I was appalled at a section in last week’s police report of a man who “ran” a stop sign and almost caused an accident with an off-duty officer.
The reason for what is now going to turn into public outrage and a demand for equal enforcement of the law for citizens and cops alike is that myself and my two daughters and two grandchildren were run off the road by Division of Parks law enforcement officer Preston Kroes who was passing two cars on a curve on a double yellow.
I called 911 dispatch and told of the accident and the fact that Kroes left the scene, offering no help or apology and stating, “If you were in the ditch, it was due to your own driving habits!” Trooper Andrew Neason did not even attempt to make contact with me until 3:30 p.m. the next day (27 hrs after a 911 call!). I keep saying, “If the shoe was on the other foot, there would be a ticket a mile long for a citizen!” Seems I was right. A cop can almost kill three generations of a family with no repercussions whatsoever, but a citizen who probably did not stop due to icy conditions will suffer the wrath of the law solely because the other car was a cop. Disgusting, at best. Also, the Chilkat Valley News has a tape and has to date refused to do an article on this near-death experience between my family and law enforcement. It is not over yet, as I am entertaining my legal options.
Dean “Bear” Lari