Weymouth officer killed during traffic detail

A police officer working a private traffic detail was struck and killed Monday by a pickup truck driven by an elderly man, investigators said.

[john smith]

Another tragedy involving a police officer.
Was it preventable? Was the officer at the detail watching traffic? Or was he on his cellphone? I hate to sound so callous when this tragedy has caused so much pain to the family, but really, how many times have we passed construction details and officers are not attentive to traffic, but instead seem focused on cellphones or the ongoing construction. Come on guys you have well paying jobs and details, pay attention and never mind blaming the elderly.

[The Officer]

This police officer was also an Iraq war hero, whose funeral was skipped by most of the media to cover the drunk killer Kennedy brother.

[Disgrace]

"John Smith", your post is a disgrace. I can see why you didn't use your own name. You should be locked up in an insane asylum! This brave cop and soldier was cut down by an elderly driver, who lost control of his vehicle. There was no place for the officer to go. May God have mercy on your soul, loser.

[Patriot]

I'm not defending Smith. Michael is a huge loss to the community, and my heart goes out to his family. We were at a get together two days before the tragedy, and it's hard to believe.

I'm going to say this though. I have been an advocate for slowing down traffic in Weymouth for years. Michaels uncle couldn't believe I didn't get arrested one day for going up one side of a cop and down the other for not issuing a speeding ticket at an accident where there were over 100 ft of skid marks, a collision, and the offender ending up over the sidewalk at a school bus stop and in a yard. On the same street, my stomach wrenched as I listened to the agonizing screams of a small girl who was struck entering her minivan by a speeder, and sustained a head injury. I asked the sergeant on the scene when they were going to slow down the traffic there? He said: "What do you want us to do? They're speeding all over Weymouth." Huh? How about stop hanging out killing time at the usual haunts, and write out some speeding tickets? Now, their own negligence has cost them one of their own, and a loss to us all. They need to do what they were trained to do and what they get paid to do. Slow the damn traffic down in Weymouth, especially the chronic offenders.

[OldOwl]

One year house arrest? Did I hear that right? So in the future if a cop pisses me off, I run him down, repent, and get sent to my room for a year? Such a deal!

[extremely sad]

This is a horrible death. Yes, what John whoever posted was cold and nasty and my thoughts and prayers are with the family. Although I don't know the reason for the accident, there was still a life lost. Yes, in agreement we have all made comments on officers using cellphones, drinking coffee, etc., some cops too often joke about it. This however was not the time nor place for it. Let's be honest and realistic, there are good and bad officers just like any other profession. A life was still lost regardless, there is pain for that family.

[OldOwl]

extremely sad wrote:

A life was still lost regardless, there is pain for that family.

Exactly. Not much punishment for taking a life, and destroying a family. JMO