Off-duty trooper, police officer clocked going twice the speed limit on I-70

I never claimed to be an authority on anything. I just simply see it for what it is. Quite frankly, when I return to work here in about two weeks, I'm sure it will still be the the hot topic subject. I don't think anybody can embarrass the command staff with OSP than what has already been done by Highsmith himself. Quite frankly, that command staff could probably care less about SiGs being put in ovens and some of the other stuff, as the command staff has had some turn over since all that went down (we're talking 9-10 years ago), so most, not all of them could probably care less about that.
I guess I'm reading things differently than most. I don't see it as being a matter of trying to embarrass anybody neither, just more or less giving a background, that if an internal investigation was ever done on any of it, would have been public record at one time or another anyway.
Like I said also, I don't necessarily agree with going about it this way, but Angry Trooper is well within legal confines to do so, just as you are doing the same.
All said, at the end of this long, dark tunnel, Highsmith will likely not end up losing his job, nor should he. He will obviously get more bad P.R., he's already out of his position as a motorcycle unit, which for him is terrible punishment, as he loved that position, and he may end up with days off without pay.
Should Troopers and Police Officers be held to a higher standard? Absolutely. But, Osp, Gahanna P.D., and every other agency are still employers, with certain disciplinary tracts and collective bargaining contracts that have to be followed.
I've got about 3-4 years less than Angry Troop does, and I've also seen my share of violations of both the ORC and Patrol policy and procedure that did not result in a Troop's termination. Some I was glad, some I was left scratching my head wondering how on Earth that person kept their job. Some of them, the Union got their jobs back for them. Before you say anything bad about the Union, keep in mind that's their job. That's why each and every one of us get's union dues taken out of our checks, whether we want to or not.
Highsmith's situation doesn't warrant a termination. Whether he should have been hired in the first place or not, well that's up to people beyond my pay grade to say yea or nay to that one.
A couple more things, chill out on getting ticked about this whole "dude" thing. I doubt that anything personal is meant by it. The other is that there are at least two, maybe three people posting on this thread that could be considered "authoritative" on what's going on.
You're not one of them.
What they are saying has been truthful, even the rants by Angry Trooper. If you want a little insight and background on some of the why's, when's, and how's of how the L.E. business works, what they are saying can kind of tell you some of that.
BTW, I don't drink and I don't hang out at bars.

That last post was meant for Ghostryder

Wow some really interesting posts on here. First, I want to start off by saying that I've been ticketed as a result of being checked by an OSP plane before. I plead not guilty to mine also, but when I went to my trial, I was found guilty, as I should have been. Any doubts that I had were completely removed by very, very insightful, professional, and accuarate testimony by the pilot. I don't want to say his name, but it is a fitting name for his profession.

Anyway, I also have a question for the LEOs on here. According to the formula that the pilot explained in court, and how speeds are checked from the air, if Officer Highsmith was going 147 miles per hour, then that meant he had to have been going through a quarter mile at roughly every 6 seconds.

On Sundays at 4:30 in the evening I know for a fact that traffic usually isn't light. In fact it's pretty steady. In most instances where a car switches lanes and causes an accident, the driver that switched lanes would be charged, right?

What would happen in Highsmith's case, had somebody have switched lanes and caused Highsmith or the other two to get involved into an accident. And I know at those kind of speeds, the outcome would very likely have been fatal.

But really, if somebody would have swutched lanes, with Highsmith going through a quarter mile every 6 seconds or so, it could have literally been a case that a driver looked up at one point and there was nobody there, then the next thing they know is thet're involved in a serious accident.

After figurin things out a little more, it looks like Highsmith would have been going through a quarter mile at an interval of every 6.1 seconds or so.
Figuring like this: 1/4 mile=1,320 Ft.
Take 1,320/6.1 (Seconds of elapsed time)= feet per second (Highsmith was in the vicinity of 216 Feet per second).
Take 216.2*3,600 (seconds in one hour) and that will give you how many feet per hour that he was traveling 778,320 feet per hour.
Now, take 778,320(fph)/5,280 (feet in 1 mile) and you come up with 147.4 MPH. Just some useless trivia.

