| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
I am Hwyranger's (Tom Coleman's) wife. I was looking through his computer and came across your site, bookmarked. I know he spent a lot of time on your site; damn he loved that Buell! I am just writing to inform you, if you don't already know (I can't figure out how to get to older threads) that Tom was killed in the line of duty on June 11, 2010. He was a CHP motor officer out of San Bernardino. While in a high-speed pursuit reaching speeds of at least 100 mph, Tom collided with a big-rig. The four suspects were taken into custody and the driver has been charged with murder with the special allegation of malice towards a police officer. He is facing 25 years to life. Be safe out there. | ||
| D_adams |
 RIP | ||
| Mikellyjo |
Very Un-Cool...thoughts and prayers go out to Hwyranger and his family.  | ||
| Anonymous |
Here is a link to his facebook page...It has links to articles on his accident and I will continue to post information updating the status of the trial here. http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Memory-of-Officer -Tom-Coleman/112528212127590?ref=ts | ||
| Jng1226 |
RIP and God Bless Tom for his service. God Bless you and know that many grieve with you and your family even though we didn't know Tom personally. Jeff | ||
| Sekalilgai |
RIP Tom, thanks for your service Ken | ||
| Kaotikevo |
I'm terribly sorry for your loss. Much respect to your husband for his public service.God bless and keep you in your time of mourning. | ||
| Naiguy |
I remember waking up and seeing that on the news............the chp had a hard summer. Lots of respect for the CHP riders. They have cut me a break a few times. | ||
| Dannybuell |
My deepest condolences to you and your family. | ||
| J_copeland |
My prayers go out to your family and him. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
My condolences for your loss. This is definitely a strong argument for why high-speed pursuits should be avoided in practically all cases (an exception might be threat of immediate danger from a known violent felon, for example). In this case, one person is dead and another will probably be spending a long time in prison over what was apparently an attempted traffic stop for vehicle equipment violations. How senseless. http://cbs2.com/local/CHP.Officer.Killed.2.1746153 .html | ||
| Anonymous |
While I understand your argument against high speed pursuits in relation to risk of injury or death, allowing suspects to run will deter people from heeding laws. If they know the police will not go after them, there is no motivation to stop, even for minor traffic infractions. People generally do not run from the police for traffic violations; they run because of something more serious. In this case, the suspects were drug users, the driver was unlicensed, one of the passengers has a violent history, and the owner of the vehicle claims it was stolen. According to witnesses, Tom attempted to stop the vehicle twice, pulling up next to them and making eye contact with specific gestures to pull over in addition to utilizing lights and sirens. He was right next to the driver's window and, as witnesses attest, took the opportunity to look inside the vehicle. He saw enough to determine that the suspects in this vehicle were up to no good. Many criminals wanted for serious crimes have been caught because of a simple traffic violation. Instead of allowing suspects to flee without threat of punishment, the penalty for running, no matter what the reason, needs to be a felony with a minimum sentence. | ||
| Hogzilla |
So sorry to hear this. Thoughts going out to the family. | ||
| Ccryder |
God bless. Thank you for letting us know. Such a terrible loss! | ||
| Xbud |
Prayers are with you. God Bless | ||
| Milleniumx1 |
Out of respect for Tom's wife, there might be other (better) places to debate the issue of high-speed pursuits? Mrs. Coleman, I didn't know your husband but a big salute goes out to him. Took my breath away reading your post. RIP Tom Coleman ... Thank you for your service, Sir. Mike | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I'm sorry to potentially derail your thread, but I really must reply. The argument that "if the cops don't pursue, criminals will have no compulsion to pull over" simply doesn't hold water. Running from the cops in a state where pursuits are forbidden is not a get-out-of-jail-free card by any means. Most cop cars have video cameras in them (even where I live, in a small college town of 50K people including students, the police all have cameras in their cars) which means that the license plate number and a full record of any traffic offenses committed will be recorded. If the driver flees, the police take the video to the state's attorney who can review it and, if he decides to press charges, will