PPD's Mike Wood on Fire Suppression Tools, Flock Camera Fallout, and Another Escaped Pig
Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Pensacola Police PIO Mike Wood joined Pensacola's Morning News on Thursday after returning from a week at a national conference for public information officers, where departments from around the country compared notes on everything from Flock cameras to teen takeovers to lessons learned from the deadly flooding in Texas earlier this year.
Pushing for Fire Suppression Devices in Patrol Cars
Wood has been promoting a small aerosol device called a fire suppression tool that he believes could give officers a real edge at house fires, where police are often first on scene, sometimes minutes ahead of the fire department. The device releases an aerosol within eight seconds of being thrown into a burning room and can knock down a fire in about 30 seconds, according to Wood, without depleting oxygen in the space. He compared it to Narcan and defibrillators already carried in patrol cars, noting the device has a 15-year shelf life regardless of temperature. Wood was careful to note it wouldn't replace the fire department, but could buy critical time for people to escape or for firefighters to finish the job once they arrive.
Flock Cameras Solved Burglary at NASCAR Driver's Home
Wood shared another example of how Flock cameras have helped solve crimes locally, this one tied to NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. After Biffle's wife and two young children died in a plane crash in December, someone broke into his home and stole trophies, cash, and other items. Wood says a Flock camera helped investigators locate and arrest the suspect. He acknowledged the frustration many officers feel now that the cameras are offline following the state's order to remove them from state road rights-of-way, but said police have to listen when the community raises concerns about how a tool like this operates. Wood also addressed concerns about Flock's data being held by a private company rather than a government system like NCIC or DAVID, the databases law enforcement already uses for driver's license and vehicle information, saying that distinction is part of what's driving public unease even though officers face serious consequences, including losing their jobs, for misusing either system.
Another Pig on the Loose
In a lighter moment, Wood recapped PPD's third pig rescue of the year. Officers managed to get the runaway pig into a patrol car, but he didn't want to leave the air conditioning once they arrived to reunite him with his owner. Deputies eventually coaxed him out with double stuffed Oreos, and it took two pairs of handcuffs to get the job done.
Cop Myth: Federal Agencies "Taking Over" a Case
Wood also debunked a common TV trope, the idea that federal or state agencies swoop in and clash with local police over jurisdiction when they take over a case. In reality, Wood says local departments are usually glad to hand off cases to agencies with broader reach and steeper penalties available, and there's rarely any pushback at all.
