Kenosha police officers save elderly man from burning car amid staffing issues
Jenny Goldsberry
Video Embed
Kenosha police officers pulled an elderly man from his burning vehicle Tuesday night.
The fire began with sparks at the wheel, according to their police vehicle’s dashcam. An elderly man was driving the minivan at about 9 p.m. when its tire went flat, resulting in the sparks.
“Officers tried to stop the vehicle but the 84 year old operator did not stop. The minivan erupted in flames and became engulfed with fire,” the department wrote in a Facebook post. “The minivan stopped and with selfless public service KPD officers ran towards the flames and pulled the driver to safety! Nobody sustained any major injuries. Thanks to the officers for their selfless service to community.”
TYRE NICHOLS CASE: MEMPHIS TO RELEASE MORE AUDITO AND VIDEO FOOTAGE AFTER INVESTIGATION
This comes amid staffing issues the department has faced ever since George Floyd was killed by then-officer Derek Chauvin, who has since been convicted of murder. Chauvin appealed his conviction in January, just as new Police Chief Patrick Patton took over the department after working there for 16 years. Floyd’s death resulted in riots that same year that resulted in two deaths. Ever since, Kenosha has seen fewer hires: as few as 48 applicants in 2020, which is less than half the applications received from 2015 on.
The department was able to hire 10 officers in 2021.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Wisconsin statewide had only 13,400 officers on duty last year versus 13,500 in 2021. Staffing was at its highest in 2008 at over 14,000. All the while, the state’s population has grown by 4%.