Just A Citizen wrote:

<quoted text>
<quoted text>
With respect, you must be a supervisor 'cause you aren't getting it. The public doesn't care about the internal issues the patol has had in the last year - every company, business, office his them.
This situation hits a cord with the public because they see the way things really are- the fact that an officer gets treated differently vs a regular citizen. Would they have ticketed a 19 year old welder right then or sought advice from a supervisor first? There is a reason some officers have FOP stars plastered on their rear license plates or why some troopers give business cards to relatives to show if/when they are pulled over.
Peace officers are given powers of arrest and the right to carry a weapon and make split second decisions when/if to use it. And Trp Lee couldn't even write a ticket without contacting a supv first?
One of the core values of the Patrol is Self-Discipline - or stated another way, Accountability. Every trooper must recognize what job needs to be done, and then do that job well. Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to those they serve to be accountable for their actions.
This doesn't mean a trooper needs to should inquire as to whether a ticket for 147 mph should be issued.

I stand corrcted. You are very true in what you say, and it was a point of view that I hadn't considered before.

I am actually aware of another situation just like this one. A trooper was traveling on IR 70 when a motorcyclist came flying up behind him. The trooper stopped the individual and gave him a warning on his speed. The man then admitted to traveling 120 MPH. That man was not a LEO. Just your average citizen. So it does happen.

From the OSP dash cam video , I was waiting for the guys on motorcycle to offer the Troopers a beer. What a good time they were having. Now as far as the Reckless Op (4511.20 O.R.C) I can't see why they were charge with that. Oh wait I forgot they are COPS. The section for reckless ops states No Person (including stupid COPS) shall operate a vehicle on any highway in willfull or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property. Well I think going 80+ over the posted speed limit would count. And don't forget about the good old boys who took 4+ days to come up with a ticket. They should have just given a ticket for changing lanes w/o a turn signal. How can these JERKS (COPS) put on the badge and uphold the law when then can't do it themselves.

Sure sounds like Gahanna's finest-hiding on a side street to write a ticket for going 30 in a 25 mile zone. LOSERS!!!!

Just A Citizen wrote:

<quoted text>
<quoted text>
With respect, you must be a supervisor 'cause you aren't getting it. The public doesn't care about the internal issues the patol has had in the last year - every company, business, office his them.
This situation hits a cord with the public because they see the way things really are- the fact that an officer gets treated differently vs a regular citizen. Would they have ticketed a 19 year old welder right then or sought advice from a supervisor first? There is a reason some officers have FOP stars plastered on their rear license plates or why some troopers give business cards to relatives to show if/when they are pulled over.
Peace officers are given powers of arrest and the right to carry a weapon and make split second decisions when/if to use it. And Trp Lee couldn't even write a ticket without contacting a supv first?
One of the core values of the Patrol is Self-Discipline - or stated another way, Accountability. Every trooper must recognize what job needs to be done, and then do that job well. Law enforcement officers have a responsibility to those they serve to be accountable for their actions.
This doesn't mean a trooper needs to should inquire as to whether a ticket for 147 mph should be issued.

We have a winner! This guy gets it!

Lets Be Honest wrote:

If you work in a bakery shop you get to eat free donuts. If you work in a coffee shop you get free coffee. If you work in a retail store you get a discount on the items you buy.
If you are a Police Officer you should get a break now and then !! That's life, MOVE ON.

I agree if your talking about 10-20 miles over the speed limit. This was 82 miles over. Maybe everyone could move on if the trooper and officer stepped up and pleaded guilty, but they can't because of the penalty. What do leo's say, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

Not An Angry Trooper wrote:

