the highest yard arm whether they hurt somebody or not.

**TwanimusPrime** · 07-24-06, 12:15 AM

Wow, I am glad I don't work out in Maryland. Here in AZ, if you cause a Collision while D.U.I. you are also charged with Aggravated Assault. If you kill someone, you're charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree (one of the culpable mental states in both Murder 2 and Agg Assault here is "recklessly," and all the courts have upheld Driving Drunk as being a reckless action). Granted, those could all be plead down, but I have yet to see one here that didn't result in some prison time.

Our D.U.I. laws are pretty good. Mandatory jail time and license suspension for 3-6 months for the first charge and second charge. Third charge becomea Aggravated D.U.I. which IS a Felony with mandatory prison time and revocation of the license. Agg DUI is also if you have a suspened license or have children under 15 in the car at the time.

I've yet to be hit by one, although one day I would have been had I been 3 seconds ahead of where I was. Guy blew through a stop sign right in front of me. I ended up hooking him for Extreme D.U.I. He blew a 0.277 two hours after I stopped him...At 9:30 AM!