New Camera

Well, we finally got our new camera. Played with it a tiny bit tonight and so far it seems fantastic. It's a Nikon D80 with a 18-135mm Nikor lens, case, couple filters, 2G card, an extra battery and a 59" tripod. Like I said, I have played with it very little so far, but the picture clarity is far better than I figured it would be. Alaska, here I come. I was trying to figure out how to take a photo of my new camera (with my new camera). Guess I could use a mirror, but I'll save that for later.

Structure Fire

Think I may have made the news very briefly at a large structure fir that happened in one of our apartment complexes. The fire burned about 8 apartments and damaged several others. It took 6 fire departments to help put out the blaze. Felt bad for the people living there. Red Cross did come to help them though.

Roll over accident

Do you remember being stupid when a juvenile. I do. I didn't think I was as stupid as I do now looking back. Young kids and fast cars should not go together. We had a roll over accident the other day that was a one car accident on a 25 mph street. The Mazda Miata took out a fire hydrant on its excursion on the shoulder of this street. Both occupants were fine. Being out of crash class so recently I did a few measurements and looked at some tire marks/other evidence. The car was still accelerating into the turn when the driver lost control of it. Interesting looking at that small of a car on its top. The underside looks funny. I felt like I could put my arms around the whole thing. The car also had sport tuned suspension, racing tires, and special brakes. Guess all that wasn't enough to help him out. Looked like he was testing it to find out what it could do. He found out what it could not do.

Aggravated Robbery

Why would anyone rob someone at gunpoint for a piece of jewelry? I don't get people. We had this happen a few days ago in broad daylight at a busy shopping area. The guys got away for the time being, but guess what...they are now behind bars. We found the first guy a few hours later and the second the next day. All for about $600. Now they are looking at 10-20. Even if they weren't...I hate people that steal, especially by force. Who do they think they are? I think that is my biggest pet peeve. Thieves. Hope they get the max, punks.

The parking spot

Well, this call did it. I seriously had to respond to a 911 call about someone stealing their parking spot. Both parties agreed that it was stupid for me to come, but one of them had to call me before I did. I told both parties I didn't care and they should walk away. They did. I have better things to do with my time than crap like that.

Crash Investigations

Well, finished the crash class. Good stuff. Liked the whole thing. Was told today that I will be going to the next level of crash investigations as soon as a class is available. Hooray! Our department had a bad crash recently, so my instructors of the class went to our PD to take a look at the evidence. I got to be there to help out (stand there and provide go to work). But I just like being around the investigation of these crashes, so it was cool. Not the crash....but the part about piecing the pieces of evidence together to reconstruct the entire event prior to crash and during crash. Anybody get the math done on those last problems to come up with my answers?

Crash Investigation class

Well, this week, as usual, I am again not actually "at work." I am taking a one week crash investigation class put on by the highway patrol. I haven't been at work in quite some time, but plan to be back on Saturday. The crash course is fun, its definitely my cup of tea. Just finished the second day of it. We did all formulas (math) on obtaining measurements, speeds, drag factors, coefficient of friction adjustments, critical speeds, airborne speeds, and a little more. This course is just the first level of many, but most cops don't even get this one. Most cops go through the academy crash hours and that's the end, so this starts getting more in depth. I will probably go through all the crash courses to reconstructionist, which I hear is pretty hard. For now, having fun with this class. Just for fun I'll give you one of the problems we worked out today (all classroom, so some information given instead of us taking the measurements).

Ex: A vehicle departs the roadway and enters a yard where it becomes airborne off of a flower bed. Grade measurements were taken on the flower bed where the vehicle left the ground. Using a four foot level, the uphill grade produced 5 inches of rise. After departing the ground, the vehicle traveled 34 feet 5 inches horizontally and dropped 2 feet 11 inches. Determine the speed of the vehicle at take-off.

Another for kicks?

Ex2: A car strikes a pole at 49 mph. Prior to impact it skids an average distance of 82 feet on asphalt with a drag factor f= .69 and grass for a distance of 13 feet 2 inches with a drag factor of f=.33. What was the speed of the vehicle at first braking.



Answers:
Ex: 37.058MPH (true speed)
Ex2:65.028MPH (lowest possible speed)

Chicago Aquarium

Just got back from Chicago visiting the in-laws. Nothing too exciting except we did go to the Shedd aquarium. They had lots of cool fish from all over the world. It was a large aquarium, taking several hours to get through the whole thing. Watched a short dolphin show (nothing I haven't seen), lots of eels, rays, sharks, and other things. My favorite part of the museum was a fish called an Arapaima. Anyone recognize it? Animal Crossing? Totally caught some of them on the game. Cool to see its a real fish, and very large.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Class

Went to a commercial vehicle enforcement class last Friday. Most of the class was learning about big rigs and their parts, how the parts work, and what rules they are supposed to follow. Most of the rules they are supposed to follow are not enforceable by police, so I don't know quite how valuable the class was. I did learn quite a few things about the trucks and a few things that I can look for that may be helpful. It was only a one day class, though, so not too bad.