Posted on 10/27/2002 5:03:51 PM PST by chance33_98
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Injured in the Line of Duty: Officer Jason Schechterle
Information Provided by the Police Department
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HistoryPhoenix Police Officer Jason Schechterle was badly burned when his police car exploded in flames after being hit from behind by a taxi Cab on March 26. The collision happened at 11:21 PM at 20th Street and Thomas while officer Schechterle was responding to a call. The Phoenix Fire Department was also in route to the same call and witnessed the collision. The Fire Department did a heroic job saving Officer Schechterle's life, freeing him from the burning vehicle. Jason received severe burns to his face, arms and upper body. He was transported to the Maricopa County Hospital Burn Unit, where he was treated until July 31st when he was finally transferred to the Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Unit. The Phoenix Police Department, and especially Officer Schechterle's coworkers at Central City Precinct, would like to thank everyone who has expressed concern over Jason's health since the time of the collision. Periodic updates on Jason's condition and a listing of events scheduled to help Jason and his family will be posted here. A Message From Jason SchechterleWatch this video as Jason personally thanks all those that have been very supportive during his recovery. High Speed | Low Speed News CoverageRecently the Arizona Daily Star ran a series of articles on Jason and his family. You can read these articles by clicking on the link below. "Trial by Fire" / Sunday June 9, 2002 E-mail JasonIf you would like to forward an e-mail in support of Officer Schechterle and his family you may do so directly from this page, click here.
Recovery UpdatesJason continues to do well recovering from his injuries. Check out more information on how Jason is doing by clicking on the News coverage link above.
You Can Help Jason and His FamilyMonetary Donation Information:A special account has been set up through the 100 Club at Arizona Federal Credit Union to receive donations for Jason's family. The account number is 488931. Please contact René Brugman at Central City Precinct, phone 602-534-6312, with any questions. Flowers, Cards, Gifts:Any items to be given to Jason and his family should be sent directly to the Central City Precinct station located at 1902 S. 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034. For further information call (602) 495-5005. If you would like to forward an e-mail in support of Officer Schechterle and his family you may do so directly from this page, click here. |
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Stepdaughter Kiley and son Zane now read to Jason Schechterle, whose fiery accident left him with poor vision.
Not sure to be honest, but I have noticed a lot of supposed problems with the crown victoria's being reported by police departments - not sure off hand if it is related though.
It's related. Taxi owners - the other major buyers of Crown Vics, are reporting Pinto Redux explosions at about the same rate as the cops are. If you're in a Crown Vic, drive fast to make sure that if you get into an accident, it's YOU that's doing the rear-ending instead of vice versa.
Indeed. Glad to see he is still alive to spend his time with the kids. Despite it all, he is a lucky man with a loving family. Godd bless em.
With taxi drivers, it's often the simple desire to make ends meet. The tend not to own their taxis, but instead rent them on a day by day basis from the local Taxi Baron. So a certain substantial percentage of his day's fares must be handed over to the Baron, they usually have to pay for their own gas, etc. And since rates are usually regulated in each city, they absolutely MUST drive as fast as possible in order to get more fares and thus make enough money to actually eke out a daily profit.
This isn't a defense of the driver's major screwup, of course, just an explanation.
Well, maybe someone needs to hold her "feet to the fire", so to speak. Maybe we can get a law requiring her to drive around in whatever wacked-up model that cops are forced to use.
Actually, Schecterle's accident occurred in March, 2001. It seems that the police model Ford Crown Victoria explodes when rear-ended. Schecterle was the fourth Phoenix-area officer to be involved in such an accident in the same short period of time, and the only survivor. The others were burned alive. We have watched his face being reconstructed since the accident; he has eyes again, and the beginnings of a nose.
Apparently Department policy won't let them buy Toyotas.
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