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Editorial
Deputy's heroics more the rule than the exception
Friday, December 18, 2015
Crimes and improper behavior by law enforcement officers are often in the news, resulting in everything from in-house investigations to full-blown protest riots.
There are "bad eggs," of course, officers who get into the profession for the wrong reason, who let their emotions overrule training and better judgment, accept bribes and accept unethical behavior.
But those are by far the exception rather than the rule. Yes, officers are human and make mistakes, but provided you act in a reasonable manner, your encounter with law enforcement will probably be uneventful if not always pleasant.
If a State Patrol, sheriff's deputy or city police officer seems a little brusk when reminding you of the proper speed limit, meaning of a stop sign or correct use of a turn signal, it's because he or she knows bad things can happen if we ignore the rules.
Deputy Todd Volk knows what can happen when things go wrong. He was one of a number of officers who responded to a report of a reckless semi on Highway 81, headed toward Norfolk. The truck refused to stop, the driver slumped over the wheel with a possible medical condition.
Officers followed the truck for 12 miles, and it slowed as it approached the city, but it was in danger or crashing off a busy overpass ahead.
Volk pulled over in the median, jumped out of his cruiser, ran across the road and climbed into the cab of the truck, stopping it on the bridge before it could cause serious damager.
Any number of people might have done the same thing Volk did, given the opportunity and sense of urgency.
But not many of us are expected to risk our lives in the course of our regular duties.
Remember that next time you're given a warning about speeding or written up for illegal parking.
Watch the video here.