Talent police officer fired after patrol-car crash - February 19, 2005

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2005-04-20

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60 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, April 19, 2005   Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery  | Contact Us       SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Menu Guide   How To Guide   Health   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Real Estate Guide   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Passport to the Rogue Valley   SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad  TOP JOBS   EXTRA   Ashland News   NIE   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   Volunteer   Moving here?  eSouthernOregon   CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 19, 2005 Talent police officer fired after patrol-car crash A Talent police officer has been fired three weeks after crashing his cruiser into a utility pole to avoid a collision with an 82-year-old woman’s car. Darrin George was fired without cause under the conditions of his 18-month probation with the Talent Police Department, said Chief Bob Rector. The city does not have to cite reasons for firing a probationary officer, Rector said. George had been with the department a little more than a year, the chief added. George totaled the department’s newest patrol car — a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria — on Jan. 29 at about 9:50 a.m. after losing control of the vehicle on South Pacific Highway, spinning across all four lanes and smashing into a roadside pole. The officer was treated for minor injuries. Oregon State Police said George tried to swerve around a Honda Civic driven by Marie Gist of Medford. Gist pulled out of Farmer’s Market and into the path of George, who was driving in the highway’s left northbound lane, OSP said. When George moved into the right-hand lane, Gist did the same. George had turned on his lights and sirens en route to back up Phoenix officers who were investigating an alarm sounding at a business, OSP said. George told OSP investigators he was driving between 80 and 85 mph in a 50 mph zone. Gist was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. OSP determined George was not at fault in the accident. Mail Tribune Home  | Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives  |  Site Map  | Community  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Tatoos Advertisement s