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On the overnight patrol with Fauquier County sheriffs’s deputies On the overnight patrol with Fauquier County sheriff’s deputies
(about 5 hours later)
The Fauquier County sheriff’s deputies gathered under the fluorescent lights for the Friday night shift, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The Fauquier County sheriff’s deputies gathered under the fluorescent lights for the Friday night shift, 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The officers preparing for their overnight patrol knew the danger that lurked in the 670 square miles that make up this rural community, about 40 miles southwest of Washington. Snowdrifts would soon begin to crest on the roadsides like frozen ocean waves. Outside, four inches of fresh snow had already snarled local roads and highways, with 27 accidents reported between noon and 3 p.m. The officers preparing for the overnight patrol knew the danger that lurked in the 670 square miles that make up this rural community, about 40 miles southwest of Washington. Snowdrifts would soon begin to crest on the roadsides like frozen ocean waves. Outside, four inches of fresh snow had already snarled roads and highways, with 27 accidents reported between noon and 3 p.m.
The lieutenant began to hand out supplies: spare batteries, extra wiper blades and tow cables. A weather report called for more than a foot of snow, wind gusts in the 30s and temperatures in the teens. Lt. Andy Marshall reminded them to stay safe, and then two by two, paired up in SUVs and trucks with four-wheel drive, the 14 deputies began to shuffle out the door. The lieutenant began to hand out supplies: spare batteries, extra wiper blades and tow cables. A weather report called for more than a foot of snow, wind gusts of at least 30 mph and temperatures in the teens. Lt. Andy Marshall reminded them to stay safe, and then two by two, paired up in SUVs and trucks with four-wheel drive, the 14 deputies began to shuffle out the door.
Cpl. Steven Shiner, an 11-year veteran, and Master Deputy Scott Staples, who joined the department five years ago when he turned 18, hopped into an unmarked black suburban. Cpl. Steven Shiner, an 11-year veteran, and Master Deputy Scott Staples, who joined the department five years ago when he turned 18, hopped into an unmarked black Chevy Suburban.
Shiner had packed a shovel, a defibrillator and a trauma kit. He knew that with conditions on the roads deteriorating quickly, ambulance response times would be delayed. So he understood that every minute mattered when the deputies who serve and protect might perhaps be called to save lives. As the only officers for miles, responsible for a wandering swath of Fauquier’s wooded ridges, rolling pastures and frosty creeks, they had to be ready for anything. Shiner had packed a shovel, a defibrillator and a trauma kit. He knew that with conditions on the roads deteriorating quickly, ambulance response times would be longer. So he understood that every minute matters when the deputies who serve and protect might perhaps be called to save lives. As the only officers for miles, responsible for a wandering swath of Fauquier’s wooded ridges, rolling pastures and frosty creeks, they had to be ready for anything.
“Unfortunately, there’s still crime in a snowstorm,” Shiner said.“Unfortunately, there’s still crime in a snowstorm,” Shiner said.
For now, Shiner hoped that his only worry all night would be keeping his windshield from freezing over. He squinted as the Chevy’s wipers feebly scratched at a patch of ice crystals that had formed. For now, Shiner hoped that his only worry all night would be keeping his windshield from freezing over. He squinted as the vehicle’s wipers feebly scratched at a patch of ice crystals that had formed.
Shiner popped the gearshift into drive and pulled out just after 5 p.m. The temperature was 21 degrees. Shiner popped the gearshift into drive and pulled out just after 5 p.m. The temperature was 21 degrees.
“There’s really no reason for anybody to be out here,” he said.“There’s really no reason for anybody to be out here,” he said.
Shiner remembered the last big storm in 2010. He’d been on duty and arrested a man in a Buick for driving under the influence. When the driver stepped out of his vehicle, he fell drunk into a snowdrift. Earlier, another deputy had described encountering a man on the road dousing his car fire with the beer he’d been drinking. Shiner remembered the last big storm — in 2010. He’d been on duty and arrested a man in a Buick for driving under the influence. When the driver stepped out of his vehicle, he fell drunk into a snowdrift. Earlier, another deputy had described encountering a man on the road dousing his car fire with the beer he’d been drinking.
“The truth is stranger than the fiction,” Shiner said.“The truth is stranger than the fiction,” Shiner said.
The Suburban rumbled along. Shiner grew up in Colorado and was confident behind the wheel. Staples, whose last tour of duty before joining patrol was in the animal control unit, recalled that the only training deputies received on how to drive in snow was 30 minutes skidding around a track at the academy. The Suburban rumbled along. Shiner grew up in Colorado and was confident behind the wheel. Staples, whose last tour of duty before joining the patrol was in the animal-control unit, recalled that the only training deputies received on how to drive in snow was 30 minutes skidding around a track at the academy.
“I’m going to teach you how to drive in snow tonight,” Shiner told his partner. “Just drive like you’re driving a limousine.”“I’m going to teach you how to drive in snow tonight,” Shiner told his partner. “Just drive like you’re driving a limousine.”
Shiner looked for a clearing on the divided highway to turn around, but the crossover was piled with snow. He wondered aloud if they’d get stuck.Shiner looked for a clearing on the divided highway to turn around, but the crossover was piled with snow. He wondered aloud if they’d get stuck.
“I don’t want to be that guy tonight,” Shiner said.“I don’t want to be that guy tonight,” Shiner said.
