RITA COOK / News Editor
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MIDLOTHIAN – Officer Chris Vinson, Midlothian Police Department, returned from Corpus Christi several weeks ago as a two-time second place winner in the Texas Challenge, an event that improves the quality of Texas inspectors and their roadside inspections.
Vinson, a member of the Midlothian Commercial Vehicle Enforcement team, participated in the Texas Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Challenge in Corpus Christi on July 13.
The competition is open to inspectors from any agency across the State of Texas.
He was supported at the competition by Midlothian Sgt. Jordan, Commander Harp and Police Chief Carl Smith.
“Officer Vinson represented MPD well, earning 2nd Place trophies in Level One Inspection as well as Hazardous Materials Inspection,” said Midlothian Police Chief Carl Smith.
“He also earned the title of Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Overall Reserve Champion from the USDOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.”
Vinson is a police veteran of 18 years, with nine years in Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
He began his career with the City of DeSoto, and joined the Midlothian Police Department in 2018 after being recruited to begin the newly authorized Commercial Vehicle Unit.
He became a CVE Officer because shortly after being assigned to the DeSoto Traffic Unit. There he trained to operate a police motorcycle and be an advanced accident investigator, where he witnessed the mass devastation an unsafe commercial vehicle could cause in an accident.
“I was assisting another CVE Officer during an inspection where a truck and trailer had seven out of 10 brakes out – and realized that CVE can really make a difference for roadway safety,” Vinson said.
Vinson also won the Region 1 competition this past May for the MCAP Division, which includes municipal and county officers certified by the Department of Public Safety to conduct commercial vehicle inspections.
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