YOUR COMMENTS

This is no surprise, and shouldn't be to anyone else. Cops no matter weather State, or Municipal stick together. They get to investigate themselves, why can't we do the same? Well because we would not do a very good job of investigating ourselves, for good reasons, no one wants to get in trouble. So why do we believe that the police can do a better job of investigating themselves? Like politicians, who are allowed to control who and how an investigation is conducted. Now it does matter who and what the crime is, as to how hard the investigators will pursue, but it also matters just how much preasure from the public as to how hard they try to find the truth.
- Towgo, Solon, Maine

Someone prior to me was dead on about the capabilities of the SP TAR team vs. others. Not a single member of the SP unit is nationally accredited; the Strafford County team, which started the investigation in question, has 4 of the 6 LE accredited reconstructionists in NH, which has a total of 17 The state and county attorney offices have frequently turned to local, county and private recons on SP cases because they have no confidence in the SP work. The UL should really have someone take a close look at this...it will be an eye-opener
- John, Dover

Speaking of bad policy I know a few officers, and some officers wives that have a little blue reflective line on the back left of their automobiles.

This line indicates to officers on patrol that they are either a police officer themselves, or they are related to an officer.

After learning this I started looking for police officers non work cars to see if they all had the blue line... which they do.

I know people who have not gotten a ticket now that they have the blue line on their cars, I think everyone should put a piece of blue reflective material on the bottom left side of your bumper..

if you need to know the size just drive by an officers house, or their cars while they are on patrol if they leave their cars at the station...
- Chris, Merrimack

J from Concord wrote"...posts just dripping with jealously..." Jealousy of what I might ask? being a Trooper? C'Mon man....

You also wrote: "do you really think any trooper could be investigated by a local agency without some level of bias?" Answer: Absolutely! I certainly think any results of the local (had it been Rochester) would be scrutinized by SP TAR unit to make sure it was completed correctly.

I suppose it may be hard to get accurate data from the crash scene, seems a Trooper drove through the debris field and crime scene tape put up by Rochester Police to protect the dignity of the scene. Who messed that one up? State Police.

State Police seem to be making the news a lot of late with tales of stupidity. trust me when I tell you this J from Concord, no one is at all jealous they can't work for the State Police right now. That agency has become a joke!!
- Thomas, Concord

where was the Union eader when the manchester Police Dept. was investigationg Dale Robinson when he threw an old man across a hallway? Robinson works for the MPD and was a deputy police chief, but was found to be defending his office, when a judge saw the case and the video of the incident he made Robinson pay for the damages. You guys at the UL are ridiculous.
- mike hammer, manchester

Wow. I never realized that so many people "think" they know what goes on at the Dept. of Safety and State Police Headquarters.

The bottom line is that if the Trooper is found at fault then the conclusion of the crash will state just that. All of you "nay sayers" should request a copy of the crash report when it is completed to see for yourself how the investigation was handled.

I also can say without a doubt that the State Police will not cover up for anybody. If you as a Trooper screw up and the evidence shows you screwed up then you will be disciplined for it. "Frank from Manchester" is very correct. The State Police administration is very tough on it's own employees. Troopers get counseled, letters of warning, suspended, terminated and even arrested by the investigative branch.

I think very highly of every Trooper and local police officer in the state. Some are mediocre, some are good and some are extremely talented and brave. I suspect that most of the comments made are by people who haven't spent much time, if any, in law enforcement. And most of these posts are trying to pit the Troopers against locals or vice versa. The fact of the matter is that the huge majority of law enforcement officers get along very well personally and professionally.
- Don, Rochester

The real story here is the violation of New Hampshire law and what is the Governor going to do about it? First why are state police investigating their own crash in a city where they have no legal jurisdiction? That decision was made at the top of State Police Col. Frederick Booth according to news reports. Secondly you have a Trooper that crossed a well defined police line by all accounts who should have gone away in handcuffs, like any citizen would have, why didn't it happen? Why didn't Rochester Police stand up to them and arrest that Trooper for breaking the law in their own city? Why wasn't that law I read earlier about destroying evidence upheld? Some Lieutenant on State Police said they protect all crime scenes, certainly sounds like they didn't do it in this case. This case really points out just how incompetent and clueless state police are, they don't even know they broke the laws unreal? The Attorney General can't investigate it. He works for the Governor as does Col. Booth and Public Safety Commissioner Barthelmes. Anyone who knows anything about politics will know that Governor Lynch will tell the Attorney General to investigate it and clear State Police because the Governor doesn't want any dirty laundry and corruptness going on under his watch and tarnishing him. Sounds like the FBI and the US Attorney General need to start a Federal Investigation into all that went on here. Time for NH citizens to take back their state from law breakers wearing green uniforms and start calling your state legislators to make sure this doesnt get swept under the rug.
- Helen McMahon, Salem, NH

