Edwards AFB News

412th OG holds commander's call, talks about DUI

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With an increase in drinking and driving incidents by Edwards members, the 412th Operations Group held a mandatory commander's call at the base theater April 4.

Since the beginning of the year, 11 Edwards drivers have been cited for driving under the influence, with the last one on March 29.

"I am not concerned about the number of DUIs, traffic tickets and speeding tickets," said Col. Michael Panarisi, 412th OG commander. "It is not the number that matters to me, it is the lives that we are putting at risk. We have all been into safety meetings, and it's always the same message. We know that every accident is preventable if you can break the chain. In these accidents, we know how to do that."

The event began with Rebecca Panarisi, Colonel Panarisi's wife, talking about her point of view regarding drinking and driving.

"This is an event about choices," Mrs. Panarisi said to the audience. "Today you will hear real stories from real people about real tragedies. When you choose to drink, and then get behind the wheel, you are taking choices away from us."

People need to focus how their actions put others at risk, she said.

"Think about the families," Mrs. Panarisi said. "When you drink, you pass risks on to us -- the risk of children suffering the loss of a parent, or parents suffering the loss of their children. Think about us, and our future, and whether or not we will have a future to look forward to."

During the commander's call, the 412th OG invited Officer Steve Hunsaker, California Highway Patrol public information officer, to share his experiences with the loss of life associated with driving drunk.

"Traffic accidents are reported every 58 seconds in California," Officer Hunsaker said. "One person is killed every two hours and two minutes, and one person is injured every two minutes as a result of traffic accidents. Nationwide, drunk drivers kill over 17,000 Americans every year and injure more than 500,000."

People are allowed to drink, but they need to make sure they have a designated driver to bring them home, Officer Hunsaker said

"There is no reason to drive your car after you drink," he said. "If you get arrested for DUI, it is not just you who gets affected. It affects your family, your community and your workplace."

The 412th OG Airmen also watched a video about drinking and driving. It showed footage of real accidents and real people who were affected by loss of lives because of drinking and driving.

"This isn't Hollywood," Officer Hunsaker said. "This is the real thing."

Dolores Sapp, 412th OG administrative technician, whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, also addressed the audience.

"Suddenly, grandparents became parents again as the mother of two children died on the scene," Mrs. Sapp said.

She described the challenges the children faced growing up without their parents, and the pain parents face every day knowing their children aren't coming home.

"It never goes away," Mrs. Sapp said.

Addressing the audience, Colonel Panarisi said the people in 412th OG are the best the Air Force has to offer.

"This is not a room of average 'Joes,'" the colonel said. "We are better than this. If this (commander's call) is not enough to convince you about the notion of drinking and driving, I don't know what is. If you can't bring yourself to change this right now, find another line of work."

Taking the point of commander's call, Airman Jason Waters, 412th OG client support administrator, was driving April 6 on Highway 5 when he noticed a car travelling erratically. The car was swerving back and forth, speeding and taking up two lanes.

Airman Waters called 911 to report the license plate of the car.

"I reported the driver because he was a danger to everyone," he said. "The driver was putting other people's lives in danger as well as mine."

The CHP later called Airman Waters to let him know the driver got into an accident and was arrested.

"When I heard what Airman Waters did, I was thrilled and so relieved that he wasn't the next victim," Colonel Panarisi said. "He got the message, and I couldn't be more proud of him."

People often speak highly of servicemembers deployed overseas, and many are described as "heroes," he said.

"Today, Airman Waters was a hero to a son, a daughter, or someone he will never know," Colonel Panarisi said. "Now the rest of us have to do our part. As wingmen, we have to make sure our teammates have a plan, and when that plan starts to fall apart, we have to step up and intervene. It can be as simple as asking someone, 'hey, how are you getting home,' and not taking 'I'm fine' for an answer. And as leaders, when our members fail to live up to the contract they signed when they earned a driver's license, we have to hold them accountable."