Police Officer: "You just can't see everything inside of a vehicle to know what's in there."
| Updated: 4/14/2011 5:54 pm |
Published: 4/14/2011 3:18 pm |
BRYANT, AR -- Two days after a Trumann police officer is shot and killed during a traffic stop, police agencies around the state are brushing up on their safety techniques to prevent another tragedy.
"That's probably our worst enemy, thinking something is routine and it's the same as the last thing you did," said Bryant Police Sergeant Paul Tarvin.
Sergeant Paul Tarvin allowed us to ride along with him during the noon peak time. He said traffic stops are the most dangerous part of his job because there are so many unknown factors.
"You just can't see everything inside of a vehicle to know what's in there," said Tarvin.
Tarvin said officers are constantly reminded of the techniques they learned in the academy. Their focus is to be observant and keep a safe distance between themselves and drivers.
"Our main goal is to try to go home at the end of the day," said Tarvin.
Tarvin said their cruisers are equipped with cameras to document everything that's taking place in front of the vehicle. It also serves as the unbiased witness that plays a crucial role during an investigation and in court.
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