Home    Search

Published on Sunday, August 10, 2003
in the Florida Today

Trooper uses humor to diffuse situations

"Authority is like medicine. Use only the amount necessary to effect the desired result."

This is a lesson that not only is effective in law enforcement but in life, according to Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. James P. Rhyne, a 25-year veteran of the force and the shift supervisor of FHP's Cocoa district.

His interest in law enforcement began at an early age. As a child, he looked up to his father, a North Carolina state trooper.

"I always thought it would be interesting, and it was a respected profession. I recognized that my dad helped people and performed a service to the community, and I liked that."

Rhyne believes that for troopers to be successful they need to exhibit characteristics including strong ethical values, a good education, common sense and compassion. The ability to work with others is also an important strength troopers.

"The ability to hold an intelligent conversation and to negotiate compromise keeps troopers out of altercations. Plus, being 6-foot-4, 250 pounds is not a bad trait, either."

Rhyne makes his already fulfilling job even more interesting by finding opportunities beyond day-to-day activities.

"I worked as the Team Security Officer for the (University of Central Florida) football team for four years, and traveled all over the country with the team. I've even met with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office as the Florida representative of the National Troopers Coalition."

Question: What are some important lessons you've learned throughout your career?

Answer: 1. Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly. 2. Bullets hurt! Never stop a bullet with your body. 3. Take the time to be friendly. It's easier and less aggravating than being mean all the time. 4. Do not forget to take your gun to work.

Q: What is a typical workweek like?

A: We are on a 40-hour work schedule, with two consecutive days off, with eight-hour shifts five days a week. We rotate our shifts every 28 days (four weeks). Day-shift squad has weekends off. Night-shift squad has Monday and Tuesday off, and relief-shift squad (covers the other shift's days off) has Wednesday and Thursday off.

Q: What is a common problem you solve at work?

A: Determining fault in a crash and removing impaired drivers from the highways. Most of the time, crashes are the result of driver error. Impaired drivers create havoc and chaos on the road.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: My favorite part of this job has been assisting citizens when they were having troubles. Sometimes it involved as little as letting them use my personal cell phone to make a call. It might involve changing a tire for an elderly couple or even transporting lifesaving blood to a hospital 150 miles away as fast as I can drive.

Q: What is your common workday like?

A: There is no common workday, which is so great about this work. troopers can work one of three shifts, the day shift, night shift or midnight shift. Because of the nature of our job, we are reactive and respond to calls for assistance.

However, troopers also take a pro-active role in traffic safety by enforcing the traffic laws. Some days are relatively quiet, and some days are terribly hectic.

Weather plays a factor sometimes. Rainy days and holidays are always busy. Court dates many times interferes with the trooper's regular day off. Overtime is not unusual, either.

Q: What subjects in school do you use on a daily basis?

A: Let there be no doubt that my English teachers are giving me the "I told you so" now! Report writing is of paramount importance. Proper grammar and structure separate the amateurs from the professionals.

Mathematics has a role in accident reconstruction when determining velocities, angles of collisions, and other measurements critical to reconstruction.

Government studies comes in handy when dealing with constitutional matters such as arrests, search and seizure, and other situations having to do with laws.

Science and biology lessons pay off because troopers need to understand the effects of drugs and alcohol on the human body. Psychology is a valuable tool because it assists the troopers in understanding the diversities of the population. The lists go on.

Q: What are the responsibilities of your job?

A: A state trooper is responsible for upholding the laws of Florida, the state Constitution, and the Constitution of the United States. A trooper's main focus is on highway safety. A trooper's duty is to keep the peace, arrest lawbreakers and protect the citizens of Florida and their property.

My personal responsibilities extend further in that I am a supervisor. I not only maintain the duties of a regular trooper, but I also have the added responsibility of ensuring that they have the necessary equipment and skills to perform their jobs.

Q: What is your greatest challenge?

A: Trying to keep everyone happy, which is impossible. The public complains of speeders, yet they do not want to be caught speeding. Also, meeting my family's financial needs on my state salary is often a great challenge because we only get paid once a month.

Q: What is your least favorite part of your job?

A: Notifying the next-of-kin that a loved one has been killed in a crash. That is the worst part of this job, bar none.