Having done several police internships, I can tell you State Police are a joke. There was a reason why the legislature only game them jurisdiction and arrest powers in small towns of less than 3,000 people. Ninety-five (95) percent of State Police do nothing more than chase taillights, arrest DWI's and write speeding tickets. They are hardly the police officers and criminal investigators their egos think they are. They go to the same police academy as every other police officer in the State of NH. Leave the real police work to the professionals. The City cops are the experts in criminal investigation because they do 95 percent of it overall. They should have been the ones doing the investigation within their own jurisdiction. How State Police get away with this stuff is beyond me. Maybe our Governor and State Legislators elected by the people should investigate this and pass laws so this doesn't happen again.
- Crystal Ricard, Concord, NH

Wow, am I the only one seeing these posts just dripping with jealously and riddled with incorrect or flat-out fabricated information!?!?!

It's no wonder the State Police want to investigate this collision. Based on the majority of these posts, obviously made by local police officers, do you really think any trooper could be investigated by a local agency without some level of bias?

Why don't we wait until the investigation is complete? Oh, thats right, if the trooper is found to be not at fault everyone will scream "COVER-UP!" But, if he IS found at fault then there will be a collective, "Good! But the next one will be a cover up."
- J, Concord

As a police officer please let the public investigate their own accidents, seeing as how both sides are "never at fault." It would save me and other officers many hours of paperwork and phone calls each and every week because no one ever accepts that they caused the accident.
- Eric, Manchester, NH

when are you people going to understand the laws are for you not the police
- tom, belmont

Mike Delaney (Attorney General) will never investigate the Department of Safety. He is fearful of this agency and does not have the fortitude to address these issues. Not to mention his office could you a little more oversight as well. The NHSP should be audited and adjustments should be made. Why do they have a SWAT team when 90% of the state is covered by regional SWAT teams that are much more professional than state police. An audit of the NH SWAT teams found the state police team to be the worst of the group. Why are we spending money on this team that does not have the ability (per the audit) to respond to critical incidents with the required number of SWAT members. This is just one issue of many that are ignored by the terrible leadership at the Department of SAfety. Booth is hollow and has provided no leadership to an agency that is becoming marginalized.
- Dave, Weare

Another black eye for the state. They are not above the law and this action makes us all suspicious.
I am a past police commissioner of Rochester and I can attest that we have the most qualified accident reconstruction team in the state and for the ST to tell us to back off is highly insulting to a department that has worked so hard in being the best.
Paul, Rochester
- Paul Dumont, Rochester

The SP should have let another agency handle this accident.
This issue should be looked into.
- G. Paul, Concord

Chris….what are you rambling about. The Rochester police department should have been allowed to conduct the investigation and allowed the state police to investigate along with them. In not allowing the Rochester police department to be part of the investigation, the state police made sure that they control the evidence.

From all accounts, the police officer made a bonehead move, just like another police officer did north of Rochester a few months ago, almost killing a motorcyclist. Let face it, any driver knows that you signal, look before you turn and enter the roadway when it is clear. When you see the police on the side of the road with all the lights flashing, it hard to identify that one lone flashing light on the left side that says “I am about the cut you off”.

The state police know that this will be bad publicity for them, but not as bad as it will be if they do not control the evidence and the whole truth comes out. If the state police wanted any chance of proving that they were not 100% at fault, they would let the Rochester police department be part of the investigation so that the Rochester police department could substantiate the findings. However, they do not what the REAL findings substantiated.

I think a lot of citizens want an investigation of actions of the state police and if they are as reported in the news accounts, Col Booth should be fired.
- John Smith, Bernardston MA

In response to Frank from Manchester:

You wrote,"Those who think the State Police want to investigate this to "cover" it up...you could not be further from the truth. I know for a fact a trooper was found at "at fault" for hitting a deer, when the rest of the public is found "not at fault" when they hit deers"

My question: How fast was this Trooper going? How many prior accidents had said Trooper been involved in prior to? I believe I know the answers, therefore, make sure you're honest Trooper.
- Thomas, Concord

It is called "CYA". They have to cover themselves in case one of them violated the law.
- Bill, Wolfeboro

About 20 years ago the SP and the local PDs sat down and divided up the state. The SP got the highways and major crimes and the locals got everything else. This was a political move done for the SP and locals and not for NH citizens. The resulting law states that the SP can't go into a town with more than 3,000 residents unless the local chief or selectmen request it. This was for them, not for you or I. The result is RSA 106-B:15.
I support the police. But in this state they occupy an ivory towner which is not always so white.
They are imperfect but no one holds them accountable. No one. They consistently break the speed limit without cause and spend more time on their cell phones talking to there wives as well as sitting in the U turns talking to one another.
- Jack Judd, Concord

I have to disagree with Chris from Goffstown. I don't believe SP has the best accident team in the State. There are plenty of other agencies with very educated, well qualified accident reconstructionists. Rochester for example has a great team.

