CT P.O.injured: struck by Judge's vehicle

[Guest]

Question: would 'Joe Schmo', average citizen, have been handled the same way at the accident scene, after running over a Police Officer??

I hope Officer Picagli recovers and my thoughts are with his family and the New Haven FD.

October 20, 2006

Officer Is Struck by S.U.V. Driven by a Federal Judge, the Police Say

By ALAN FEUER

The New York Times

A New Haven police officer who has devoted his career to working with local children remained in critical condition yesterday after being struck while directing traffic by a sport utility vehicle driven by a federal appeals court judge, the police said.

The officer, Dan Picagli, suffered several fractures and a life-threatening head injury when he was hit about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday while on an overtime shift directing traffic on a dark, rainy section of Chapel Street, said Bonnie Winchester, a spokeswoman for the New Haven Police Department.

Ms. Winchester said the vehicle that struck him was driven by Judge John M. Walker Jr., a senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York. Judge Walker is a cousin of former President George Bush.

Officer Picagli, 38, remained under the care of doctors at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Ms. Winchester said.

He was standing on a dimly lighted stretch of Chapel Street in a black police raincoat and a yellow reflective vest when Judge Walker’s black Ford Escape sport utility vehicle struck him.

The judge stopped immediately after the accident, Ms. Winchester said, and officers at the scene determined that there was no reason to administer a field alcohol and drug test.

“He’s been very cooperative and very disturbed,†Ms. Winchester said. She added that Judge Walker had, in fact, called the department several times to check on Officer Picagli’s condition.

Officer Picagli, who has a wife and three children, has spent the last 10 years working for the New Haven Police Athletic League and organizing summer camps for local children, Ms. Winchester said.

He is the school officer at Fair Haven Middle School and oversees the Board of Young Adult Police Commissioners.

“He is just a wonderful human being,†said Francisco Ortiz, the New Haven police chief. “Those are the kind of guys you want in this business.â€

Judge Walker keeps chambers in New Haven, Ms. Winchester said.

It appears, she added, that he was simply driving home from work, perhaps to his house in Madison, Conn.

Judge Walker, 65, was appointed to the federal bench in the Southern District of New York in 1985 by President Ronald Reagan.

He was promoted to the Second Circuit, which handles federal appellate cases in New York, Vermont and Connecticut, in 1989 by his cousin, the first President Bush.

At the end of September, he stepped down as the chief judge of the appeals court, assuming the position of senior judge on Oct. 1, said John Coffey, the court’s deputy circuit executive

Edited October 20, 2006 by hoss

[IzzyEng4 427]

The answer is yes. It was purley an accident and the section of road where Off. Picagli was working was a hard section of road. He also did not have his reflective vest on and was in his normal patrol coat, whihc was dark in color so he had no reflective gear on. I think that he has just arrived at the OT / HCP job site not long before, so he wasn't really there long when he got struck.

The judge did what everyone should do, he stayed at the scene and got the same treatment a normal person would. He didn't even state he was a judge until he was being questioned during the investigation. If he ran from the scene and used his clout to get out of this, that would have been another story. The Judge was really upset about the accident, especially hitting a peace officer and injuring him. He is fully cooperating with NHPD

CSP's Major Crime Squad out of Troop I - Bethany barracks was called in to assist with maps and measurments. (I was working that night). My info came from a reliable source. I figure to put this info I have out there to clear up and doubts.

The Last that I have heard on Off Picagli was that he was still in serious condition with a several head injury and bi-lateral fractures to th elegs. The saving grace was that he was only blocks away from Yale-New Haven Hospital and everyone from NHPF, NHFD, AMR, Y-NH Hospital and C-MED dispatch worked hard and quickly to get him the care he needed.

I hope he has a speedy recovery and pray for his family. Off. Picagli is well liked throughout the community especially with the kids he works with in the neighborhoods.

[Guest]

IzzyEng4, thank you for your post. It gave us details that were not available in the press accounts and answers the question.

And that is one of the reasons why this Forum is important. It allows us to make judgements based on facts, not rumors or fiction.

I think there is nothing to add and request that the thread be closed.

[DOC22 1]

IzzyEng4, thank you for your post. It gave us details that were not available in the press accounts and answers the question.

And that is one of the reasons why this Forum is important. It allows us to make judgements based on facts, not rumors or fiction.

I think there is nothing to add and request that the thread be closed.

←

I agree. Only other items thst MIGHT need to be posted on his recovery progress. Thoghts and prayers for a full and quick recovery.