Careers: Police/Hit and run

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Expert: - 12/16/2007


Question
Hi,
How do police catch Hit and Run drivers? I see most police don't ask for help on their websites per se. Can citizens use online blogs or would this cause pain for police?

Thank you,
Dan

Answer
Hi Dan,

Having been a Traffic Homicide Investigator for a number of years I think I can shine some light on your question.

We locate and find H&R drives through a number of ways. One is of course through physical evidence. This is done by matching physical evidence left at the scene of a crash to a suspects vehicle. This has been done in many cases and is a great way of proving a vehicle was the one that was at the scene of the H&R.

Secondly is through eye witness accounts. Many times, they are the best and only way to identify a H&R driver and vehicle. We had a case in South Florida where a friend of mine was killed by a H&R driver. She was a Florida State Trooper and a van hit her while she was standing on the side of the road talking to a traffic violator. It just so happened that a mother & daughter were riding in a car and witnessed the crash. They followed the H&R van and got a tag number, description, and then even went so far as to pull up next to the van at a traffic light and get a really good look at the driver. They then came back to the scene and gave us the information. We arrested the driver of the van less than 2 hours after the H&R. As a side note, he was a retired NY cop who was drunk. Sad.

We also locate H&R drivers through tips by concerned citizens. We get calls to our hotlines and they sometimes lead to finding the H&R drivers.

When you are referring to police websites I am guessing you mean the Departments website. As for asking for help, police lump H&R's in with other crimes and think the public would use the CrimeStoppers or TipLine to call in this information. They do not have a separate, special link just for H&R's if that is what you are asking.

Posting the information on a blog is OK but unless some officer happens to see it, it will not do any good. I would suggest that if you have information on a H&R driver or vehicle, call the local police department and report it, or if you wish to remain anonymous, then call the departments tip lie. Sometimes this is even eligible for a reward.

I hope that answers your questions. Sorry your question ended up i the question pool. Feel free to ask me anything you like in this area or other law enforcement related topics in the future.  

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Chris Wagoner

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I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

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I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

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I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

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I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

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Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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