"Let the pro's investigate their accidents." So SP is a "pro" Police agency? Are the local agencies "semi-pro?" Is Rochester, Portsmouth, Dover, Concord, Lebanon, Manchester, Nashua, Hudson, Salem, Littleton, Keene, and many other towns/cities all inferior to State Police? Does stopping cars and sitting behind broken down cars make SP better? I would say many "local" cops are better qualified, more experienced than most Troopers. "locals" handle a much heavier case load, respond to more calls for service, and therefore have more experience. I'd take a veteran city cop over a veteran Trooper any day of the week.

Unionleader, I feel a reporter should investigate why the Troopers handle their own accidents. Also look into what happened that day, did NHSP Troopers break the law by interfereing.

I have no doubt if this was a "local" who crashed and his shift mates drove through SP crime scene tape, that charges would have been coming.
- Thomas, Concord

Jack Alex from Manchester...your comments as well as many others are clearly based on myth, rumor, or your own UNEDUCATED opinion. State Polilce can (as can any person in this state) can drive on any road any time they want. AND, can take enforcement action on any violation they see. They are in Manchester all the time, and are also part of a gang task force teamed up with Manchester PD.

JEFF from Manchester...savings from not having issued cars? Do just a little research. Many studies...nation wide..have been done over the years. All have proven that take home cars save agencies money. The cars last longer, have less mechanical problems, etc. This is a fact.

Trooper live anywhere from 5-60+ miles to the closest barracks. In many areas of the state, there is not 24hr police coverage (by the state or local towns) instead, everyone relies on a trooper being woken in the middle of the night to respond.

Those who think the State Police want to investigate this to "cover" it up...you could not be further from the truth. I know for a fact a trooper was found at "at fault" for hitting a deer, when the rest of the public is found "not at fault" when they hit deers.

One only needs to google the last year to see that the state police administration has arrested their own, investigated their own, battles their own on a regular basis, and perhaps eats their own. Trust me...the administration does not cover up for the troopers...if anything..they go out of their way to find wrong doing.
- Frank, Manchester

American standards for law enforcement employment are set too low.
- Mel, Manch

This is not right and is being tolerated by the people. Who can do something about this? Are the NHSP untouchable? An innocent Canadian sat in the Grafton County Jail for a year because of trooper antics like this. He was found innocent as the NHSP case was so one sided. This is so wrong yet continues.
- Steve, Franconia

Do most of you people realize how many Local towns the State Police cover past 5pm. Everyone seems to bad mouth S.P. (or every police unit) until they are needed..

SP have the best accident team in the state... by far. That accident probably took hours to investigate. If you would like your local police department to sit there for hours as well and do the investigation, RATHER than patrolling your streets... I think you need to re-think the situation. Sometimes that may be your towns 1 and only officer on duty... or sometimes that trooper might be your help when you call.

I’m not arguing the accident or how they do business. I’m stating that SOME people are so quick to cut down another agency no matter what they actually do for them. Sure they can be jerks... but when back up is 20 minutes away do you really think they want to give any indication that they are soft? Cut them a break is all I’m saying. And yes police officers get into accidents. Their officer is a motor vehicle driving 99% of their shift. Just odds alone should tell you that accidents with Police will happen! How many accidents have most of you been in during your life time while spending a fraction of the time in a vehicle. And don’t go off saying " well they working in a vehicle they should be better drivers and avoid accidents." How many times do you see pro athletes make a bone headed mistake on something they do every day. IT happens is all I’m saying. Let the pro's investigate their accidents.

--- Though I don’t agree with completely shutting out the local cops right from the start I still say let SP handle their accidents.
- Chris, Goffstown

It's actually pretty simple under motor vechicle law, who caused the accident.

The state trooper did by making a illegal u-turn.

Whats so hard about that being held accountable and responsible.

If thats not the outcome then it's time to clean house at State Police HQ and assign a independent oversight.

As far as State Police in Manchester and Chief King, the state police were told more than enough times you only come in when you're invited. Thats why you normally only see them traveling state roads unless they are going to court.
- Jack Alex, Manchester

Most of these (Sunday) comments are way off base. Completely untrue. There has been a tremendous amount of disrespect directed at the State Police over the last 40 years, the vast majority of it as a RESULT of the jealousy and contempt from the Chiefs Association in NH.

