"COPS" TV Show Film Crew in Portland MVA

[DickH]

A COPS TV show film crew was riding in an unmarked Portland police car when it was hit head-on by a civilian car
that swerved over to the wrong lane. I'm not sure if they were actually filming at the time of the crash.
They were not responding to a call.

Shortly after 9PM there was a report of an accident with a car overturned and someone
pinned in at 136th Ave. and Stark St. Further reports said a police car was involved.
When Engine & Truck 7 arrived they reported an MPS (Multiple Patient Scene).

Unmarked Police Car on left was hit head-on by a civilian car. It overturned, right.
Both drivers, the COPS film crew and another policeman were transported
to the hospital. It was reported that the injuries did not appear to be life threatening.

A second COPS film crew is on the left.

Engine 7 and Truck 7 crews packaging a victim.

Dusty Miller manning Engine 7s protection line.

Lt. Dave Barron, Engine 7, looks over the wreckage.

Some photo gear still in the back seat of the police car.

Packaging the second police officer.

"COPS" photo equipment, on the ground, seems to have been damaged.

 

[Net-5]

Wow! I read about this in the Oregonian, but this is the first time I have seen any photos of the scene. We live so far away from Portland that we can't receive their TV news down here. So thanks for posting these!

It will be interesting to find out what caused the POV to "swerve." I hope they did a blood draw on the driver, in order to determine if they were drunk or otherwise chemically impaired. Looks like an awful wreck... Can you imagine what was going through the minds of the responders, when they realized that it was a PPB car that got totaled? I'll bet it was a very rough ride for the COPS people, too. No air bags to protect them from smacking the cage upon impact.

At least this ended better than what happened to Kirk Huffstetler...

 

[KE7JFF]

Well, maybe the camera was going when this all went down....

I know a COPS filming crew got into an accident before I think in St Louis...

 

[SCPD]

Well, maybe the camera was going when this all went down....

I know a COPS filming crew got into an accident before I think in St Louis...

The accident happened in Denver, CO and it was two COPS crews in two separate cop cars that crashed at an intersection. Then of course a producer of COPS was arrested for DUI in Atlanta, GA while on assignment to film local PD for COPS. Another founder/producer for COPS fell of a cliff playing around on the Oregon coast with his girlfriend.
As you can probably tell I have been a COPS fan for a long time.

 

[KE7JFF]

The accident happened in Denver, CO and it was two COPS crews in two separate cop cars that crashed at an intersection. .

That's right, it was Denver! Thanks. Dunno why I was thinking St. Louis.

 

[Net-5]

The accident happened in Denver, CO and it was two COPS crews in two separate cop cars that crashed at an intersection. Then of course a producer of COPS was arrested for DUI in Atlanta, GA while on assignment to film local PD for COPS. Another founder/producer for COPS fell of a cliff playing around on the Oregon coast with his girlfriend.
As you can probably tell I have been a COPS fan for a long time.

A little off topic, but as you seem to be a dedicated COPS fan, maybe this is something that you would know?

Do you know of any sources that would have the COPS episodes from Portland, Oregon during the mid to late 1980's? I'm specifically interested in anything featuring the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, John Bunnell/SIU and Loren Caddy in particular. John Bunnell went on to host "World's Wildest Police Videos" on FOX (later syndicated) and Loren Caddy was the long time MCSO Sgt in the Portland COPS episodes with the white hair. I had the opportunity to work with Loren for a few years (after he left the street) and he is a terrific guy!! I'd love to watch these old episodes again but they never seem to rerun them anymore, even in the repackaged "Street Patrol" programs that are made up of old COPS episodes. Any ideas on where to find these? FOX has not included much of these in their video collections, either (that I know of)...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[joescanner]

A little off topic, but as you seem to be a dedicated COPS fan, maybe this is something that you would know?

Do you know of any sources that would have the COPS episodes from Portland, Oregon during the mid to late 1980's? I'm specifically interested in anything featuring the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, John Bunnell/SIU and Loren Caddy in particular. John Bunnell went on to host "World's Wildest Police Videos" on FOX (later syndicated) and Loren Caddy was the long time MCSO Sgt in the Portland COPS episodes with the white hair. I had the opportunity to work with Loren for a few years (after he left the street) and he is a terrific guy!! I'd love to watch these old episodes again but they never seem to rerun them anymore, even in the repackaged "Street Patrol" programs that are made up of old COPS episodes. Any ideas on where to find these? FOX has not included much of these in their video collections, either (that I know of)...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I get the bunnell episodes regularly on my tivo.

 

[KE7JFF]

I think its G4 or Spike that shows the golden oldies of COPS regularly and they have shown Portland from that time period. Nothing like watching the LAPD ones with the sound of MODAT

 

[hellonwheelz3]

Hey Net 5, are you a cop? (current, retired or otherwise)

 

[Net-5]

Hey Net 5, are you a cop? (current, retired or otherwise)

Why do you ask?

 

[hellonwheelz3]

Why do you ask?

I just was reading that you had worked named Loren Caddy that you used to work with. The reason that I asked is because my gf's dad is a retired Deschutes County Sherriffs deputy. I was just curious

 

[Net-5]

I just was reading that you had worked named Loren Caddy that you used to work with. The reason that I asked is because my gf's dad is a retired Deschutes County Sherriffs deputy. I was just curious

Okay, no problem... I was with another LE agency (not MCSO at that time) and Loren had come out of retirement to work as an investigator back at MCSO. That is how I first met him, and we knew people in common, too. Loren is one of the finest guys that I've ever met. Old school and a steady, honest and hard working man. I'll never forget him.

Meanwhile, I'm retired now...

It really seems like a small world at times, once you get to talking to people about LE in Oregon.