FDLE Investigating I75?

[Guest]

Hate to tell you genius but FDLE has agents that are former THI with over 100 THI experience and are reconstructionists. David Staley is one of them so I think they have the ability to investigate this and show how FHP screwed up. All it takes is the tapes from dispatch, dispatch recorded phone calls and videos from any patrol cars. Even you could fiqure out that the staff in Troop B should be replaced and FHP should be sued.

Reconstructing the crash is useless in this. It was a chain reaction crash due to poor visibility. Knowing and understanding the LOVORI dispersion index and other weather patterns is what is needed. FHP supervision has had very little training in this field (about 4 hours if I remember correctly). Becoming a meteorologist or a fire weather expert in a four hour class is a joke. I sure all FDLE agents get this training and are can decide if we made the proper decisions. We should let Forestry do all the calculations and have a clear cut off number to make a decision. This is their expertise. Second, there should be ample manpower out to deal with situations like this. You cannot shut down a major roadway and handle other calls without adequate manpower especially when factors change in the matter of minutes.

[Guest]

Hate to tell you genius but FDLE has agents that are former THI with over 100 THI experience and are reconstructionists. David Staley is one of them so I think they have the ability to investigate this and show how FHP screwed up. All it takes is the tapes from dispatch, dispatch recorded phone calls and videos from any patrol cars. Even you could fiqure out that the staff in Troop B should be replaced and FHP should be sued.

LMAO THI recon in fdle, gimme a break good god lmao theres not a single certified reconstructionist in fdle , please don't reply back you just make yourself look stupid. Don't use the word reconstructionist unless you know the qualifications and being THI or advanced THI is a far cry from cert recon

Exactly. Another one who 'thinks he knows.'

Dumb arse hate to pop your bubble David and I went through recon together at that joke we call an academy. Even though it’s been over a year since he worked on and your right his reconstruction certification has lapsed he could do it with no problem. Believe me FHP is not the end all organization you think it is and even a deputy could investigate this and come up with better end result than you could or most people at FHP could come up with. Working with FHP I learned there isn’t an investigation made by FHP that can’t be over turned because of their inept investigations.

Ah, another has-been that couldn't hack it and left. And I was beginning to think you actually had an opinion. More sour grapes; thanks for clarifying.

[Guest]

Hate to tell you genius but FDLE has agents that are former THI with over 100 THI experience and are reconstructionists. David Staley is one of them so I think they have the ability to investigate this and show how FHP screwed up. All it takes is the tapes from dispatch, dispatch recorded phone calls and videos from any patrol cars. Even you could fiqure out that the staff in Troop B should be replaced and FHP should be sued.

LMAO THI recon in fdle, gimme a break good god lmao theres not a single certified reconstructionist in fdle , please don't reply back you just make yourself look stupid. Don't use the word reconstructionist unless you know the qualifications and being THI or advanced THI is a far cry from cert recon

Exactly. Another one who 'thinks he knows.'

Dumb arse hate to pop your bubble David and I went through recon together at that joke we call an academy. Even though it’s been over a year since he worked on and your right his reconstruction certification has lapsed he could do it with no problem. Believe me FHP is not the end all organization you think it is and even a deputy could investigate this and come up with better end result than you could or most people at FHP could come up with. Working with FHP I learned there isn’t an investigation made by FHP that can’t be over turned because of their inept investigations.

Ah, another has-been that couldn't hack it and left. And I was beginning to think you actually had an opinion. More sour grapes; thanks for clarifying.

Couldn't hack what? The crap pay or just the overall crap agency?

[Paperboy]

Actually FDLE wouldn't need David anyways because they don't need to reconstruct the crash at all. They need just to prove negligence by FHP and any assisting agencies. Video's from cars, dispatch tapes, and phone calls. Then interview everyone involved after having experts in meteorology and fires work up their results. This isn't rocket science and for doubters there are other agencies that are a lot more compitent that can answer the question did FHP screw up. The answer appears to be yes especially from other posts in other blogs giving a time frame on how quick the smoke and fog came back in and blanketed the roadway. If I'm quoting it correctly it was clear and fog and smoke came back in within 15 minutes. Yet they did nothing. No sour grapes here just embarrassed to say I wored for FHP.

[Guest]

Actually FDLE wouldn't need David anyways because they don't need to reconstruct the crash at all. They need just to prove negligence by FHP and any assisting agencies. Video's from cars, dispatch tapes, and phone calls. Then interview everyone involved after having experts in meteorology and fires work up their results. This isn't rocket science and for doubters there are other agencies that are a lot more compitent that can answer the question did FHP screw up. The answer appears to be yes especially from other posts in other blogs giving a time frame on how quick the smoke and fog came back in and blanketed the roadway. If I'm quoting it correctly it was clear and fog and smoke came back in within 15 minutes. Yet they did nothing. No sour grapes here just embarrassed to say I wored for FHP.

They did nothing??? The road was shutdown immediately once the danger was known however it was too late for the ones that drove into the fog too fast, yes dare I say it. One woman came forward and was interviewed by Channel 9 in Orlando yesterday. She said she was stopped in traffic when FHP opened the road and the road was perfectly clear. The FHP or FHP supervisors can not be all powerful and predict what is going to happen 40 minuets later. The road is clear you open the road and monitor, which they did. You say no sour grapes but you are sure sounding like it and if you are embarrassed by FHP go post somewhere else!

[Guest]

That should tell you what the Gov thinks of FHP.

The Governor needs to look in the mirror and say why in the world did I cut the amount of Troopers on the road in Florida and why did I cut funding to FHP.

Less Troopers on the Interstate to handle call for service the greater the danger when incidents occur. Case closed.

I'm not defending the governor, but the blame lies with the members of the florida legislature.

Where is the PBA ? Where is Fast? Where is FHP representation? Where is MADD? Where is the Sheriffs Association?

The Media should be informed with facts of how much the Florida State Legislatures have cut FHP staffing is the past years.

I saw an article in the paper saying that we need to put more cameras on the Interstate to see what is going on? That would of worked great I cannot see anything on the cameras due to the fog and smoke! Lets send a Trooper to investigate. Oh wait we have no Troopers only cameras and some D.O.T. guy watching South Park on TV.

We need boots on the ground Troopers on the Road.

Can anyone post an article on here where it explains how many road positions and Highway Patrol stations have been closed in the last few years. Why is there not a formula or a set amount of Troopers that need to be working on the Interstate daily. It always takes people dying to correct what is so plain to see.

How many Troopers does it take to close down an Interstate safely? Roads get closed everyday due to traffic crashes and if they are going to be closed for a prolong time then detours and extra help is sent to direct traffic through intersections that are designed to allow only a few vehicles through.

The issue is we need more Troopers working the Interstate to respond and get the roadways cleared and back opened. FHP is the only agency that does not pay their Troopers a midnight shift pay. All other agencies get 15% more just to work the midnight shift due to the danger and lack of sleep.

FHP doesn't even have a Trooper in each county on midnights. Some Troopers cover multiple counties on the midnight shift. I would hate to see fog or smoke in more than one of those counties at a time what would FHP do?

This is the time. It is now or never for the state legislatues to increase the amount of Troopers to cover the Interstate correctly. The only way this is going to happen is for the citizens to know just how few Troopers are out there!

We spend so much time giving the impression we are out there in full force to keep speeding and drunk driving down. The truth is scary.

I would love to see what the national average is for State Troopers per highway miles in each state. I would not be surprised to see Florida come in last place.

The Troopers we have are outstanding we just need more of them out there.

[Guest]

First there will be no increase in staffing.

Second FDLE is not going to throw FHP under the bus even if they are found to be completely wrong. FDLE will cover it up enough to limit any law suits that will come from this.

You can't investigate yourself and expect the investigation to be valid. In this case the State of Florida is investigating itself.

Yes, I know it is a different agency but it is still the State of Florida.

