Protecting the Pedestrian Officer

Every year, the number of fatalities and serious injuries to law enforcement officers who are struck by vehicles while working along the highway continues to rise. Though much of the discussion on safety focuses on proper scene set-up and quick clearance, there are occasions where the officer is required to act rapidly in response to an evolving situation and often with only limited protection from passing traffic.  Many times, a lack of refresher training and the urgency to quickly gain control can override an officer’s safety considerations, leading to injury.  Repetitive training focused on highway scenarios and the wearing of proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be crucial in mitigating struck-by incidents.  

Protecting the Pedestrian Officer discusses that worst-case scenario of the LEO being struck by a vehicle or flying debris while at the scene of an emergency incident or when performing police activities.   Participants will hear directly of the lessons learned by a "struck-by" survivor. We will examine the frequency with which these types of incidents occur, and current efforts to promote improvements to the personal equipment already in use by responders at highway scenes. The course will discuss how officers are injured on the roadway in situations like traffic enforcement stops, foot pursuits, TDD deployment, or while interacting with pedestrians.  This program will also review the role that technology plays in simulation training provided to law enforcement that allows officers to practice and perform activities within a safe and controlled environment.  

Sergeant (Ret.) Robert E. Bemis is a 30-year law enforcement veteran and trainer who travels to raise attention to the hazards present to emergency responders along the highway.  In March 2015, Sgt. Bemis received serious injury after being struck by a vehicle while assisting a disabled motorist.  Following months of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Sgt. Bemis returned to his duties as an Academy Instructor, and continued teaching for more than a year before retirement.  He shares the experience of his final 22 months in law enforcement in hopes that the lessons learned will inspire others to increase their own situational awareness.