I never claimed to be an authority on anything. I just simply see it for what it is. Quite frankly, when I return to work here in about two weeks, I'm sure it will still be the the hot topic subject. I don't think anybody can embarrass the command staff with OSP than what has already been done by Highsmith himself. Quite frankly, that command staff could probably care less about SiGs being put in ovens and some of the other stuff, as the command staff has had some turn over since all that went down (we're talking 9-10 years ago), so most, not all of them could probably care less about that.
I guess I'm reading things differently than most. I don't see it as being a matter of trying to embarrass anybody neither, just more or less giving a background, that if an internal investigation was ever done on any of it, would have been public record at one time or another anyway.
Like I said also, I don't necessarily agree with going about it this way, but Angry Trooper is well within legal confines to do so, just as you are doing the same.
All said, at the end of this long, dark tunnel, Highsmith will likely not end up losing his job, nor should he. He will obviously get more bad P.R., he's already out of his position as a motorcycle unit, which for him is terrible punishment, as he loved that position, and he may end up with days off without pay.
Should Troopers and Police Officers be held to a higher standard? Absolutely. But, Osp, Gahanna P.D., and every other agency are still employers, with certain disciplinary tracts and collective bargaining contracts that have to be followed.
I've got about 3-4 years less than Angry Troop does, and I've also seen my share of violations of both the ORC and Patrol policy and procedure that did not result in a Troop's termination. Some I was glad, some I was left scratching my head wondering how on Earth that person kept their job. Some of them, the Union got their jobs back for them. Before you say anything bad about the Union, keep in mind that's their job. That's why each and every one of us get's union dues taken out of our checks, whether we want to or not.
Highsmith's situation doesn't warrant a termination. Whether he should have been hired in the first place or not, well that's up to people beyond my pay grade to say yea or nay to that one.
A couple more things, chill out on getting ticked about this whole "dude" thing. I doubt that anything personal is meant by it. The other is that there are at least two, maybe three people posting on this thread that could be considered "authoritative" on what's going on.
You're not one of them.
What they are saying has been truthful, even the rants by Angry Trooper. If you want a little insight and background on some of the why's, when's, and how's of how the L.E. business works, what they are saying can kind of tell you some of that.
BTW, I don't drink and I don't hang out at bars.

Should he/they lose there job if their license is suspended for 6 months to a year? What about the GPD officer for disabilty fraud? Any doubt that he could ride his cycle yet not be able to goto work everyday?

Common go easy on them - they were just responding to reports that a new dounut shop had opened in Pickerington.

The real problem is that most of us want to be in an exclusive club. Almost everyone like to get away with something. No government employee is better than anyone else just because of their employment. We have this really really dumb idea that civil servants aren't people. I know they are. There are good ones, smart ones, kind ones and wise ones. Just like any other group. There are also bad ones, stupid ones, vicious ones and foolish ones. Just like any other group. The law is the institution that has to be protected not the individual, officer or no. Otherwise people will loose faith in it and then nobody is safe.

deputydone wrote:

The real problem is that most of us want to be in an exclusive club. Almost everyone like to get away with something. No government employee is better than anyone else just because of their employment. We have this really really dumb idea that civil servants aren't people. I know they are. There are good ones, smart ones, kind ones and wise ones. Just like any other group. There are also bad ones, stupid ones, vicious ones and foolish ones. Just like any other group. The law is the institution that has to be protected not the individual, officer or no. Otherwise people will loose faith in it and then nobody is safe.

Most people have already lost trust in law enforcement. When was the last time someone in law enforcement was held accountable for their actions. I think that most of time anyone is investigated by their own department they are going to get a sweethart deal. Doctors protect each other, lawyers protect each other, and police protect each other.

Sorry, you fail to understand a few things. Those men routinely write tickets to people who are driving only a few miles over the speed limit. Yet, here they are acting stupid. That makes hypocrits of them. A hypocrit is dishonest. Do you really want a dishonest man to be authorized to carry a weapon around, and to enforce laws he likes, as he sees fit? How can you believe his testimony in court?

Just think before you make excuses for these guys.

BTW - my sister is a retired state cop. I don't THINK she has ever gone THIS fast - but I know for a fact that she drove like a bat out of hell. On a thanksgiving day, little brother was stopped in N. Lima for driving 12 mile over the speed limit, and a ticket was written. Minutes later, the same cop pulled big sister over for driving 29 mile over the speed limit. She flashed her badge, and drove away with no ticket. Oh yeah - Sis had a car full of children, and her mother with her.

My kid brother never forgave her for that, nor have I. Hypocritical behaviour is despicable.

