Tragic Emergency-Response Calls

At the request of law enforcement and the families of victims

PursuitSAFETY was asked by officers and families of victims to address the issue of police vehicular emergency-response calls in its Mission Statement. On June 5, 2008, our Advisory Board unanimously voted in favor of this request.

Another victim
Ten-year-old Cole Berardi was killed in Dallas by an officer speeding to an emergency call October 17, 2008.

Steven's Story

by Brenda Ehrensperger, Steven's Mother

"About the same time Steven left home that night, a 22-year-old police officer with less than one year experience got the call that there was a 'possible prowler' at someone’s house.  He headed in the same direction as Steven at a high rate of speed ..."

Steven_Kimi
Steven and his girlfriend Kimi.

Steven_Brenda
Steven and his mom Brenda.

Steven_Kristi
Steven and his sister Kristi.

Steven's Last Day Here

Alabama—I often told my son Steven that if before he was born, God had given me a pencil and paper and told me to write about the son I wanted, it would have been him.  I was blessed by sharing his life for almost 21 years, until on the night of November 28, 2007, when a young police officer made several bad decisions that cost Steven his life.

My son’s last day was a good one.  His college classes had ended by midday and it was his best friend Tyler’s birthday. They did some of their favorite things that day — played football, went to a movie, just hung out and talked as they often did. Steven left us a lot of messages that were to help us endure the terrible times ahead in his last conversations with Tyler. He told Tyler he was not afraid to die and, if the time came, he was ready. He even told Tyler the clothes he wanted to be buried in when the time came. This along with some recent conversations I had with Steven makes me feel that he almost sensed something was going to happen.

The guys ended their day with Tyler’s family getting together at the bowling alley. From what I hear, Steven was on the top of his game that night (he loved to win). Steven had his girlfriend Kimi at his side, so he was truly happy. About 10:30 pm we called Steven. He said he was heading home but wanted to know if he could spend the night with Tyler. Steven came home, picked up his XBOX 360 controller, sent Kimi a text message saying he loved her, came into our bedroom to kiss me goodnight, and told me he loved me.  He walked out the door and five minutes later he was dead, killed less than a mile from home.

What Happened?
Even though Steven died within minutes of walking out the door, we were not told for almost five hours.  Our phone rang about 4:15 am.  A stranger’s voice said we needed to come to the back door. My first thought was to look across the hallway and say a prayer that Steven was safely in his room. That not being the case, I immediately turned to my husband and told him that something horrible had happened to Steven. I just knew.

I followed my husband David downstairs but could go no further than the kitchen. As the man dressed in plain clothes walked into our den, I

(Story continues, click here.)

Police Vehicular Emergency Response Calls that result in death

Illinois Trooper responding to a call kills two teenage sisters. April 25, 2008 ... KSDK.com conducted this investigative report about an officer responding to an accident, with minor injuries. He is some 16 miles away on an interstate highway responding at 126 miles per hour. The existing accident is some 6 minutes old, other law enforcement are on the scene and the ambulance is leaving with the victim. The trooper loses control and crosses the median, strikes a vehicle head-on and kills two teenage sisters. Illinois and Missouri do not have any mandated driver training for law enforcement after graduation from the academy. Ret. deputy Ron Kelley, who conducts driver training classes to officers across the country is interviewed in this report. Ron serves on PursuitSAFETY's advisory board.