Police should take their own advice: Speed kills, seat belts save lives

It was clear when he faced reporters Tuesday morning that Sheriff Doug Gillespie still mourns the loss of Metro officer Milburn "Millie" Beitel, who died of injuries suffered while on duty in an Oct. 7 single-vehicle crash.

Those who know Gillespie will tell you how deeply he cares for his department. This isn't just a political position for him. He takes losses personally. He's a career cop who grew up in Las Vegas and has devoted his life to law enforcement.

Knowing that, I was eager to hear what conclusions he'd reached after burying his second officer in five months after on-duty wrecks involving excessive speed and a failure to follow the most rudimentary safety procedures.

Check it out: 71 in a 45. No seat belts. It doesn't take Kreskin to predict that outcome.

Like officer James Manor just months before him, Beitel received a hero's send-off with a long procession of police motorcycles and a roadblock all the way to the graveyard. In Beitel's case, some 2,000 people showed up to pay their respects and remember the Marine and six-year cop for the devoted officer that he was.

The problem is, neither man's death was heroic. The deaths were senseless and preventable. The sheriff and the Metro brass know that. Gillespie acknowledged that.

But what the sheriff outlined Tuesday in response to the latest death doesn't cut it.

Beitel was driving northbound on Nellis Boulevard near Washington Avenue, traveling 71 mph in a 45 mph zone. Neither he nor his passenger, officer David Nesheiwat, was wearing a seat belt. Nesheiwat continues to recover from his injuries.

They weren't on a call and weren't running with their lights and sirens. Beitel reportedly swerved to miss a car turning left into the lane the patrol car was barreling up. Unlike Manor, at least Beitel didn't slam into a civilian driver.

To his credit, Gillespie was candid about the mistakes made.

"These recent tragedies have brought to light a nationwide problem of police officers not wearing seat belts," he said. "We enforce the rules, and we also set the example. We have both the responsibility and obligation to drive in a safe and prudent manner."

Although Gillespie said he wanted to make it clear "corrective action is being taken," the fact is the department already was reviewing its training and driving policies. The sheriff has ordered focus groups for officers to determine "best practices." Sergeants and lieutenants will attend "mandatory meetings" to hear the sheriff's safety message.

Metro seeks safety ideas from other police agencies and private businesses such as UPS.

What can Brown do for you?

Remind you not to race to the graveyard going 71 in a 45 with no seat belts or sirens?

Like Joe Citizen, Gillespie said Metro officers could receive citations for not wearing their seat belts. He then admitted he'd never actually seen one cop give another cop a ticket.

He added, "I would much rather hold our officers accountable by issuing citations or discipline for not using his or her seat belt, or for driving carelessly, than to plan another funeral."

I think he was sincere.

He just wasn't tough enough.

Here's an alternative he should consider.

If an officer gets caught not wearing a seat belt, he should be forced to take a day off without pay. (Granted, that would take cooperation from the Police Protective Association.)

Metro officers spend 44 hours of classroom and driving time. They undergo recertification every two years. They're regularly reminded more cops are killed in automobile crashes than by armed bad guys.

If the cops need more training to remember to buckle their seat belts and not drive 30 mph over the speed limit for no good reason, they don't need a scolding, citation or a trip to the dean's office.

They need to find new careers.

This isn't a question of insufficient training. This is Driver's Ed 101.

Gillespie should let it be known that any officer who needlessly kills himself in an auto accident won't be given a motorcade procession and a communitywide send-off. He won't be remembered as a hero.

He'll be used as an example of what happens to reckless drivers.

Send a tough message, sheriff, and help put an end to this dangerous police practice.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.