Officer Placed on Administrative Leave Pending Fatal Wreck Investigation

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City police have determined the speed at which an officer was driving when he struck and killed a man while responding to a call last week. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation.

Oklahoma City police say they are still in the middle of their investigation, but early reports revealed Officer John Paull, a five year veteran of the department, was speeding, when he hit and killed 49-year-old Raul Becerra.

"Investigators have determined that Officer Paull was travelling 64 mph prior to applying his brakes and was traveling 56-59 mph at impact," Oklahoma City Police Captain Patrick Stewart said.

The posted speed limit at S.W. 29th Street and Indiana where the accident occurred early Thursday morning was 35 mph. According to Oklahoma City police Becerra pulled in front of Paull who was responding to a larceny call. A larceny call by definition in considered a non-emergency call and according to department policy Paull should not have been speeding.

The policy for non-emergency calls states, "Non-emergency designation indicates that the call assignment or situation is not urgent and an immediate, quick response is not required."

It was determined Paull was not only speeding but traveling without his lights and sirens.

According to Capt. Stewart, records show Paull has been involved in four previous motor vehicle accidents during his five year and seven month career. In two of these accidents, Paul was determined to have no fault or contributing factors and in the remaining two he was determined to have contributed to the non-injury accidents.

If found at fault, Oklahoma City police say Officer Paul could be reprimanded or even fired. They caution it could take several days or even weeks before their investigation is complete.

Records show Oklahoma City police officers have been involved in 224 officer-related crashes in the past 12 months.

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