SA: Coroner questions use of solo patrols

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
SA: Coroner questions use of solo patrols

ADELAIDE, April 12 AAP - A coroner has questioned the use of solo police patrols after
a 16-year-old youth was run down and killed by a police officer earlier this year.

In his finding into the death of Todd Best at Whyalla in February, South Coroner Wayne
Chivell said safety issues surrounding the use of lone patrols needed to be addressed.

Mr Chivell said Best had been arrested just before his death, but the officer put him
in the front of the patrol car instead of in the secure cage in the rear.

However after the boy tried to get out of the car, the officer decided to put him in
the back and it was then that Best fled.

The officer chased him across saltbush scrub in his car, but because of the dark conditions
failed to stop in time before running him over, causing fatal chest and abdominal wounds.

Mr Chivell said it was impossible to tell whether or not Best was lying down at the
time of the collision or whether he was running outside the range of the headlights.

He said, however, he accepted that the officer was not driving recklessly at the time
or had consciously put Todd at risk.

Mr Chivell said the policeman had to watch where he drove and look for Todd at the same time.

"If he had an observer with him, Todd may have been seen sooner and this tragedy may
not have occurred," the coroner said.

Mr Chivell recommended Police Commissioner Mal Hyde consider the safety issues associated
with solo patrols and the need for some guidelines for police on when the use of such
patrols was appropriate.

AAP tjd/rs/bwl

KEYWORD: TODD

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