The last of the snow from the city’s latest storm is melting today, and it reminds me to point out the hard work of those who were behind the scenes ensuring the work of police could continue during each of these weather events.
Our Buildings Operations personnel quietly maintain our facilities so employees can do their jobs of public safety. It’s not an easy task. Some of our buildings – like Headquarters, built in 1938 – are old and have continuous problems (thanks to the public safety sales tax, we are working to address these issues, but it will take time). The Building Operations staff members work so smoothly we often don’t think about all they do. In the three major snow events in the last month and a half, however, the importance of their work became very evident.
Unlike businesses and other government operations, the police department can’t shut down during inclement weather. In fact, that’s often when officers are needed most – helping stranded motorists and those involved in car crashes. But they would never be able to assist the public if they were snowed in at police stations. And they couldn’t have left the stations without all our Building Operations personnel did.
During each of our three big snow events, Building Ops crews logged about 160 man-hours of snow removal duty at our patrol division stations, Headquarters, Fleet Operations Unit, Helicopter Section and other critical facilities. That’s 480 total hours dealing with the snow. During each event, crews plowed; spread about 20 tons of salt; and two tons of ice melt. Personnel from Patrol, Fleet and Helicopter also came out to help. Their primary goal was to keep the patrol stations operational, then plow and salt all secondary lots.
As the reminder of their hard work melts away, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the members of our Building Operations Unit for all their hard work.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Snow is hard for police cars, too
After a wreck-filled rush hour today, we were again reminded that driving in snow - even a little bit of it - is dangerous. It's often not easy for police, either. This story from our monthly Informant newsletter explains why:
Even emergency first responders get stuck in the snow.
Three major winter storms in one month took a toll on KCPD vehicles and response times and caused the City to declare its first state of emergency since 2002’s ice storm.
From 3 to 11 p.m. on Jan. 19 – the height that day’s snow storm – police took reports of 184 non-injury wrecks and four injury wrecks. They had 13 crews out on highways helping stranded motorists. While it made for a miserable evening commute, the snow helped reduce the potential for serious wrecks.
“When the weather’s that bad, we don’t have serious injury or fatality wrecks because people can’t get up to speed,” said Sergeant Jim Fuller of the Accident Investigation Section.
Response times suffered in the snow, too. On snowless Jan. 31, the median response time for priority 1 calls citywide was about 6.9 minutes. On Feb. 2, after about a foot of snow had fallen, that increased to about 8.2 minutes.
“Getting there safely to help people is what’s most important,” said Major Roger Lewis of the Patrol Bureau.
Oftentimes, citizens calling for police assistance in the snow don’t realize officers may have a more difficult time getting around than they do. The majority of KCPD’s fleet is rear-wheel drive Ford Crown Victorias. The rear-wheel drive is ideally suited for police work most of the year but doesn’t do well in the snow, Fleet Unit Supervisor Darrell Cooper said. Front- and all-wheel drive cars handle better in winter weather but are “a maintenance nightmare,” so KCPD sticks with rear-wheel drive, Cooper said. Police stopped using chains on tires about a decade ago for fear they would spark a fire that could ignite the gas tank.
The Fleet Unit had to tow out 24 police cars during a 24-hour period on Feb. 1, when nearly a foot of snow fell and Kansas City declared a state of emergency. On average, Cooper said the Unit tows less than one car a day. But only two police cars wrecked during the Jan. 31 – Feb. 1 storm – one that hit ice in pursuit of a drunk driver and another that hit a deer.
“The driver’s training at the Academy has really helped out,” Cooper said. “It’s given officers more knowledge on how to drive their car when they get in trouble.”
In the coming weeks, Cooper said he expects to see the aftermath of the snow on police vehicles in the forms of transmission issues and rear differential problems. At present, though, the only thing his shop is doing differently is “replacing an exceptional amount of wiper blades.”
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Even emergency first responders get stuck in the snow.
Three major winter storms in one month took a toll on KCPD vehicles and response times and caused the City to declare its first state of emergency since 2002’s ice storm.
