Published by Raymond Ray
Article and Photos by Malia Dietz
We got a chance to spend some time on the beat, riding with Officer Chris Carter, the Public Information Officer for the Arrowhead Area California Highway Patrol.
Our local Arrowhead CHP officers start their day just like many others across California. Here on the mountain, these officers have to prepare a little differently than officers in other areas. Varying and extreme weather conditions, wildlife, mountain roads and unique terrain add an element mostly only seen in the mountain regions.
Each day they start off with the morning briefing where they will be informed of any special assignments or events that might need their attention. Any “Be-on-the-Lookout” (BOLO) alerts that may have come up since their last shift will be discussed. There will be a roll call and area assignments. The officers load their gear in their unit for that shift which can include rain gear, tools, trauma bag, flashlight, and other equipment that helps them to serve the public. Then it’s off to patrol the mountain roads, watching for hazards and responding to reports of accidents, landslides, rocks in the road and anything else needed to promote the safety of the general motoring public.
Never knowing when they will get a lunch break, most officers bring their lunch from home as well as snacks for their shift. Many days, shifts are so busy that officers aren’t able to take a lunch break. Additionally, patrols take place in desolate portions of our mountain highways and there’s not always a convenient place to grab a bite to eat. Weather on the mountain is often unpredictable and our officers train for all types of road conditions. Installation of snow chains, removing rocks and debris from the roadway when possible and providing traffic control are just a few reasons an officer might find themselves standing on a highway in high winds, rain, snow or freezing temperatures both day and night.
Officers are trained to protect the public. We hear the “protect and serve” so many times that it might start to seem like a cliche. Nothing could be further from the truth. At any second, any of us could be faced with a flat tire, get in an accident, or find ourselves stuck in a snow storm. At a moments notice these officers are dedicated to arriving at your location, protecting you from oncoming traffic, and making sure a tow truck is on the way to rescue you.
Many motorists don’t realize exactly how much these officers do to protect a stranded motorist. Officers are trained to place their vehicle in between the stranded vehicle and oncoming traffic, closing lanes and using lights when necessary, to ensure the safety of those at the scene. Many of the communications and tasks done at such a scene require these officers to be in their unit while it’s being used as a barrier to protect the stranded motorist and all others at the scene. They do this full well knowing that they have placed themselves in line to be hit first in the event that a distracted, speeding or drunk driver comes around a blind turn barreling towards the people stuck at the scene that they are trying to protect.
Conversely, you and your family could be driving up or down the mountain and come around the corner and instantly come across an accident scene, broken down vehicle or boulders blocking the lane. You might find yourself in that situation with no way to avoid getting into an accident. Responding to such scenes as fast as possible, these officers are trained to manage incidents in a way that allows you, in oncoming traffic, to see a hazard beforehand and avoid a secondary collision. In these ways, everybody, both those involved in a scene, as well as everybody in oncoming traffic are protected, many times up here, by a single officer in a single unit.
At the end of a shift, the officers return to the CHP office in Running Springs, unload their vehicle and head home to their spouses and children. In our winter weather they are probably wet, cold and tired. But rest assured, the officers will be back at it again the next day, fully ready, dedicated and willing to protect our families, promote safety on our highways and keep us all safe as we travel these unpredictable mountain highways.
Some officers live on the mountain, others commute from the regions down the mountain. Many are your neighbors, their kids might be in your kid’s class and you might even find yourself standing next to one in the checkout line at Stater Brothers when they are off duty.
Officers would like to warn the public about changing weather conditions and want to ask you slow down, plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get to your desired destination. In California Use of hazard lights is NOT permitted while driving, except in emergency or other specified scenarios. Use of high beams in the fog is discouraged, as the glare can obscure vision for both you and other drivers. Remember to carry snow chains in ALL vehicles regardless of your drive-train while driving in the mountains as conditions can change as any time. Make sure you check your fluids, tire tread and tire pressure often. Carry an emergency kit with food, blankets, flashlight and other supplies you might need in the event of adverse conditions causing you to get stranded for an extended amount of time.
By doing those simple things, you can help make those unavoidable situations easier for everybody, you and your passengers, as well as the officers who are ready 24 hours a day whenever you might need them.
