Nights Are Filled With Action For Patrolman

On a typical Friday night in Spokane, there’s a lot more action than you might think.

I went with a Washington State Patrolman on an observation ride in March that started at 9 p.m. By 9:15 p.m., we were already underway and chasing a speeder in the Spokane Valley.

About 15 minutes later, the dispatcher’s voice came over the radio announcing a five-car accident on Pines. Racing to the scene, the officer turned on his lights and sirens. As cars pulled aside to the right, we ran red lights. I kept my eyes fixed on the speedometer as it read up to 120 mph.

“It must be nice to go this fast,” I said.

“We get paid to break the law,” said former Trooper of the Year William Dingfield.

We arrived minutes later at the scene. The accident occurred because of an intoxicated female driver. She was handcuffed and put in the back of the car I was in. At the station, she was given a breathalyzer test. Her blood/ alcohol concentration was 1.08 (with .10 being the legal definition of intoxication). Three DUIs were given, one to her and two others to other drivers in the accident.

By the end of the night, we met up with three other drunk drivers.

It’s tough work to catch a bad guy. It takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to do this job. It can also be a great experience in helping the community.

“I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I still love my jobs,” said Dingfield.

So next time you see someone with a badge, think positively.