Crossroads resident Don Omer likes to keep an eye on the neighborhood. One morning in July, he called the police after two cars collided at 20th and Main.
After reporting the non-injury accident, Omer reached for a stopwatch and timed the response. Here are his notes:
12 minutes: The first tow truck showed up.
13 minutes: The second tow truck arrived.
15 minutes: Two more tow trucks (I observed that all four tow truck drivers had large bellies -- must be some sort of occupational hazard).
22 minutes: A fire truck arrived; after standing around, one fireman got a broom and swept up a minimal amount of glass.
30 minutes: The fire truck left.
34 minutes: A police car arrived.
Omer says the traffic at the intersection snarled less from the accident and more from the descent of wide-bodied wreckers that had beaten the police cruiser to the scene. – David Martin
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Here's a lowdown:
First, it's a bit silly to compare response times for tow trucks, EMS, and police.
When tow drivers are taking reports about assaults, stolen property, and responding to shootings, then I think you might have something. When they're responding to kitchen fires, building alarms, or medical emergencies, then you might have something to compare to.
Second, a minor traffic accident is hardly an emergency. The tow guys bust ass to get to a scene to jump the hook first chance they get. It's an insurance bilking deal. Most of the tow people don't even take AAA calls or have anything beyond a strictly accident-response service because the insurance payments are way above what AAA or any roadside assistance program offers.
Third, there's probably more tow trucks sitting around listening to police scanners than police at any given time. They sit at gas stations, parking lots, or anywhere close to the freeways at rush hour waiting and waiting for an accident. At 20th and Main, you're not far from I-35, the downtown loop, or I-70 meaning that the tow guys sitting in the area can haul ass to get to the scene.
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