Overtime Opportunities

I can say that during this time in my life, I can not believe the over time opportunities that exist within the PD.

I was asked to work a half a shift for one division. After agreeing with that overtime opportunity, I was called to work another division for the entire shift. As I looked around, there were several individuals working just to maintain a minimum number of officers within the City.

From what I have seen this is may continue or change and become extremely detrimental for the community. Too many changes and someone (or more) are not paying attention to these changes.

What I know is that you should look at the entire situation (or issue) and not some selected items. Small fixes are not going to make a difference. Help us all.

Shift Change

It is that time of the year. The annual shift change for TPD. Each year, officers who are not assigned to specialty assignments go to the bid board. The bid board is the system that is used to determine where officers will work for the next year. They are able to choose their shift, days off, and division they wish to work. Well, at least those with seniority, get this option. Some just have to go where there is an opening. Its all based on seniority.

So many officers are making arrangements for this shift change. Some will have to change cars, some will have to move to another division, some will merely stay right were they are. No matter what happens, many are still going to see the same dedicated service that exists within the TPD.

BOK Center

The weekend was full of the BOK Center. It was named after the Bank of Oklahoma, but the Eagles appropriately named it the BOK (BACH) Center. What a great name to be remembered by, thank you Joel.




Well to the disappointment of some, Rod Stewart cancelled his Tulsa appearance. Some folks were extremely disappointed that this occurred.



For others, Lil Wayne came to the BOK Center for what he called his "Back to School Bash". I thought that it was very funny that one band left OKC heading to Tulsa and did not quite make it. The road to New Mexico got in their way. Rapper fans alike arrived with enthusiasm and some intoxicated. One ambulance ride later, and one parent pick up, the show went on.






Then the real concert began. Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick all played there. Fans arrived and it was not surprising to see folks from their teens to 68 (and they were women). They all came to enjoy the show, and it was spectacular.

This was a large crowd that arrived to see one band or another. Some were glad to see all three. I learned that some came from Springdale, Little Rock, Joplin, St. Louis, OKC, Dallas, Morris, Bristow, Cleveland, Stillwater and many more cities.




The BOK Center has been open for one year now. Paul McCartney arrived for the one year anniversary. I would have love to have seen that show, but tickets sold out pretty quick.

I think it is nice to have this center open. It is providing many opportunities for Tulsa. I just hope that restaruants, shops and clubs continue to open downtown so the patrons of the BOK Center will have someplace to visit.



What a weekend though, Friday and Saturday events brought many downtown.

Four Way Stops

I am constantly amazed that people have no idea on how to drive through a four way stop. When the traffic lights malfunction, there are times when the lights will flash red in all four directions.

Tulsa drivers will arrive at the intersection, where the lights are flashing red. When they arrive, they seem to forget all known information about red four way stops.

So here is a little help Tulsa. When the lights are flashing red in all four directions, it is really simple to get through the intersection. JUST LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT.

The vehicles on your right have the right away. So those vehicles have the right to move through the intersection. No matter if they are going straight, turning right or left, they have the right away. After those vehicles move through the intersection, then the vehicles on their right move through the intersection. It is not difficult, but you must remember to allow them to move. As they move, your turn will come and you can move through the intersection.

As you look at the diagram, you can see that there are three vehicles at the stop sign. Vehicle A should yield to vehicle B, vehicle B should yield to vehicle C. So vehicle C moves, then A moves and then B moves. Then you continue in a counter clockwise until all the vehicles have gone through the intersection.

You must remember that you must have some patience when driving. If you are, we all will get through them........I hope!

X-TRA

Today, I was hired to work 5 hours of day shift so someone could take off. I have to say, going to work at noon, and still go home at 5 is not bad.

I was surprised that when I arrived, there were not very many calls holding. So off to have my have my overtime slip signed. Once that was complete, I was ready for calls.

Dispatch was really wondering what was up with me working today. They wanted to know if I was working traffic or patrol. After that question was raised, I learned why. Dispatch was wondering if I would respond to a traffic collision. A head on crash near the airport.

A gentleman had lost a younger family member to a sudden heart attack. This guy flew down to a Texas city from the Big Apple. While he was in Texas, he realized that a friend here in Tulsa has been diagnosed with a serious disease. All this guy could say is, "Oh what a month."

Now, he was leaving the Tulsa Airport, got on the wrong road and poof, a car crash. He was nervous that the people in the other car were going to hurt him.

I thought that he would take the metaphor and get back on the bike. But this guy was just interested in taking a ride and go to the hotel. So we loaded his stuff in my police cruiser and off we went to the hotel.

He said that this experience was horrible, but the Tulsa Police Officers that he experienced and the firemen that were involved in the incident were just wonderful. He said we were all professional. I think that is wonderful coming from someone who is from New York.

To those others involved, I hope that they are okay. They were whisked away in the back of an ambulance. Not too serious, but they were more concerned with making sure that they were okay. A surprising note, they were younger than the driver from New York.

Signs

Why would someone put that type of sign there, what is the meaning behind that?

Traffic signs are a way to control traffic. The traffic control device will or should control the flow of traffic. Many of these signs are not a suggestion, they are requiring drivers to do certain things. All of this is done for safety reasons. I am sure that there are many reasons why these signs were developed.

Take this sign for example. It means that littering is prohibited. Why would littering be prohibited? Well, it makes our community dirty, possibly unsafe, or for some other reason, that trash is not good for that spot.

Take for example, cigarettes. The filters they hold are not necessarily biodegradable. When smokers toss these cigarettes on the ground, they usually stay there, in that spot. If they are still burning, and they land in the grass, then they could catch the grass on fire. So what a concept, tossing cigarettes, lighted or put out cause troubles for our environment.

The next traffic sign actually controls the flow of traffic. It is not a suggestion, it is a demand. So why would people think that this sign is a suggestion? Why would you approach an intersection and not stop. This particular intersection is a blind intersection. The collisions here are usually bad. Surprisingly, this one was not that bad. No one went to the hospital, or were bleeding. When you find this sign, you should stop.

This next sign also controls the flow of traffic. It is a particular sign, directing drivers not to complete a specific maneuver. This sign prohibits a specific traffic maneuver. The city does not place a sign at every prohibited location. The ordinance says that you shall not complete this maneuver at traffic signals, a place where the flow of traffic is disrupted, if you have to stop and back up, or if a sign has been posted. If your at a traffic signal, the other side may have a green light to turn right. It may even be a dangerous curve or hill that does not allow a driver to see other vehicles.

So What sign do you hate? What sign do you think should not be there? "Sign, Sign, everywhere a sign....."

Back to Work

Today was the first day back after having six (6) days off.

I received one call to a non injury collision. Two very nice people had the mere misfortune to meet under some very sad circumstances. I think while I was gathering the necessary information, they were working on becoming very good friends.

Its not what happens, but it is how you respond to that incident that makes a difference.

Moving through the day, you are never surprised in what you are going to run into, or should I say experience.

My duties are defined as a traffic officer. That includes the issuing of citations for violations, responding to collisions, traffic hazards or anything that might or does involve an automobile.

When issuing citations, we often utilize radars to assist with speed detection. We will learn about problems from citizens who call either the Mayors office or the police department to complain about speeders. In this case, the neighbors called about speeding on a neighborhood street.

One of my first vehicles to stop, the woman was cooperative when providing the license and insurance. After she learned that she was going to receive a citation, she got quite angry. She began uttering, "Why aren't you out chasing the real problems, like dope dealers, this is crap, I have lived in this neighborhood for 10 years."

I guess that she did not like the fact that I was out issuing citations to individuals who are violating the speeding laws. Not to quote Webster's Dictionary, but someone who violates a law could be considered a criminal.

It was a real surprise though, I actually did what she requested (sort of). I stopped two more vehicles for speeding. The second driver was a "real criminal", maybe according to this one upset driver. This driver had five outstanding warrants. These warrants were for Child Abuse, Obtaining Merchandise by Bogus Check, Driving Under Suspension, Expired Tag and No Proof of Insurance. 'So I guess I caught myself a real criminal according to that one violator.'

But in reality, I caught myself fourteen (14) criminals, who violated many of the laws of Oklahoma and the City of Tulsa.

I am going to assume that since I was ordered to write citations, that this should make those two, who ordered this action, happy.

What do you think?

Working Special Events

Why do people like to run?

I am not sure why people like to run, but they do. And they seem to be very big fanatics about running. But why I am not sure.


This morning, I worked the Route 66 Quarter Marathon. I noticed that there were many people who were very appreciative with our presence. Some were happy that we were there. They said thank you in many ways.

Some were thankful that we were keeping them safe. Some said that thank you for missing our morning; breakfast, family or any other activity.

So to all those individuals who said thank you, "Your Welcome and see you at the next run."

It is nice to know that there are some people who are thankful that police officers out there. It is very refreshing to know that you are appreciated.