KC Scout Communications team participates in ER and MAV ride-alongs

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KHP Motorist Assist and MoDOT Emergency Response recently took members of MoDOT's Communications team on ride-alongs with their operators. The communications team is in the process of collecting video footage featuring all the facets of KC Scout and the ride-alongs presented a unique opportunity for the team to also experience bi-state incident management first hand. 

"KC Scout is a bi-state traffic management system. Allowing our teammates the opportunity to train and learn alongside partners from both states makes us better team players and more knowledgeable in traffic incident management," explained KC Scout Manager Randy Johnson.

Communications Specialists Lairyn McGregor and Katie Manzke (MoDOT) met up with Emergency Response Operator Torrey Canady on March 1. The team traveled around the Kansas City metro area on the Missouri side and responded to two incidents during that time. 


The first incident was on behalf of Kansas City Police who requested extra protection while a stranded vehicle waited for a tow. The other was a motorist in need of a jump as well as a little bit of gas. 

Canady began his career with MoDOT in 1993 but has been an Emergency Response operator since 2014. He says that he likes coming to work knowing that his job is making a difference in someone's day.

"My favorite part of the job is assisting the motorist in distress and helping them overcome their issues when they are in an unsafe environment along the highway, or stranded in lanes of traffic because of an incident," explained Canady.

KHP Motorist Assist Operator, Shane Carpenter, shares that sentiment. The communications team joined Carpenter for a ride-along on March 22.

Carpenter is a retired homicide detective and KCK police officer and has been with the Motorist Assist program for about six months. 

While on the ride-along, Carpenter responded to two incidents. The first was a non-injury collision involving two vehicles. The second incident was a vehicle that slid off the road during a rain storm. Carpenter provided extra lights and served as a block and protected both the motorists and their vehicles while awaiting tow services.

In each of the incidents, motorists appeared appreciative of the assistance they received. Additionally, the communications team members were appreciative of the experience as well.

McGregor is responsible for variety of communications related tasks for MoDOT but also serves as KC Scout's communications lead. 

"One of my roles for MoDOT and KC Scout is to keep the public informed about where our crews will be and when, in an effort to keep them and the traveling public safe," explains McGregor.

"Emergency Response is an area I hadn't previously worked with much and it is very different from the planned construction I usually write about. It was eye opening to see the kind of incidents they respond to, how diligent they are in making sure a scene is cleared safely and efficiently, all on a moment's notice."

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