Police Chief’s Cell Phone Distraction Causes Fender-Bender

Mark Mew said he was fiddling to turn off his iPhone and thought he saw the light change. He took his foot off the brake and struck the car in front of him.

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By KTVA CBS 11 News
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Story Created: Sep 28, 2011 at 9:10 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 29, 2011 at 7:16 PM AKDT

Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew may be in some hot water tonight, but some are questioning whether it's hot enough following a fender-bender the chief said he caused.

 
It happened at the intersection of Boniface Parkway and Debarr Road in east Anchorage last Tuesday.
 
The chief says he was fiddling to turn off his iPhone and thought he saw the light change. He took his foot off the brake and struck the car in front of him.
 
"I was sitting at a stoplight and it was binging so I turned it off and I started driving ahead before I got it back into my little holster there. I shouldn’t have done that. I mean, you need to pay attention to your driving and for a moment there I made a mistake and I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing,” said Mew.
 
He said there was no visible damage to the car he hit and that after an investigation, he was given an oral reprimand by the officer in charge, as is standard procedure in the police department for a first offense when an officer is involved in an avoidable accident, according to Mew.
 

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Where is the justice? said on Thursday, Sep 29 at 3:10 AM

Why did this officer not receive the same ticket that anyone else would get for the exact same incident? I know someone that did the exact same thing, clean driving record, had their license for 20 years and got a ticket for careless driving 4 points and $150 fine. So, where is the justice in a verbal reprimand, why does the exact same offense receive a different result?

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Mr. General Public said on Thursday, Sep 29 at 11:08 AM

Really... are you kidding me/us? He has the same excuse as anyone else. "I was (insert stupid admittance of guilt) ...!" Doesn't matter. Fact is you were following or stopped to close to the other vehicle, regardless of damage. What a way to show an example 'chief', I am sure your personal savings is worth the public trust. Not that APD has any public relation issues or anything ...lol - Personally I believe you should be held to a higher standard, either with self pride or by general standards of your office. It's ok to make mistakes we are all human, what you do after that mistake shows your true character. I think you should honestly review the case yourself, and then write your own citation. I implore you to do what is right, and show the public that "ALL" must be held accountable, and that "No One" is above the law.

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