JSO Officer Cited After Rear-Ending Big Rig
POSTED: Monday, March 9, 2009
UPDATED: 10:25 pm EDT March 9,
2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A week after a Jacksonville police officer ran into the back of a tractor-trailer, the Florida Highway Patrol announced the officer will be cited.
The FHP said the crash occurred after the big rig stopped at railroad tracks on Zoo Boulevard about 8:45 a.m. last Monday.
The officer, 29-year-old Amanda Meyer, hurt her arm in the crash and was taken to an area hospital. Her police cruiser was total.
The truck driver was not injured in the wreck.
The FHP said Meyer glanced down at her dashboard-mounted laptop moments before impact.
Last week, Sheriff John Rutherford held a news conference about that crash and another that also involved a police officer.
"There are times police officers are allowed to operate outside of traffic laws," Rutherford said. "Our policies require ... that they properly utilize emergency equipment, taking into consideration due regard for life and property. … Our policy speaks to the need for officers to operate their vehicles safely, but does not specifically address the laptop."
He said that the laptop is integral to officers effectively doing their jobs, but that the policy will be reviewed as part of the administrative review once the FHP investigation is complete.
FHP said on Monday that Meyer was to be cited on a charge of careless driving.
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