From 3 to 11 p.m. on Jan. 19 – the height that day’s snow storm – police took reports of 184 non-injury wrecks and four injury wrecks. They had 13 crews out on highways helping stranded motorists. While it made for a miserable evening commute, the snow helped reduce the potential for serious wrecks.
“When the weather’s that bad, we don’t have serious injury or fatality wrecks because people can’t get up to speed,” said Sergeant Jim Fuller of the Accident Investigation Section.
Response times suffered in the snow, too. On snowless Jan. 31, the median response time for priority 1 calls citywide was about 6.9 minutes. On Feb. 2, after about a foot of snow had fallen, that increased to about 8.2 minutes.
“Getting there safely to help people is what’s most important,” said Major Roger Lewis of the Patrol Bureau.
Oftentimes, citizens calling for police assistance in the snow don’t realize officers may have a more difficult time getting around than they do. The majority of KCPD’s fleet is rear-wheel drive Ford Crown Victorias. The rear-wheel drive is ideally suited for police work most of the year but doesn’t do well in the snow, Fleet Unit Supervisor Darrell Cooper said. Front- and all-wheel drive cars handle better in winter weather but are “a maintenance nightmare,” so KCPD sticks with rear-wheel drive, Cooper said. Police stopped using chains on tires about a decade ago for fear they would spark a fire that could ignite the gas tank.
The Fleet Unit had to tow out 24 police cars during a 24-hour period on Feb. 1, when nearly a foot of snow fell and Kansas City declared a state of emergency. On average, Cooper said the Unit tows less than one car a day. But only two police cars wrecked during the Jan. 31 – Feb. 1 storm – one that hit ice in pursuit of a drunk driver and another that hit a deer.
“The driver’s training at the Academy has really helped out,” Cooper said. “It’s given officers more knowledge on how to drive their car when they get in trouble.”
In the coming weeks, Cooper said he expects to see the aftermath of the snow on police vehicles in the forms of transmission issues and rear differential problems. At present, though, the only thing his shop is doing differently is “replacing an exceptional amount of wiper blades.”
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Police ask public to walk in non-injury accident reports during storm
PRESS RELEASE:
Kansas City Police urge anyone involved in a minor vehicular crash during today’s severe weather to go to their nearest police station for a report to keep as many officers available for true emergencies as possible.
If your car is still drivable, if no one has been injured and if there is no alcohol involved, police request that you exchange information with any other drivers involved in the crash and get off of the roadway as quickly as possible. You can get a report for insurance purposes at any of the following locations:
• North Patrol Division – 1001 NW Barry Rd.
• Shoal Creek Patrol Division – 6801 NE Pleasant Valley Rd.
• Central Patrol Division – 1200 E. Linwood
• Metro Patrol Division – 7601 Prospect Ave.
• East Patrol Division – 5301 E. 27th St.
• South Patrol Division – 11109 Hickman Mills Dr.
• Police Headquarters – 1125 Locust St.
You have to make the report in person because you must present your identification and valid proof of insurance. You do not have to make the report immediately and can wait until a couple days after the accident.
During the last snow storm on January 19, Kansas City Police responded to 184 non-injury crashes and four injury crashes in an 8-hour period.
Kansas City Police urge anyone involved in a minor vehicular crash during today’s severe weather to go to their nearest police station for a report to keep as many officers available for true emergencies as possible.
If your car is still drivable, if no one has been injured and if there is no alcohol involved, police request that you exchange information with any other drivers involved in the crash and get off of the roadway as quickly as possible. You can get a report for insurance purposes at any of the following locations:
• North Patrol Division – 1001 NW Barry Rd.
• Shoal Creek Patrol Division – 6801 NE Pleasant Valley Rd.
• Central Patrol Division – 1200 E. Linwood
• Metro Patrol Division – 7601 Prospect Ave.
• East Patrol Division – 5301 E. 27th St.
• South Patrol Division – 11109 Hickman Mills Dr.
• Police Headquarters – 1125 Locust St.
You have to make the report in person because you must present your identification and valid proof of insurance. You do not have to make the report immediately and can wait until a couple days after the accident.
During the last snow storm on January 19, Kansas City Police responded to 184 non-injury crashes and four injury crashes in an 8-hour period.
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