What a Great Idea!

A late comment, time being what it is, but a very timely one I think.

Heather Locklear just got locked up for DUI. Aside from the arrest itself, on the TMZ website is a picture of a CHP Officer using his cellphone, w/ camera, to document the arrest and the subsequent handling of the prisoner. The website states that the cellphone is NOT CHP issue but is in fact the officer's personal phone. It goes on to state the officer is using the phone to document all phases of the field arrest in order to both insure the integrity of the arrest and to protect all officers from later allegations of mis-conduct or impropriety. It also states that all pictures obtained have been turned over to the Santa Barbara County DA's Office for processing and later use in court.

This is one DAMM SMART COP !!! By using on-hand technology, policy notwithstanding, this officer has insured tht everybody is gonna get a fair shake and also protect everybody from any accusations of brutality or special treatment. If the CHP Commissioner has a problem with this, I would sincerely suggest that they think about the fallout of another Hollywood name claiming to get 'special treatment' and having nothing to support the officer or Agency.

Using the phone was not only the smart thing to do, it was the perfect example of using technology available to serve more than 1 purpose and still staying within the limits of legal policy, process and procedure. If this officer was in FTO status, and I had to rate them on a DOR, I would 'max' them out on initiative, procedure, report writing and documentation of the arrest.