Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

[buzz1941]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

If they were really doing 40-ish on that stretch, it's way too fast. Presidential motorcades like to move quickly for obvious reasons, but that flat turn by the Hickam gate is designed for something like 10 mph.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

What a shocking, sad outcome. I wonder if the President will return to Hawaii for Officer Favela's memorial service.

Highly doubtful. I read somewhere that his schedule's pretty much set in stone until his last day in office. Being that Officer Favela isn't a national head of state, I find it unlikely that the President would clear his schedule for his service. Send a representative, maybe...but he won't come here.

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

If they were really doing 40-ish on that stretch, it's way too fast. Presidential motorcades like to move quickly for obvious reasons, but that flat turn by the Hickam gate is designed for something like 10 mph.

Which reminds me of the generally very low speed limits which are strictly enforced by the base MPs... except in this instance, apparently. Huh.

[Lei Liko]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

Official statement from President and Mrs. Bush

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

This is big news and I hope that Lingle declares flags to be raised at half staff tomorow.

Seems fitting. I suspect that the news about half-staff will come out on Monday, but the day will be later in the week to allow time for everyone to get word. Maybe not, but it usually seems like the half-staff comes well after everyone knows.

[GeckoGeek]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

And the reality is a police motorcade for a president is all showmanship. I honestly do not see how a police motorcade is actually "protecting" the president.

From one source I've heard, their job was to halt traffic to allow the motorcade to pass. Then they would "leapfrog" the motorcade to get ahead and halt the next intersection. In that case, yes, they would be performing a valid function, and would be at times traveling faster then the motorcade.

The most dangerous conditions is when the road is damp. Just enough rain to bring the oil to the surface, but not enough to wash it away.

[poinographer]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

Yup. Formation riding is tricky, and if a leading bike goes down it's unlikely for the trailing bikes to avoid a chain reaction crash.

[craigwatanabe]

Police officer dies from motorcycle injuries

I was shocked upon hearing that news, but was wondering at the same time, just how bad that accident was.

I know he and fellow officers had slipped on something while on Hickam AFB but what speed were they going at and how does something like this happen with such fatal results?

What exactly happened that allowed for such critical injuries? This story is tragic yet amazing at the same time.

[WindwardOahuRN]

Re: Police officer dies from motorcycle injuries

I was shocked upon hearing that news, but was wondering at the same time, just how bad that accident was.

I know he and fellow officers had slipped on something while on Hickam AFB but what speed were they going at and how does something like this happen with such fatal results?

What exactly happened that allowed for such critical injuries? This story is tragic yet amazing at the same time.

Internal injuries, massive bleeding. A very bad hit in a very bad place. It takes surprisingly little force to devastate the human body.

I am reminded frequently just how fragile life is and how quickly and easily it can be altered or taken away. It's really very frightening, when I think about things I have seen.

[Pomai]

Re: Police officer dies from motorcycle injuries

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Officer Favela's ohana.

We were truly crushed to hear about his declining condition and passing. If I had 0-positive blood, I would've immediately donated. This made national news due to his duty to protect the President.

God Bless.

[Miulang]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

I think I read somewhere that he had severed an artery (just like the Crocodile Hunter). If it was the femoral artery, my guess is that they couldn't control the massive bleeding.

Miulang

[Lei Liko]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

Internal injuries, massive bleeding. A very bad hit in a very bad place. It takes surprisingly little force to devastate the human body.

I am reminded frequently just how fragile life is and how quickly and easily it can be altered or taken away. It's really very frightening, when I think about things I have seen.

I think I read somewhere that he had severed an artery (just like the Crocodile Hunter). If it was the femoral artery, my guess is that they couldn't control the massive bleeding.

Miulang

Didn't they have to amputate because of that?

[Miulang]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

Condolences are pouring in from everywhere to console the ohana of Officer Favela. What's really sad is his wife, Barbara, is a nurse at Queen's (where the officer was taken after the accident) and is on maternity leave after the birth of their 2-month old child.

Miulang

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

Peter Boylan's Advertiser story today says:

Joaquin [spokesman for the Secret Service] said the purpose of using officers in the motorcade is to allow the president's vehicle to move at a proper clip through areas where it might be vulnerable. He said local police departments are best at navigating the presidential motorcade through unfamiliar streets.

Hold on. Since when are Honolulu Police Department officers considered best at navigating through Hickam Air Force Base? Does HPD ever enter military bases at all? Isn't that outside of their jurisdiction? What happened to the base MPs? I'm sorry, Special Agent Joaquin; that justification doesn't hold water. Officer Favela and the rest of the HPD escort were driving on streets that were just as unfamiliar to them as they were to you.

[brianca]

Re: Motorcycle cop guarding Pres. dies

He probably meant the procedure of using local officers in general, and not that individual case.