Citation
Cappitelli, P. (2015), "Introduction to Special Issue on traffic safety", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 38 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-06-2015-0075
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Introduction to Special Issue on traffic safety
Article Type: Editorial introduction From: Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Volume 38, Issue 3.
It is my honor to introduce this Special Traffic Safety edition of Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management. I have had the privilege of supporting and collaborating with many of the researchers published herein and would like to offer my insight into the genesis of this work.
My own career as a mainstream California peace officer stretched from 1977-2007. During those decades, I attended numerous police officer funerals and, over time, I noticed that traffic collisions were increasingly becoming the leading cause of officer mortality. Losing an officer in the line of duty is difficult enough, but the realization that the tragic death could probably have been prevented was even more haunting. I began to ask myself, "Why do so may officers die in traffic collisions? Is it training? Is it attitude? Hubris? What can be done?" The answers back then were anecdotal and elusive. The related question that burned in my mind was, "What if we could determine the root cause of these collisions?"
In late 2007, I was appointed Executive Director of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (CalPOST). My first order of business was to formally establish the issue of driver training and driver safety as the number one priority for CalPOST. Simultaneously, CalPOST was in the final stages of securing funding to replace perishable skills driver training simulators (LEDS) throughout the state. Before signing the requisition, I questioned the efficacy of LEDS training and felt it prudent to undertake analysis to determine whether there was any correlation between the use of driver training simulators and the frequency of police collisions. CalPOST staff commissioned a study that investigated the use of simulators and its initial findings generated more questions than answers.
From that point forward I was fortunate to have the support of CalPOST Commissioners (chiefs, sheriffs, labor leaders, and public servants throughout California) to fund a multi-year quest for answers that became known as the SAFE (Situation-Appropriate, Focused & Educated) Driving Campaign. CalPOST culled a team of expert researchers (many represented in this edition) to undertake essential empirical research to identity causal factors and develop recommendations to reduce police-related collisions.
The end result for CalPOST was a series of modifications to address training, culture, attitudes, and policy (and a significant reduction in fatal officer-involved collisions resulted). This research has been the springboard for heightening awareness of this topic for law enforcement leaders not just in California, but across the nation. CalPOST's SAFE Driving Research Team was able to present findings at the NIJ and IACP conferences (among others) and was recognized with the 2012 IACP/Sprint Excellence in Law Enforcement Research Award.
I believe the papers in this edition report valuable and actionable research that exemplifies the best of practitioner-researcher partnerships. My hope is that the publication of these findings will launch a series of positive changes that will enhance the safety of police officers behind the wheel now and into the future. I am proud and grateful to have been associated with this work and am confident that readers will benefit from the information presented.
Paul Cappitelli
About the author
Paul Cappitelli is an Honorably-Retired Career Law Enforcement Professional with over 35 years of experience. He is now a Special Law Enforcement Consultant for various entities and individuals. In November 2007, Paul was appointed as the Executive Director for the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Paul served the POST Commission in this capacity for five years up until his retirement in December, 2012. Prior to his POST appointment, Paul served the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (SBSD) for 29 years and retired at the rank of Captain. Paul worked in various capacities during his law enforcement career including patrol, traffic, custody, homicide investigation, public affairs, gang enforcement, and academy director to name a few. He holds an AA Degree in the Administration of Justice, a BS Degree in Business and Management, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA).