Spokane7
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July 1, 2010 in City
Downed wire hurts SPD officer during pursuit
Motorist who struck pole later stopped by other officers
A Spokane police motorcycle officer, who hasn’t been identified, was pulled off this motorcycle by utility lines from a pole damaged by an out-of-control car Thursday, July 1, 2010. The riderless motorcycle continued traveling along Northwest Boulevard for about a block before crashing near H Street.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
A police motorcycle officer was yanked from his bike Thursday morning when a line from a falling utility pole wrapped around his neck after he turned to pursue an out-of-control car.
The Spokane police officer was rushed to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his neck.
The 9:30 a.m. incident closed Northwest Boulevard from Providence Avenue to D Street for nearly four hours.
Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said the motorcycle officer, a veteran whose identity wasn’t disclosed, was pulled off his motorcycle by the utility line, which was attached to the pole damaged by the out-of-control car.
The riderless motorcycle continued traveling along Northwest Boulevard for about a block before crashing near H Street, DeRuwe said.
The driver of the car, identified as Susan L. Troyer, 52, of Spokane, was arrested on charges of felony hit-and-run and vehicular assault.
DeRuwe said that Troyer was westbound on Northwest Boulevard when she failed to negotiate a curve to the left. Her car went onto the right-hand sidewalk just past F Street and initially struck decorative rocks that are sunk into concrete there as a barrier. The vehicle continued westbound down the sidewalk and parking strip.
At the same time, the motorcycle officer on his way to work in the opposite direction on Northwest Boulevard saw the out-of-control subcompact. He made a quick U-turn in an attempt to stop the driver.
The car struck and sheared off a utility pole at G Street, DeRuwe said. A wire from the falling pole snagged the officer around his neck, pulling him from the motorcycle.
He landed in the middle of the pavement and skidded far enough to shred his uniform. He remained conscious and was able to radio the police dispatch center, and other officers rushed to the scene. Neighbors also came to his aid.
Troyer continued westbound but was pursued by one of the neighbors who witnessed the accident. The neighbor followed Troyer to the intersection of Northwest Boulevard and I Street, where police found her and her car.
Troyer was held at the scene for investigators, including a Washington State Patrol trooper trained in detecting impaired driving. She apparently suffered minor injuries because she left the scene in an ambulance nearly an hour after the accident was reported.
Troyer is the wife of Spokane International Airport Police Chief Peter L. Troyer, who has been at that position since 1995. Last month, he filed a divorce petition against his wife in Spokane County Superior Court.
“His thoughts and prayers go out to the officer and his family,” said airport spokesman Todd Woodard, who had spoken with Troyer on Thursday about the incident.
DeRuwe said, “It’s one of those very unique situations you could never repeat.”
Returning farmland to a state of nature 
Nomore on July 01 at 12:52 p.m.
Another perfect example of an Officer involved chase that was too dangerous to continue. When the saftey of the officer and public are at risk he should have negated the pursuit. Not to mention someone please tell me the last time they saw a motorcycle win a battle with a car.
Hope he is ok and he learned the law is in place for his saftey as well as the rest of the publics and will think of that the next time he gets ROID rage and decides to pursue when it is out of his scope.
Teseract on July 01 at 1:11 p.m.
I’m no champion of the SPD (read any of my past posts to see this) - but if you read the article the officer in question was going to opposite direction and had just completed a u-turn to begin pursuit when when the out of control driver “almost immediately” hit the pole that caused the officer’s injury.
If we want change in the SPD we need to focus on the actions of officers who actually perform the acts that go against their duty to protect the public. An officer flipping a U-turn to chase some lady driving up on sidewalks and knocking down utility poles is by no means inappropriate.
I wonder what caused the woman to do these things in the first place considering she wasn’t even under pursuit by officers at the time, all the standard “woman driver” jokes aside. ;)
BitofBacon on July 01 at 1:47 p.m.
Nomore-you undoubtedly would be one of the first to complain if the officer had not turned on the driver and she had struck a pedestrian or caused an accident with another vehicle. You can’t have it both ways.
mikep on July 01 at 2:24 p.m.
We have added information that the woman was assessed at the scene by a WSP expert trained in detecting impairment in drivers. Also, impairment may be used as a factor to prove vehicular assault, according to state law.
Nomore on July 01 at 3:18 p.m.
Just would be nice if our police would use more caution in all aspects of their job. There was no reason for him to have been harmed had he assessed the situation and stood back as the driver was out of control and a motorcycle is no threat to a car. For him to be in immidiate pursuit was only jeopardizing himself and possibly others as this driver was out of control and he had no means of stopping the vehicle.
Not to mention there is no need for a motocycle cop in anyway shape or form other than speed traps. No trailor to haul the criminals in, no extra eq. storage, no tactical gear and no protection for the cop. Also I am curious why he was not wearing proper riding gear? T-Shirts are not appropriate for motorcycle riding.
But again happy he is ok.
divinity68 on July 01 at 3:23 p.m.
The police should all go on strike. That would shut those people up about how we need different police. If you think it is that bad why not run for city counil and change things instead of complaining like a baby.
BitofBacon on July 01 at 3:54 p.m.
Nomore-the picture was probably taken after he had taken his uniform shirt and vest off and I’m surprised a super sleuth such as yourself would have missed that but I guess we all can’t be perfect, can we? I would suggest you go take the test to be a police officer but I’m guessing you’re ineligible for one reason or another.
Hcklbery on July 01 at 5:56 p.m.
NO-MORE WHAT ????
COMMON DECENCY ???
OR COMMON SENSE ???
OR BOTH….
lewis8457 on July 01 at 6:14 p.m.
First off i hope the officer is OK. he could have received some neck injuries that may not show them selves until the next day or so. hopefully he will get a x-ray or two.
According to the report the cop turned around to pursue the car right after the car it the pole, turning it into a s**t happens situation.
The cop did what he was supposed to do pursue a reckless driver.
He was lucky his uniform took the beating rather then his hide.
i will never forget the time i hit some sand and the bike went down sending me sliding on the pavement the only thing that saved me was me eel skin wallet, other wise i would have been walking funny for along time.
PlanB on July 01 at 7:03 p.m.
Seems like the officer responded appropriately to me.
However, citing her when they have little knowledge of the reason for the incident is standard SPD procedure. She would have been better off ramming into a building.
opiemuyo on July 01 at 9:05 p.m.
The men and women of the SPD place themselves in danger daily for what appears to be a very ungrateful public, if theses comments are any indication. Perhaps the dissenters and whiners should move to some third world poo hole where the police really are corrupt.
SPD: Thank you very much for the thankless job you do every day protecting my family, and putting up with the whining hate and discontent from the malcontents.
Albert on July 01 at 9:24 p.m.
Thank you officer Steve for your tap dancing, popcorn, and cheer leading. I’m sure that Otto, Beverly, Shanto, and others will join your little cheer squad. Hip Hip Hooray for Officer Steve!
D Statler on July 01 at 9:27 p.m.
Hi EVERYBODY ! I wish these guys would go on STRIKE ! Then we could clean house and hire back just the good police officers. NO MORE POLICE GUILD sounds pretty attractive to me. These idiots have overstepped their boundaries and now are holding us hostage in our own city. I WOULD run for mayor if you promised to set right beside me doing the right things for Spokane. I am guessing we would be shot in the back of the head by a disgruntled drunken officer chasing us thru Hangman Valley.Maybe even bound and suffocated to death at a ATM .LOL.You people have a very short memory. Attacking someone on the website because they feel different than you dosn’t say much either. I too am very sorry the motorcycle cop was injured.Once again we dodged a very serious incident where it could have definately been worse. I am guessing we as taxpayers will be paying some insurance claims on him.Probably a repair bill on the bike. Along with all the previous suits,claims,settlements still pending, It looks like we just can’t win! :^( BE NICE YOU JOLLY JOKERS!
lewis8457 on July 02 at 12:05 a.m.
Steve the cops bring it on themselves. Here is someone that is charged with felony hit run after hitting a pole, but on the other hand we have seen a police officer rear end an occupied truck while drunk, leave the scene of the accident and now he is suing the city for 4 million because he got fired.
We have 8 police officers who beat a disabled man to death that to this date have never paid in a court of a law and who still work for the SPD and the first officer on site has been shown to of lied to his own investigators but he is still on the job. We got a Mayor that supposedly cares for foster kids but thinks it is justified to kill a disabled man in cold blood.
We had a gay cop that was so scared his other officers would find out he is gay he shot a man in the back of the head and left him for dead, this same girly boy was carrying a gun in a bar while getting intoxicated. The man left for dead still cant get the city to pay his medical bills even though it was a city bought and paid for bullet they pulled out of his head. After his trial the officers in the crowd all pumped their arms up and down like they had won something. Made me think maybe he isn’t the only Mary Poppins in the gang?
We have a 28-year-old officer scared of a old lady with a hammer and he charges her with felony something with a weapon and she falls over 20 days later from the stress. In her age with all the propaganda about the prisons she basically was scared to death.
And the one thing all these people had in common? They were all innocent. But you know what all those officers are still on the job pulling there 100 grand.
In 2008 on 4th of July some young people held a sit in, in the park to protest police abuse. They all got arrested and beat to pulp in the process. Bystanders called it a police riot. And many believe it was set up. Via the officer on the grassy knoll with the camera.
I am telling you if you want us to stop complaining then you get your boys to fly right or just cover your ears.
opiemuyo on July 02 at 9:11 p.m.
Here is what I do know for a fact. Some crazy drug addled POS was shot and killed by SPD two houses away from mine. They will always have my undying support for protecting my children and wife when I was not there to do it myself. Andy you know where you can take the popcorn, whiners.
lewis8457 on July 03 at 7:26 a.m.
That is OK Steve there are a lot of folks like you that think the cops can be judge jury and executioner. Good to hear your family is OK.
I am not a cop hater I just don’t think they should be above the law.
eagleproducer on July 03 at 10:26 a.m.
A Spokane cop with skid marks on his uniform? How is that news?