Life imitating art, but not in a funny way.
You’d really think there might be something on the psychological aptitude tests given to aspiring police recruits that would screen out complete assholes and sociopaths, now wouldn’t you?
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle said he was “embarrassed and disappointed” by a police officer who kept an NFL player in a hospital parking lot for over 20 minutes running warrant and insurance checks before writing him a ticket for driving while black running a red light while the player’s mother-in-law died inside the building.
The camera’s are adding something of value.
The Dallas Police Chief looks to be setting a process for dismissing the prick.
White cops hassling young male black citizens is a problem in many large American cities.
You’d really have to be a special kind of heartless prick (good word for him) to do something like that.
I hope after the guy gets drummed out of the Dallas police force in disgrace he has a prolonged and thoroughly miserable time finding any future employment…
I suppose it’s inevitable for the cops there to be hysterical when approaching someone since they have to assume everyone’s armed.
What a mess.
You’d really think there might be something on the psychological aptitude tests given to aspiring police recruits that would screen out complete assholes and sociopaths, now wouldn’t you?
Well said RT.
Bottom line is that no matter how angry people are about this (and we should be) and, whether the offending officer is terminated from service or not, there is NEVER a second chance to say “goodbye”. The son-in-law will have the rest of his life to remember that he missed (was robbed of) that “goodbye”. That is literally a crying shame.
Memo to officer – respect is earned.
As a lawyer, I have to say that I have seen many, many police officers who are the best sort of people in the worst sort of job.. however, it is an unfortunate reality that the job does attract a certain sort of individual from time to time who derives pleasure from exercising arbitrary authority.. and this bubba, clearly, was of that sort.
It is a tragedy for Ryan Moats and his wife, and a black eye and embarrasment for the many police officers who put their lives at risk and who do the right thing, day in and day out.
Just to give the flip-side – I can advise of a local officer in my city, some years ago, who was the investigating officer in a parental abduction case, where the mother took her child to the U.S. The mother was mentally handicapped, and, no doubt, was induced to the act by her own mother. The child was apprehended in the U.S. and taken back to Alberta. My client, the mother, was clealry distraught – and as her and her own mother were charged, upon entering the Country they would both be arrested. My client could not leave her daughter alone – and agreed to submit to an arrest and return to Canada, on her own. This officer, understanding the situation – agreed to drive himself to the U.S. border, about 60 miles, to meet and take custody of my client – and agreed with me not to interview her, and to transport her back to Lethbridge and process her, agreeing in advance to her release. He treated my client with respect and sympathy, while doing the job he was obligated to do. For the one and only time in my career, I felt obligated to write a letter commending an officer for doing his job in a manner giving credit to all police officers. There are excellent men and women out there – rest assured – and this is coming from a former criminal defence lawyer.. it is sad that bubba’s like this guy in Dallas discredit them all.
White cops hassling people of colour are a problem in most cities in Canada too.
While I agree with Rob that there are many fine police officers, the problem is that the racist abusive guys are the ones that people remember. These cops are not only harming the civilians they are dealing with, they are also harming the entire police force.
Aspiring cops do have to undergo a psycholigical assessment. The problem is that once they join the force they get coopted into the police culture. If your force has many dirty cops (like we have in Edmonton), its culture will reflect that.
Because of the nature of my work I have observed both first and second had how great, and how awful cops can be.
I think you’re right Gayle – my wife used to be married to a police officer, and she has commented on the change she saw as the “thin blue line” became more and more entrenched in her ex, who she described as an incredibly sensitive and decent man.. but who became more entrenched over time with the “us v. them” mentality that becomes prevalent in the force.
Well, I think there are other factors at play in Alberta. I mean, the crime rate there is much higher than in Eastern Canada, where there is in fact, a greater diversity of people.
Can we offer Mr. Kunkle a job as Commissioner of the RCMP?
I come from a time and a place where we regarded the police as friends and helpers.
My son has mostly contempt for “cops”. My son’s original parents were from India. He has reason.
Hmmmm…..and common sense can’t prevail huh. The cop could have walked into the hospital with him (make sure he was lying) and dealt with it later. Too difficult I guess.
“the crime rate there is much higher than in Eastern Canada, where there is in fact, a greater diversity of people.”
I do not know if that is because there is more crime or if it is because there are more charges.
I know CBC French did a story on the difference between the youth justice system in Alberta and in Quebec. The theory was that the zero tolerance policies in Alberta are not working, but are affecting the crime rate.
There is a lot of “zero tolerance” in this province. I have seen people charged with assaulting their parents with a rolled up poster, theft of milk and cookies from a group home, and breach of the peace for jaywalking (making that a criminal charge rather than a provincial offence).
Also, Alberta is becoming pretty diverse. On the other hand, the more diverse the population the more tolerant it should be, no?
This particular police chief really surprised me. Usually they defend and cover up for their officers beyond any common sense. He even went so far as to name this officer in public. Wow. Maybe that, in part, is what is needed for police forces to clean up their acts. Someone at the top willing to be unpopular with their fellow police officers and put service to public first. I tend to think so.
I lived in Dallas for a few years. Their police force is very very poorly trained and very poorly paid. You are not getting the creme of the crop here.
(I have never lived in a city where I saw so many out-of-shape and obese cops as Dallas. No wonder the crime rate is so high there. There are something like 300+ murders in a City of 1.6 million a year.)