I will make this post short and sweet because most of  what I already discussed on in the Traffic Crashes section applies to law enforcement related crashes too. The main thing you are going to have to worry about is the cops. And there will be TONS of them there responding to the scene of where their buddie has just been hurt or killed. Cops really take care of their own and they are not gonna let some punk photog come in and get photos of their injured or dead fellow officer easily so be ready!

Cops know that an officer involved crash will definitely make news and almost expect the media to come out  but they will do everything they can to protect the officer’s privacy. As with all scenes I always recommend immediately shooting a photo as soon as you get on the scene, even as you are actually walking to the scene but for a scene like this you are really gonna have to think fast and get what you can quick.[private_pro] The moment they see you on the scene with a camera you are a target and if it is night and you are popping flash expect them to almost run at you! Remember when I said there will be tons of cops at the scene? Well those who are not actively involved in traffic control or with the patient will be looking for something to do and kicking out a photog is probably going be their number one priority. Well at least until other news crews arrive, because one photog is a lot easier to kick out than when the entire news market comes out to the scene. You obviously want to get the photos of the scene way before other cameras get on the scene but remember that also makes you the first target to the cops. So especially in a night scene try to remain as stealth as possible without looking too suspicious.. use ambient light and high ISO to get the shots and pop flash only as last resort… because that will probably blow your cover and be the last shot! If you the crash you are responding to is daytime then stay back and work the scene with a zoom lense and only creep closer once you have some usable images.

Depending on the circumstances that caused the crash emotions can be very high and cops will sometimes act irrational and sometimes crazy that’s just my opinion though. If a fellow officer is killed in the crash and you are the only photographer there snapping photos of the scene be prepared to get harassed because it will happen! Obviously cops can’t go to crazy taking memory cards out of cameras and totally block the press from what is obviously a newsworthy event but they will make it very hard for you. Like I said cops are really protective of their fellow officers and will stop at nothing to prevent a news photog from getting too close. Sometimes the best thing that you can do  is blend in with a large crowd that has gathered because it is easy to take a lone photog and put him in the back of a patrol car then an entire crowd snapping cell phone camera pics.

Money Shot

The money shots are similar to regular traffic crashes but with some specific story telling elements.

• Officers crying
  If the officer involved in the crash is dead then there may be cops on the scene that are crying on the actual scene, get that photo.
• Mangled cars
  People are used to seeing shiny police cars, so when a patrol car is involved in a major crash the visual impact is huge. Make sure you can clearly see that the vehicle is a police car with the lightbar and the logo visible in the frame.
• Brass
  When an officer is involved in a crash it is a high possibility that there will be “top brass” such as the Chief of Police or the Sheriff that may show up at the scene to console officers or to see the crash first hand. Shoot them at the scene because in some cities it is rare to have a photo of the Chief or Sheriff on an actual scene other than giving a press conference.
• The Patient
  The obvious money shot would be the officer in a stretcher surrounded by fellow officer or laying in a stretcher with another officer holding his or her hand. Keep an eye out for officer showing very close contact such as kissing or hand holding the injured officer. Many officers have family members such as brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers or even spouses working in the same dept. Once word gets out that their family member or spouse has been injured in an MVA while working, expect them to come to the scene or hospital. Photograph anyone who has close or intimate contact with the patient, they can later be identified as a loved one and if the officer later dies it can be a powerful photo.[/private_pro]