Massachusetts State Police Col. Marian McGovern vowed yesterday to confront an alarming increase in accidents involving state troopers, announcing a crackdown on drunk and distracted drivers, reports the Boston Globe. The tough stance comes after five accidents involving troopers in as many weeks, including one that resulted in a trooper’s death.
In the first two weeks of Operation Lighting, the addition of four extra patrols on Fridays and Saturdays in each of the state's five geographical areas, 24 suspected drunk drivers have been arrested. The department will continue setting up sobriety checkpoints across the state. The plan was quickly welcomed by Rick Brown, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, the troopers union, who has publicly called for more patrols on state highways.