At 11:11 p.m. the deputies spotted hazard lights flashing on the eastbound side of Interstate 66. A two-door coupe with transmission issues was stranded on the roadside. At 11:11 p.m., the deputies spotted hazard lights flashing on the eastbound side of Interstate 66. A two-door coupe with transmission issues was stranded on the roadside.
Shiner and Staples hopped out to check on the driver, who was waiting for a tow truck. Satisfied that the coupe had enough fuel to keep the driver warm, the deputies lit a couple of flares to alert the tow truck and drove on.Shiner and Staples hopped out to check on the driver, who was waiting for a tow truck. Satisfied that the coupe had enough fuel to keep the driver warm, the deputies lit a couple of flares to alert the tow truck and drove on.
Darkness enveloped the deputies in their SUV. Winds whipped across the road. Snow peppered the glass as they peered through. The yellow blinking strobes of plow trucks became the only light interrupting the empty mural of their windshield.Darkness enveloped the deputies in their SUV. Winds whipped across the road. Snow peppered the glass as they peered through. The yellow blinking strobes of plow trucks became the only light interrupting the empty mural of their windshield.
To stave off boredom, Shiner and Staples exchanged tales from life on patrol. There was the time Staples came across a couple huddled in an SUV, who had stopped in a one-lane road for a midnight rendezvous — except she was married to someone else. To stave off boredom, Shiner and Staples exchanged tales from life on patrol. There was the time Staples came across a couple, huddled in an SUV, who had stopped on a one-lane road for a midnight rendezvous — except she was married to someone else.
And the time Shiner and his partner went to check on a vacant building that once housed a nursing home and he piled some sheets on an old wheelchair to spook his colleague.And the time Shiner and his partner went to check on a vacant building that once housed a nursing home and he piled some sheets on an old wheelchair to spook his colleague.
Then come the accounts of real-life horror. Staples recalls responding to a motorcycle crash and finding the rider in a pool of blood. The biker, traveling in excess of 130 miles per hour, lost control and shaved the edge of a guard rail, which acted like a razor blade. Then come the accounts of real-life horror. Staples recalls responding to a motorcycle crash and finding the rider in a pool of blood. The biker, traveling in excess of 130 mph, lost control and shaved the edge of a guard rail, which acted like a razor blade.
Staples said it took a while before first responders noticed the second body, a female passenger with her arm missing from her shoulder. Staples said it took a while before first responders noticed the second body, that of a female with her arm missing from her shoulder.
“She was DRT,” Staples said. “Dead right there.”“She was DRT,” Staples said. “Dead right there.”
The night continued. The deputies drove long, slow loops of their patrol area, passing the same gas station again and again. They stopped for coffee and to knock ice off their wipers before heading out for another flat circle. Pop radio hummed in the background, white noise in the black of the night.The night continued. The deputies drove long, slow loops of their patrol area, passing the same gas station again and again. They stopped for coffee and to knock ice off their wipers before heading out for another flat circle. Pop radio hummed in the background, white noise in the black of the night.
On a desolate two-lane road, the suburban rolled by a sign that triggered another memory for Staples. On a desolate two-lane road, the Suburban rolled by a sign that triggered another memory for Staples.
“That was a bad wreck back there where that sign was,” he said. “She missed the stop sign and got T-boned. Pregnant, too. Killed her and her baby.” There was “a bad wreck back there where that sign was,” he said. “She missed the stop sign and got T-boned. Pregnant, too. Killed her and her baby.”
Shiner recounted an episode about three weeks back. A woman called 9-1-1 to say her husband had fallen. The dispatcher struggled to tease details from the woman on the line. Maybe he was breathing. Maybe not, the woman told the 9-1-1 operator. Shiner recounted an incident from about three weeks back. A woman called 911 to say that her husband had fallen. The dispatcher struggled to tease details from the woman on the line. Maybe he was breathing, maybe not, the woman told the operator.
When Shiner arrived he found the man unconscious, wedged between a bed and a chair. The man had complained of chest pains and numbness in his left arm. When Shiner arrived, he found the man unconscious, wedged between a bed and a chair. The man had complained of chest pains and numbness in his left arm.
Shiner did what he could before the paramedics arrived, too late. He watched the man take his last breath.Shiner did what he could before the paramedics arrived, too late. He watched the man take his last breath.
Rising over a hill, the Suburban creeps around a corner. Shiner identifies the turn as the place where he flipped his cruiser three times speeding to a call involving an estranged husband who had broken into a house and, armed with a knife, was threatening to hurt his children.Rising over a hill, the Suburban creeps around a corner. Shiner identifies the turn as the place where he flipped his cruiser three times speeding to a call involving an estranged husband who had broken into a house and, armed with a knife, was threatening to hurt his children.
When the police arrived, they found the husband and wife on the front porch talking. When police arrived, they found the husband and wife on the front porch talking.
“She had the nerve to say, ‘What took you so long?’ ” Shiner said.“She had the nerve to say, ‘What took you so long?’ ” Shiner said.
Back to the present. The conversation hushes as the radio crackles.Back to the present. The conversation hushes as the radio crackles.
It’s 2 a.m. and eight inches of snow have fallen since their watch began. Shiner and Staples have four hours to go. More calls await. The deputies are ready. It’s 2 a.m., and eight inches of snow have fallen since their watch began. Shiner and Staples have four hours to go. More calls await. The deputies are ready.