Will some new policies changes come? Yes.

[Guest]

The outcome of the investigation will be as follows. The Gov. will exonerate us and give us a pay raise. End of story.

[Guest]

The outcome of the investigation will be as follows. The Gov. will exonerate us and give us a pay raise. End of story.

You forgot we will also get new patrol cars, double the size of the Troopers on the Interstate and get new bumper stickers on all of our patrol cars.

The new bumper stickers will read, "If you see smoke don't take it as a joke, don't take another toke exit the interstate folks."

Remember turn around don't drown bumper stickers?

[23yr veteran]

The only bigger joke than this agency is our fliped out Governor.

[Guest]

The new bumper stickers will read, "If you see smoke don't take it as a joke, don't take another toke exit the interstate folks."

Now thats funny!!

[smoggy]

License to Arrogance
After 26 years of enforcing the traffic laws in this state and working along other dedicated officers to keep our highways safe, we are, at times, confronted by all that Mother Nature can throw at us. Fires, Fog, Smoke, High Winds, Tropical Storms, Tornadoes, or any combination thereof, are not unusual for this state. Attempting to manage the unforeseen and unpredictable is hardly an envious position to be in when people’s lives are at stake. This state experiences dozens of such events that the FHP manages every year without much notice. Except from the public that is inconvenienced and the elected officials that demand the roads are opened immediately.
What is also not unusual for this state is the blatant arrogance of our state elected officials. In Mike Schneider’s January 31, 2012 article, “Questions remain in deadly pileup”, the Miami Herald reports that Governor Rick Scott is calling for an immediate investigation into the Florida Highway Patrol’s handling of the incident leading to a massive pile-up and multiple fatality on I-75 on Paine’s Prairie south of Gainesville. Now, this would have been a perfect opportunity for our Governor to “get to work” for a day as a fire fighter or state trooper and try for himself to use a crystal ball and foretell what mother nature will do. He may also discover that communications among emergency personnel is less than adequate and with 2 or 3 troopers working a midnight shift in the Gainesville district, he may further discover that his cut backs have some real life complications for the safety of the citizens of this state. Personally, I welcome the investigation.
What is more interesting, as I read the Herald, is a small article by Steve Bousquet, “Scott to cast vote in Tallahassee”, where the Governor, after 8 years of residence in Naples just updated his driver license to reflect his new address in Tallahassee on January 24th of this year. That means he violated state statute 322..19.2 which reads in part that a person has 10 days to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of the driver's address change. Failure to do so is a non-moving infraction in the state of Florida. Furthermore, state statue 322.02 states that the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has the authority to enforce this statute. That would be the Florida Highway Patrol.
Once again, the Governor has publicly and irresponsibly pointed the finger of blame at public employees for political gain. The problem is not with men and women attempting to control the uncontrollable, but with an administration that mandates less troopers and officers on the road with less money to manage and administer proper public safety policy. But given his penchant for ignoring rules and law, I suppose a simple license violation is not worth talking about. And threatening the enforcement agency with “fault” in this most unfortunate crash means he surely won’t be investigated for the violation. Now that's leadership.

[Guest]

You are an idiot.

[Guest]

Oh sure that is right there next to the gay sticker about driving in water turn around. Anyone notice the new Dodge Charger. Cant even see State troope ron the back and the inside is a freaking match box. This was a great idea. How about a Tahoe where we can actually put our gear and sit. Not that I care for Chevy's but the Impala and the Caprience have more room. Iguess it boild down to best bid get its

[Guest]

Oh sure that is right there next to the gay sticker about driving in water turn around. Anyone notice the new Dodge Charger. Cant even see State troope ron the back and the inside is a freaking match box. This was a great idea. How about a Tahoe where we can actually put our gear and sit. Not that I care for Chevy's but the Impala and the Caprience have more room. Iguess it boild down to best bid get its

I suggest we get the Impala since they are cheapest on the state bid. We can use the savings to educate this Trooper on how to spell and the use of proper grammar.