Mokpo Maritime Police Officer Rescues Driver from Fallen Vehicle During Land Patrol

Police Officer Park Gaeul of Jidopachulso Sets an Example for Locals with Swift Action in Emergency Situation

A police officer from Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kim Hae-cheol) has become a topic of conversation for promptly responding to a series of dangerous situations such as a vehicle crash on the road and drunk driving during land patrols, rescuing lives and preventing secondary accidents.

According to Mokpo Maritime Police on the 4th, the protagonist of this story is Patrol Officer Park Ga-eul (27 years old) from the Jido Police Substation.

On the 10th of last month, around 11:30 a.m., Officer Park, along with a teammate, was conducting coastal patrol activities in the jurisdiction using a police substation patrol car when they discovered a vehicle that had fallen down a slope beside the first lane road.

Police Officer Park Gaeul, Mokpo Maritime Police Station [Photo by Mokpo Maritime Police Station]

Officer Park immediately ran to the accident scene and quickly rescued the driver, Mr. A (in his 80s), from the driver's seat of the crashed vehicle. Until the towing equipment arrived (the patrol car itself could not tow), he secured the accident vehicle and managed safety around the area.

The rescued elderly driver in his 80s, Mr. A, expressed his gratitude repeatedly, saying, "While driving, even my phone fell under the passenger seat, making it impossible to take any rescue measures, but thanks to the help of the maritime police, I was able to be safe."

Officer Park recalled, "There was a weather advisory for rough seas in the area, and fortunately, there were no special abnormalities in the health condition of the rescued elderly driver in his 80s."

Earlier, on October 29th at around 8:15 p.m., a patrol team consisting of three members including Officer Park witnessed a vehicle suspected of drunk driving, zigzagging and crossing the center line during a nighttime land patrol in a patrol car.

Officer Park guided the vehicle to a safe area through an announcement and siren, then checked the safety status of the driver and vehicle. In cooperation with the Mokpo Police Station Jido Police Substation, they apprehended the drunk driver whose blood alcohol concentration was measured at a level warranting license cancellation.

Drunk driving itself is dangerous, but since it can lead to secondary accidents causing casualties such as vehicle collisions, maritime police officers working at police substations, which are frontline civil complaint departments, recognized this during land patrol activities and, through collaboration with related agencies, simultaneously led to the detection of violations and prevention of accidents.

Since 2020, Patrol Officer Park Ga-eul, who has served on patrol vessels wearing the maritime police uniform and is currently working at the police substation, is unanimously recognized by colleagues and senior and junior staff for always dedicating herself to her duties with a proactive attitude.

In particular, when going on sea and land patrols in the jurisdiction with Officer Park, it is evaluated that her strength lies in her meticulousness, as she does not overlook even minor details and proactively prevents potential dangers.

Patrol Officer Park Ga-eul said, "Frontline civil complaint departments like police substations must, as much as responding to emergency calls from outside, thoroughly understand the characteristics of their jurisdiction and promptly recognize and prevent various dangerous situations through sea and land patrol activities targeting vulnerable areas such as the sea, coastline, ports, and harbors."

She added, "Going forward, I will continue to carry out my duties with a sense of mission as a maritime police officer and do my best wherever it is to protect the lives and property of the people, regardless of whether it is sea or land."