Q: How do you prepare yourself when you are going to an accident site?

A: When dispatched to a traffic crash, the dispatcher generally advises of the seriousness of the crash as being reported to them. This dictates the type of response. If there are serious injuries or fatalities reported, a trooper usually responds with their blue lights and siren operating. This is because the trooper needs to stabilize and protect the scene, treat and arrange for transport of the injured, seek and preserve critical evidence and locate eyewitnesses.

While en route, the trooper is learning more information as it comes in, so they can determine from which direction to best approach the crash scene, and if they may need other troopers to assist with traffic control. Troopers respond to minor crashes by driving the speed limit, in order to prevent additional dangerous situations for the trooper or the public.

Q: Do you often see gruesome scenes at the accident sites?

A: Yes. The human body is very resilient. However, pretty cars become tons of jagged steel and glass when they collide with each other. The human body can't compete with such forces.

A trooper does not have time to dwell on the gore, nor do they ever get used to it. A trooper may become hardened to it, depending on how often they have to deal with fatal crashes, but it certainly takes a personal toll on the officer, especially when the victims are young people and in their teens.

Q: What type of education does someone need to be an accident investigator?

A: The Florida Highway Patrol Academy prepares troopers for accident investigation with training such as accident investigation, first responder (first aid), photography, evidence collection procedures, and practical reconstruction exercises.

Q: Is there any type of training that officers go through to prepare themselves for accident investigation?

A: Once on the road, a new trooper works under close supervision at crash scenes, learning to recognize and use the various techniques of accident reconstruction, gathering witness statements, collecting evidence, and determining crash causation. Select troopers advance into the field of Traffic Homicide Investigation, which requires those troopers to receive much more in-depth training and experience in accident reconstruction so that many become certified accident reconstruction experts.

Q: What is your work environment like (surroundings/dress)?

A: Although I spend some time in the office completing administrative duties, much of the time is spent out on the highways patrolling. Troopers drive distinctively marked patrol cars (black and tan), and wear distinctive uniforms.

Q: What are some opportunities you have to be creative?

A: Public relations depend on a trooper's creativity on dealing with each situation. Each situation demands a different response, so training and experience becomes crucial. Every situation allows for some creativity.

Q: How do you use technology?

A: Troopers have two-way radios in their cars, mobile data terminals (computers), portable breath-testing machines, semi-automatic pistols, fast cars and cell phones. Troopers can retrieve driver information over their MDTs right in their patrol cars, instead of having to call over the radio and have someone else check.

Q: What career path did you take to get to your current position?

A: I applied for with the Florida Highway Patrol in 1977 and was hired in 1978. I was a trooper in New Port Richey for three years and a traffic homicide investigator for another two years there. I was promoted to sergeant in 1983 and transferred to Miami. After two years, I transferred to the Orlando area, where I remained until transferring to Brevard County in 2002. I received my bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida in 2001 and am currently a graduate student there.

Q: Do you have any advice for teenage drivers?

A: Here's my advice, having served with the Florida Highway Patrol for over 25 years:

1. Always wear your seatbelt. Nothing can guarantee that injuries will not occur in a crash, but one's chances of reducing the severity of injuries is directly correlated to the proper use of seatbelts.

2. Never drive after drinking alcoholic beverages, or after using drugs that impair one's physical or mental abilities, even if those drugs are legal.

3. Allow plenty of distance between your car and the one ahead of you. This gives you more time to react to an emergency situation and make the right decision on what to do.

4. Slow down considerably when driving in rain, fog or any other inclement weather conditions. The maximum speed limit applies to when conditions are optimum.

5. Do not become distracted when driving. Listening to music, chatting with the passengers or talking on the telephone can and do distract one's attention from the task of driving. Driving safely is the most important task, so keep the attention focused there.

6. Carry a current form of identification at all times. If someone gets hurt and cannot speak for themselves, it is imperative that the trooper be able to locate next-of-kin. P.O. Box addresses on the driver's license are of no use in an emergency. Be sure a home address is available.

7. Lastly, drive defensively. Drive like your life depends on it, because it does.

Teen drivers are especially at risk, simply because they do not possess the experience older drivers have. Teen drivers today may have more skill than elderly drivers who never had formal training, but the experience is the most important factor.