Mike Moser "I Say" Published Feb. 3, 2006

Escapees, intersections and such

It is always easy to second guess and play Monday morning quarterback but many times we as a society forget to say congratulations for a job well done.

It needs to be said today.

Officers with the Crossville Police Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department demonstrated just how important it is to our community to have well trained and properly equipped police officers. All of this paid off handsomely Tuesday morning at Woodmere Mall.

Two Louisiana prison escapees who each has a record of violent crimes, who were part of a group who had made threats during their escape, and who were armed, dangerous and hell-bent on escaping police custody, were apprehended without injury to the general public or to any of the officers involved.

Officers involved in the pursuit did the prudent thing. They pursued the suspects, apprehended one, and when the second one, armed, holed up in a darkened store, they sealed off the perimeter and waited for help.

The city department's Tactical Unit was called to the scene and for a couple of hours attempted to make contact with the second fugitive, calling the store and communicating through a bullhorn without response.

With dawn rapidly approaching, police knew it would not be long before the general public would be stirring. It would have been hard to seal off the mall and the threat of injury to an innocent bystander or a police officer was real.

It had become apparent the escapee had no intentions of surrendering. Tear gas was fired inside The Book Cellar, and later Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse, forcing the inmate to flee. He was shot in the leg and taken into custody without further incident.

It was a good job, a job well done, and the men and women involved are to be complimented for their professionalism.

* * *
A reader quite amused by the recent debate about traffic signals and intersections provided us a page out of the Tennessee Driver Handbook dealing with traffic signals and he suggested we publish the information and let the law and public policy speak for itself.

On page 46 of the manual, it states, "Traffic signals are usually placed at heavily traveled intersections. These lights tell you when or where to stop and go. A green light means you can go if it is safe.

"A yellow light means caution, prepare to stop for the red light, and the red light always means stop. Standard traffic lights are red, yellow and green, from the top to bottom respectively.

"Red - Stop behind crosswalk or stop line. Unless otherwise posted, you may turn right on red after coming to a complete stop and when no pedestrians or cross traffic are present.

"Yellow - Caution, prepare to stop. Red stop signal will be exhibited immediately so you may come to a smooth stop. You must stop if it is safe to do so. Do not speed up to beat the light.

"If you are already in the intersection when the yellow light comes on, do not stop but continue cautiously through the intersection. Tennessee law only requires the yellow light to be exhibited for a minimum of three seconds before the red light.

"Green - Go if the intersection is clear. You must yield to pedestrians and vehicles are still in the intersection at light change. The green signals gives you the permission to proceed; however, you must still observe the laws of the right-of-way.

"Yield to coming vehicles if you are turning left. Never attempt to jump the green by starting through the intersection early or by making a quick left turn in front of oncoming traffic."

· · ·
Mike Moser is the editor of the Crossville Chronicle. His column is published periodically on Fridays.