September 2001 Media Releases

• September 28, 2001 — Troopers step up inspections of commercial trucks hauling hazardous materials
• September 28, 2001 — Patrol’s 137^th Academy Class graduates with 59 new troopers
• September 28, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety check on State Route 800 at milepost 34
• September 27, 2001 — Media Advisory - Patrol Graduation
• September 27, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint in Tuscarawas County
• September 18, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint this weekend
• September 12, 2001 — Mansfield correction officer charged with attempting to convey drugs
• September 12, 2001 — Patrol needs your help
• September 6, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint in Ravenna
• September 6, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint in Portage County
• September 4, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint this weekend
• September 4, 2001 — Safest Labor Day weekend in a decade

September 28, 2001 — Troopers step up inspections of commercial trucks hauling hazardous materials

Columbus -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported today, a statewide effort to enhance inspections of commercial truck drivers transporting hazardous materials on Ohio roadways. This effort is in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies across the country which will focus on safety. Troopers will increase the focus by performing Level Three inspections of commercial drivers carrying hazardous materials. A Level Three inspection consists of checking the drivers, credentials, operator license, endorsement, shipping paperwork, and destination.

The Division estimates that less than 10 percent of commercial trucks that travel through Ohio contain hazardous materials. "In the past five years, troopers have performed over 20,000 hazardous material inspections. Troopers will increase their efforts at platform scales locations and at random inspection sites," Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Ohio State Highway Patrol superintendent said.

Earlier this year, Ohio deployed PrePass at 15 locations, many of which are expected to be operational by the end of the year. PrePass is a sophisticated technology that enables qualified commercial motor carriers to comply electronically with Ohio safety and credential requirements at highway speed.

"PrePass will also enable enforcement to focus on those carriers most likely to be non-compliant. That means everyone benefits as we get more bad trucks and unsafe drivers off the road," Col. Morckel said.

September 28, 2001 — Patrol’s 137^th Academy Class graduates with 59 new troopers

Columbus -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol commissioned 59 new troopers today, including the Marine of the Year.

Brigadier General Cornell A. Wilson of the United States Marine Corps presented the Marine of the Year Award to graduating trooper Lisa Graham. Tpr. Graham is a Marine Corps reservist from Groveport and will be serving at the Statehouse.

The Patrol’s 137^th Academy Class graduated today after 28 weeks of rigorous law enforcement training. Dr. Alexander Weiss, director of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety and professor of management and strategy at the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University; Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent; and Major Peyton Watts, commander of the Office of Training, all addressed the graduates and presented their commissions and certificates of training.

Trooper Garland R. Kiser of North Olmsted was selected class speaker and thanked the Academy staff, family, and friends for their support during the training period.

Five of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various fields of study at the Patrol Academy. The honorees are:

• Overall performance - Tpr. Hollin C. Wenger of Orrville
• Top performance in academics - Tpr. Kevin W. Riley of Groveport
• Superior physical training achievement - Tpr. Phet Phong of Miamisburg
• Firearms performance - Tpr. Neil D. Laughlin of Blanchester and Tpr. Harley Steppenbacker of Brunswick

Each of the newly-commissioned troopers will report to their posts on Monday, October 1. The trooper’s first 60-days will be a field training period under the guidance of a veteran office. The new troopers are assigned to 26 of the Patrol’s 57 posts, as well as the Patrol’s Statehouse Security Unit.

September 28, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety check on State Route 800 at milepost 34

New Philadelphia -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed today that troopers will be operating a sobriety checkpoint tonight at 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. on State Route 800 at milepost 34, two tenths of a mile north of State Route 183.

Lieutenant Eric Escola, commander of the New Philadelphia Patrol Post, said that sobriety checkpoints are designed to encourage those who plan to consume alcoholic beverages to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements.

"Our ultimate goal is to deter drinking drivers from getting behind the wheel. The checkpoint will improve highway safety by removing impaired drivers from the road," Lt. Escola said.

September 27, 2001 — Media Advisory - Patrol Graduation

The 59 members of the Patrol’s 137^th Academy Class will graduate and be sworn in as Ohio’s newest state troopers.

Brigadier General Cornell A. Wilson, of the United States Marine Corps, will present graduating trooper and Marine Corps reservist Lisa Graham with the Marine of the Year Award during the graduation ceremony.

New Philadelphia -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, announced today that a sobriety checkpoint will be held in Tuscarawas County on Friday to deter and intercept impaired drivers. Lieutenant Eric Escola, commander of the New Philadelphia Patrol post, said that officers will be conducting a roadside check of drivers for alcohol and drug impairment.

"It is our intent to inform people that officers will be vigilant in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers. We want to impress upon those who will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements," Lt. Escola said.

The exact location of the checkpoint will be announced Friday morning. Support in operating the upcoming checkpoint will be supplied by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

September 18, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint this weekend

Columbus -- Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, announced today that troopers will operate a checkpoint to deter and intercept drinking drivers this weekend. The location of the upcoming checkpoint is currently undisclosed. The county in which the checkpoint will be held will be announced the day prior to the checkpoint, and the exact location will be announced the morning of the checkpoint.

"Although we have witnessed a decline in traffic fatalities this summer, it is our intent to inform people that officers will remain vigilant in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers. We want to impress upon those that will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements. Increasingly it appears that is just what they are doing. Often people are taking

the responsible course and planning not to drive if they are drinking," Colonel Morckel said.