It was the Chiefs Association who used their political clout to force the State Police to send their troopers to the local police academy. The academy used to be run by the SP. It is now funded by tickets and other sources but run by local police in the form of influence of the Chiefs Association. NH is historically a locally controlled state with power to the local governments and not the State, so SP jurisdiction is limited to rural areas. By the way, Jeff in Manchester, State Police Troopers are assigned cars because they are rural troopers, live quite a ways from the barracks in many areas of the state and are on call for emergencies 24/7. I'm sure you'd appreciate a trooper having to drive 45 minutes to get his car, and then responding to your emergency. On top of that, the cars last much longer when they are maintained and driven by a single employee; they are held accountable for the condition of the car and maintenance.

As far as investigating their own accidents, that is not always the case and it may have been in this incident but I have seen many accidents in other parts of the state investigated by local police. I think that I'd prefer to have a department that was objective and fair, as well as qualified to investigate my accident. It doesn't look like too many of you folks would be objective!
- PF, Swanzey

The bottom line is that the state police can't play nice in the sandbox. Their arrogance and belief that they are the best law enforcement agency in the county is evident and has been that way since their beginning. It is too bad but it is the way it is. I remember when I was a kid, Chief King in Manchester wouldn't even let them into the city because if their antics. It will take Gov Lynch appointing an outsider to the head position. Maybe then we can resolve these issues. Ask yourself this question. Why does every trooper in NH need their own assigned vehicle. If your answer is that they are so rural, look at the NY State Police. They have 4,000 troopers and they aren't assigned cruisers. Just think of the savings!
- Jeff, Manchester

This is vintage Booth. Under his leadership the isolation and arrogance the State Police deservedly are tagged with continues. And why don't more departments speak out? Because the Department of Safety controls millions of dollars of grant money and decides in-house who gets what each year. Departments are rightfully afraid to speak out because the State Police are famous for backhanded retribution. Governor, your choice of Barthelems for Commissioner continues to backfire. When are you going to clean up the leadership at Safety?
- Roger Williams, Deerfield, NH

This is a great opinion. In humility, which most troopers seem to lack, I believe that this article demonstrates precisely the role of "The Press". A role that is intimately woven with the people's government to provide another level of balance and oversight. The author's words are fluent, direct and challenging. Perhaps this should have been published as an ongoing investigative report as opposed to an opinion.
- Jay, Manchester

I lived in N.H. for 25 years. I moved back to Me. last year. Numerous times I saw where N.H.State Police have done exactly what they are doing now. In Me. that would never occur. Maine State police never investigate an accident involving one of theirs. It doesnn't remove all doubt from the publics mind but it certainly helps.
- Robert Nightingale, New Limerick Me.

The Trooper's act was a vilolation of law but the State police will claim his lights were on therefore allowing the trooper to commit the violation. The standard issue civilian would get a ticket ASAP.
More importantly, the Rochester did NOT have to back off, they have the power and authority to act as Police Officers ANWHERE in Rochester. The backe off because of Political reasons and not legal reasons and the reason the State Police an Rochester Officers engaged in their screaming match was that the Rochester guys would have issued the ticket and publically sai what we all know; The Trooper is at fault, period.
- Stan Lewis, Rochester, NH

106-B:15 Jurisdiction of Police Employees. – Police employees have jurisdiction on all turnpikes, toll roads and interstate highways and nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of local police officers. A police employee shall not act within the limits of a town having a population of more than 3,000 or of any city, except when he witnesses a crime, or is in pursuit of a law violator or suspected violator, or when in search of a person wanted for a crime committed outside its limits, or when in search of a witness of such crime, or when traveling through such town or city, or when acting as an agent of the director of motor vehicles enforcing rules pertaining to driver licenses, registrations and the inspection of motor vehicles, or when requested to act by an official of another law enforcement agency, or when ordered by the governor. No criminal case shall be abated, quashed, or dismissed and no evidence in a criminal case shall be suppressed or excluded because a police employee has failed to comply with the jurisdictional limits of this section, provided, that the police employee had a good faith belief that he had authority to act when he acted.

Rochester has a population of approximately 30,000. That is much more than 3,000. They have their own, highly trained Police force. This accident occurred within the City of Rochester.

So why is the State Police stepping in? If a Trooper did in fact drive through crime scene tape, & over crash debris, why is he not being charged with RSA 641:6 Falsifying Physical Evidence.

If the Troopers interfered with Rochester Police, could they be charged with RSA 642:1 Obstructing Government Administration.

If a Trooper causes a crash, he/she can be charged with a violation. It happens throughout the country when Police drive reckless/negligent and cause a crash. If Rochester PD was investigating an accident within the City, why can State Police interfere and not be charged?

Look into this a little more....
- Thomas, Concord

RSA 106-B:15 states that NH State Police jurisdiction is limited, and even when they do have jurisdiction, "nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of local police officers." End of story Mr. Booth.
- Tony, Rochester