LB officer's death sparks discussion

The sudden death of Long Beach police officer Karl Duane Simons has sparked mixed responses from Cal State Long Beach Criminal Justice students and University police officers. The 26-year-old Simons died last Sunday night in a violent traffic accident while responding to a call on the Long Beach (710) freeway.

Sgt. Bonnie Myers, who has been working with the CSULB University Police for 18 years, said Simons' demise was a real tragedy.

"We never want a police officer to die, but we never expect them a police officer to die that way," Myers said. "The obvious fear is to die in a gun battle, and we don't expect to die in a violent traffic accident," she continued.

Myers explained that police officers, as part of their training at the Police Academy, are normally trained in defensive driving skills such as maneuvering over oil spills and rain-drenched roads in order to avoid an accident.

Myers also blamed some motorists as the cause of accidents involving police officers who are responding to a call. Drivers usually turn their radios at a high-volume level, and they wear earphones that prevent them from hearing a police squad car's wailing siren, she said.

Often motorists have conversations in their vehicles which can also distract their concentration while driving, Myers added.

"They need to be more alert of other drivers on the road, especially police officers," she said.

Tony Adams, a Criminal Justice senior who plans to enter law enforcement, said police officers usually prepare for physical confrontation. However, he asserted that despite driver training there is really no guarantee that an accident will not occur, especially during a high-speed pursuit of a suspect.

"Police officers prepare themselves for possible conflicts against angry family members causing a commotion, bar room brawls and gang-related incidents," Adams said.

Adams added that police officers are also instructed to use discretion in terms of continuing or terminating the chase.

Still, Adams shared the same response Myers gave, police officers expect to get shot during the course of duty rather than perish in a road accident.

Karl Duane Simons, 26, became the first Long Beach police officer to die in the line of duty in 15 years.