If there were a handbook on how not to handle road rage, NYPD officer Hieu Tran might have penned a few chapters recently. The 27-year-old Tran, an officer in the NYPD's public information unit, decided to make headlines himself by getting arrested for shooting a driver in what can only be described as a less-than-public-friendly fit of road rage.

The incident took place on the otherwise uneventful night of May 17 in Voorhees Township, New Jersey—a place that will now forever be noted for more than just having a charming suburban atmosphere. Tran, who was off-duty at the time, apparently opted for the Wild West approach to conflict resolution, leading to him now facing first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and the ever-classy second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

While Tran gets a few points for accuracy—his victim is still in the hospital—the legal system has taken a slightly dimmer view of his actions. Law enforcement officials identified Tran using a trifecta of modern investigatory methods: surveillance video, cell phone records, and ballistics evidence. It's always reassuring to know that when one public information officer fails his job, technology and good old-fashioned detective work are there to pick up the slack.

In a display of what one could term gross misuse of resources, Tran allegedly used his department-issued gun in the incident. One would assume training in the public information unit would involve public relations rather than target practice, but alas, we digress.

Tran's prowess in handling road rage has earned him a suspension without pay, perhaps the only piece of information he adeptly communicated to the NYPD. Pending further legal proceedings, he's traded his badge for an orange jumpsuit and a temporarily tarnished career.

The spotlight turned to a Manhattan courtroom recently, where Tran appeared and agreed to be extradited to New Jersey. It's good to know that even in murky legal waters, some form of interstate cooperation still exists.

For now, our hero of mismanaged road rage remains off the streets, providing New York drivers a brief respite and the justice system plenty to work on. As the case unfolds, it serves as yet another reminder: blending guns and aggressive driving is a cocktail best left unshaken and unstirred.

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