Out of Control

In January of 1992, I was working as a police officer for the city of Big Lake, Minnesota. One day we received a call to check on suspicious activity in the local trailer park.

One of the reserve officers was riding with me at the time. When we arrived, I locked the doors as we both got out. As we were walking, I heard a car moving behind us. When we looked we saw that the squad car was in motion with nobody in it! I had neglected to put the vehicle in park.

We immediately ran towards the car. As I ran alongside the car, I tried to unlock the door. Seeing that I couldn't get the key in the door in time, I started kicking the front tire so that the car would avoid a pickup truck directly ahead. Luckily the squad car passed the truck by just inches. My relief was short lived. The squad car was now on a direct course for a trailer house! Once again I caught up to the car, and tried to unlock the door while running (not an easy task). I finally unlocked it. The reserve officer got the passenger door unlocked at almost the same time. He dove for the brake pedal as all I could do was hang on to the door frame to help slow the car.

Fortunately the car came to a rolling stop on top of a snow bank just 1-2 feet from the trailer. I'll never forget the look of surprise on the resident's face as he looked out his window at us. It was a humbling experience I don't think I'll ever live down. One good thing is I can laugh at myself, and someone can usually relate to it.

Kevin Hagen
Chief of Police
Richmond Police Department
Richmond, MN