Ghostryder wrote:

Like sharks with blood in the water. Thats what we have here. 2 or 3 bikes flying down the road and the experts have decided they were racing. I don`t see that. I do see two knuckleheads that got caught, got ticketed and got their names in the paper. As mentioned earlier, have any of you had your names in the paper for any of your actions? Really? Care to disclose what it was you did? Did you lose you job? Was your name on the minds of people for hours, or even days? I doubt it. Instead, you probably told your buddies the story of how you got over on the "Man", how he missed the stuff in your pocket and how dumb the Cop was because he just wrote you a ticket or something, and they all laughed and someone bought you a beer, or puff puff passed over to you.
Everyone forgets that Cops and Firemen are just people that do stupid things too. They will pay their fines, get their points and go on with life. Just like you did.

Been there wrote:

Gahanna, is the big city version of the old New Rome, one big speed trap. The Highway patrol, all they do is write speeding tickets. I think these two officers deserve a promotion. Why is everyone giving them a hard time. Did they effect your 401K? Did they make risky loans to people who can not pay back? They are just two good old boys having a little fun and blowing off some steam. If they didn't get caught, they were probably heading to the nearest bar, to brag about their conquest. We need more officers like these two, God Bless our right to persue happiness.

My suggestion is you ask for a summary of Gahanna's citations on 270. My guess is that you will find they have not ticketed anyone for speeds of 80 or more. If you find one less at 5mph over than post it...otherwise you are just spewing bilge. It's good to know they and other officers are out there stopping people at high speeds like these two idiots.

In any society, in any age there are some who should be left in peace and are persecuted, and there are some who should be punished and are celebrated. It can be all upside-down so I won't be so hasty to throw judgment. Abuses of power, corruption, incompetence, mobbing, cronyism, etc are [i]systemic[/i] problems, and systemic problems are not usually solved by administrative bodies or departments cleaning themselves off on a few individuals. Although, thanks to complicit or sloppy journalism, an uncritical public can be easily distracted by media blitz and lose sight of the big picture.
It's not right to drive that fast. I've been cited for speeding, I've been pulled over and kindly warned instead of cited. I'm not going to foam at the mouth here about what kind of terrible person would ever exceed a speed limit. It was a bad decision; it will go through a judicial process. Let's try to follow the traffic laws as we best understand them (as there has yet to be a complete consensus on what exactly the traffic laws are and when/where they vary), because the point of traffic law is not to sneer and humiliate someone when they transgress but to have some agreed-on conventions for driving so we can all get through the day safely. No?

And until a credentialed medical professional with no affiliation to the BWC steps up and says, "no it's physically impossible to ride a motorcycle with any type of disability, here's the research" I would hold off on the fraud speculations. All the speculating does is to give the BWC more of an excuse to dump a heretofore legitimate claim, and worse, precedence to dump or deny legitimate claims in the future. That's how the system exerts its power over the individual: we're trained to talk about civil servants, human beings, as "my tax dollars," bicker over whether our tax dollars were at work, and were tax dollars working hard, and can tax dollars drive a motorcycle for fun when tax dollars chooses to.

Everyone has their peeve, and I guess that's one, only it's out of focus, because those BWC tax dollars are a drop in the fiscal bucket. Most of our tax dollars went into a massive ongoing military invasion of sovereign nations, into an unprecedented national debt that is. Most of our tax dollars went to a small oligarchy of mega-corporations in the petroleum and defense contracting industries. Most of our tax dollars went to bail out the highest echelon of Wall Street con artists whose greed inspired stock market crashes and bankruptcies, whose failing banking and mortgage companies didn't do anything to help you work something out to keep your foreclosing homes. All on yours and my tax dollars.

Compensation and compensated healing for an on-the-job injury, especially injury sustained in service to the people, should be a right, and instead we are griping about drop-in-the-bucket "tax dollars" instead of trying to understand how the economy really works, and what if any say does a citizen in the US have in dictating economic policy, if only by virtue of being a taxpayer.

Let's change the rules for people in authority! When I went to Municipal Court in Gahanna, the police officers were telling me that I was wasting their time and my money. So much for due process!!!!!! Last year, when I was driving on 23, and was stopped by a State Tropper who told me that an aircraft caught me speeding, and I asked where were the postings for the aircraft....did he let me go? NO! I hope both have to pay fines like I did. BOTH are probably in jeopardy of losing their jobs. I bet you can't have a driving record or offense like that on your record and remain an officer!