Lt. Governor, Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Department of Public Safety, feels very strongly that checkpoints are effective in preventing the most deadly highway practice; driving under the influence. "Our ultimate goal is to reduce the number of highway deaths and injuries due to drunk and drugged driving. The combination of sobriety checkpoints, heightening public awareness and strictly enforcing laws is making the difference," Director O’Connor added.

Support in operating the upcoming sobriety checkpoint will be provided by local law enforcement agencies.

September 12, 2001 — Mansfield correction officer charged with attempting to convey drugs

Mansfield – A correction officer from the Mansfield Correctional Institution is facing felony drug charges today after he was found Wednesday morning with marijuana he planned to convey into Mansfield Correctional Institution. Troopers said Randy L. Scott, 27, of Mansfield, was charged with attempting to convey drugs into a correctional facility, a third-degree felony.

Troopers and Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigators developed information that Scott planned to pick up marijuana and cash to be later conveyed to a Mansfield Correctional Institution inmate. At 9:00 a.m. today, Scott was arrested by state troopers after he was found to be in possession of nine ounces of marijuana and $900 cash.

Scott was incarcerated at the Richland County Jail, and is scheduled to appear in the Mansfield Municipal Court on Thursday. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the third-degree felony.

September 12, 2001 — Patrol needs your help

Lancaster – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is requesting help in finding the vehicle involved in a hit-skip injury crash that occurred on Ebright Road, approximately one-half mile south of U. S. 33 in Franklin County around 7:45 a.m. today.

Troopers are looking for a late 1980s or early 1990s red Nissan Sentra believed to have damage to the windshield, right front headlight, and grill area. Based on witness accounts, the victim, who is a sanitation worker, was struck by this car while working on Ebright Road this morning.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this vehicle, or with other information about the incident, is asked to contact Lt. Richard S. Fambro at the Lancaster Patrol post at (740) 654-1523.

September 6, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint in Ravenna

Ravenna-- The Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed today that troopers and police officers, from the Ravenna Police Department, will be operating a sobriety checkpoint on State Route 14, at milepost 11, at the city of Ravenna’s corporation limit, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. tonight.

Lieutenant Alan Moore, commander of the Ravenna Patrol post, said sobriety checkpoints are designed to encourage those who plan to consume alcoholic beverages to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements.

"Our ultimate goal is to discourage potential drinking drivers. However, the checkpoint is designed to remove impaired drivers from the road and that is what we intend to do," Lt. Moore said.

September 6, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint in Portage County

Ravenna- - The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Ravenna Police Department, announced today that a sobriety checkpoint will be held in Portage County on Friday, Sept. 7, to deter and intercept impaired drivers. Lieutenant Alan Moore, commander of the Ravenna Patrol post, said that officers will be conducting a roadside check of drivers for alcohol and drug impairment.

"It is our intent to inform people that officers will be vigilant in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers. We want to impress upon those who will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements," Lt. Moore said.

The exact location of the checkpoint will be announced Friday afternoon. Support in operating the upcoming checkpoint will be supplied by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

September 4, 2001 — Patrol to hold sobriety checkpoint this weekend

Columbus -- Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, announced today that troopers will operate a checkpoint to deter and intercept drinking drivers this weekend. Currently, the location of the upcoming checkpoint is undisclosed. The county in which the checkpoint will be held will be announced the day prior to the checkpoint, and the exact location will be announced the morning of the checkpoint.

"Although we have witnessed a decline in traffic fatalities this summer, it is our intent to inform people that officers will remain vigilant in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers. We want to impress upon those that will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or to make other arrangements. Increasingly it appears that is just what they are doing. Often people are taking

the responsible course and planning not to drive if they are drinking," Colonel Morckel said.

Lt. Governor, Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Department of Public Safety, feels very strongly that checkpoints are effective in preventing the most deadly highway practice; driving under the influence. "Our ultimate goal is to reduce the number of highway deaths and injuries due to drunk and drugged driving. The combination of sobriety checkpoints, heightening public awareness and strictly enforcing laws is making the difference," Director O’Connor added.

Support in operating the upcoming sobriety checkpoints will be provided by local law enforcement agencies.

September 4, 2001 — Safest Labor Day weekend in a decade

Columbus – The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported today that Ohio experienced its safest Labor Day weekend in the past decade, with 11 fatalities in nine crashes on the state’s roadways. By comparison, 13 people were killed on Ohio roads over the 2000 Labor Day weekend. As part of the Labor Day weekend enforcement efforts, Patrol troopers made 715 DUI arrests, assisted 9, 976 motorists on Ohio roads, and participated in a sobriety checkpoint in Franklin County.

This year has proven to be the safest summer holiday weekend travel period on record in the past decade on Ohio roadways. Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day comprise the summer holiday weekend travel periods. The Patrol credited the motoring public with helping to create safer highways, particularly during what is traditionally a deadly holiday weekend.

"There is little doubt that the motoring public in Ohio deserves recognition for helping making this the safest, summer holiday travel season on Ohio roads in the last decade," Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent said. "We need the public to continue to remember that obeying all traffic laws, always buckling up, and not drinking and driving are among the best ways to ensure highway safety," Colonel Morckel added.

As a reminder, troopers encourage motorists to call toll-free 1-877-7-PATROL to receive highway help, and to report aggressive drivers or stranded motorists.

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