get a warrant issued for that person's arrest. At that point, the cops can keep a lookout for that person (stop by his residence, etc) and arrest him to face those charges. Sure, the suspect doesn't get arrested at the time of the violations, but then nobody is put at risk with a dangerous high-speed pursuit, and there is a very good chance the suspect will be arrested sooner rather than later. Additionally, most people who are guilty of a simple traffic violation are not likely to flee because they will realize that the charges are a lot worse for fleeing--potentially felonious. Hence banning high-speed pursuits will not lead to a rash of drivers simply not pulling over when signalled to do so by the police. The ones who do flee may well be guilty of something worse than a traffic violation, but again, unless the driver is a known dangerous criminal, it is very hard to justify risking lives to apprehend that person immediately. | ||
| Jng1226 |
Dude - as Milleniumx1 tried to politely suggest, this IS NOT the thread to debate ANYTHING. Respect the service and sacrifice of this man and his family. Semper Fi! Jeff | ||
| 01xjbuell |
As a Fire Fighter I have enormous respect for our State Troopers here in MA, my condolences to you and your family. | ||
| Hogzilla |
This really should be discussed in another thread. Not at all appropriate here. | ||
| Motorhead102482 |
As a military member and an OEF veteran, my condolences go out to you and your family. I really admire what police officers do, and the danger they put themselves in on a daily basis. | ||
| Froggy |
Thefleshrocket, your commentary doesn't belong in this thread, please make a new thread (preferably in the Quickboard). I would love to respond to your post there. I am sorry to hear about the loss of Tom. | ||
| Slaughter |
I'm reading this and mouthing OH MY GOD... this hurts to hear, really does. HOW can it be possible to thank somebody for their service when it IS their service TO US that has taken them FROM US? This hurts ALL of us - but family and friends the worst. So very sorry for your loss. What else can I say? | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I'll pass, Froggy. I didn't mean to hijack the thread--the only reason I made my original comment was because I figured there'd be agreement to it. If my spouse was a police officer, I wouldn't want her engaging in high-speed pursuits unless absolutely necessary. Anyway, to Mrs. Coleman, sorry for the hijack and my condolences for your loss. | ||
| Mikellyjo |
Flesh, what you have done here amounts to nothing less than protesting at a funeral...where is the patriot guard when we we need them. Admin, please remove the post made by flesh as they truly are disrespectful. | ||
| Ratbuell |
My condolences, Mrs. Coleman, and my apologies. Not only have you lost your husband - who was doing nothing more than the job he had chosen, and trying to do it well - but you have been insulted here on Badweb by hearing "debates". I cannot imagine how it must feel...not only for your loss, but to have this sort of thing heaped on top of it. Please, do not think less of Badweb in general because of it. I have many friends on the job, and a handful are motormen - and my hat is off to all of them, as well as to your husband. Thank you for allowing him to serve, and for understanding the need that some have to serve others. It is a rare quality, and is definitely one to be admired. If there is anything I can do from the other end of the country, please click my name to the left of this post, scroll down to the bottom of the new screen, and click on "send private message". Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Tom, and the rest of your family. | ||
| Jdugger |
Flesh -- Lots of people see your side of it, they just aren't saying it because it's a tough conversation to have in a thread like this. Here in Dallas, a high speed chase for a traffic violation recently killed two innocent people, destroyed 5 unrelated civilian vehicles, 2 police cruisers, and didn't catch the perps. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Mrs Tom - I am so sorry. He was a very well liked contributor in the early days of this motorcycle. I am so sorry/saddened I don't know what to say. Thank you for supporting Tom, deeply sorry for your loss. Zack | ||
| Bigschwerm |
Our Thoughts and prayers go out Tom and Family. | ||
| Jjr1125 |
My condolences to Hwyranger's family. I was lucky enough to retire after 31 years on the job and completely understand the purpose and necessity of high speed chases. He died doing what he had to do to get the job done. I hope to see you at the survivors picinic next year in Washington DC. We give motorcycle rides to the survivors and lend them an ear if they need it. You will not ever ride alone. Look for the Blue Knights at the picnic. |
