A deputy chief at the Vancouver Police Department has made a public apology for causing a traffic accident in January after he was distracted by making a phone call inside his unmarked police vehicle.
Theres no excuse for a mistake like this and I urge other drivers to keep their attention fully focused on the road ahead, said Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke in a statement released by the VPD Wednesday night. The consequences of inattention can be very significant.
At about 5 p.m. on Jan. 4, Lemcke was driving south on Highway 99 just north of the 32nd Avenue exit when the collision occurred. Traffic had come to an abrupt stop as Lemcke was looking down to make a work-related phone call. When he looked up, he realized there was no time to stop, the statement said.
His vehicle collided with the one in front of him, causing enough damage that his car had to be towed from the scene. Police attended the accident and Lemcke was issued a ticket for driving without due car and attention.
There were no injuries and the couple in the car ahead drove off once the incident was resolved. According to the VPD, exemptions exist in legislation for police, fire and ambulance workers who may need to make calls in the performance of their duties.
VPD policy states that calls should be of a priority and duty related, and only made if other reasonable alternatives are not available. The VPD said it issued the statement after receiving numerous inquiries about the incident.
Lemcke is one of three deputy chiefs at the department who works closely with Police Chief Jim Chu.
