This pissed me off to no end...

[Sirelrohir]

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090325_mo_detained.6f8a23c1.html

good reason of why they should screen police applicants for common sense.. among other things.

 

[Mirewen]

Wow...

He should be relieved of his badge, not just suspended. You can't have that kind of job with that kind of responsibility and show no compassion or common sense. That is what leads to policemen/women abusing their power.

 

[Excalibur]

Finally, after a 20-minute delay, the officer ticketed Moats for running a red light.
By the time Moats made it up to the emergency room, his mother-in-law was dead.

I don't know if I would have been able to stop myself from beating the living shit out of that guy, regardless of where he works.

This right here is why people hate cops.

 

[Tymon]

For some reason I thought I posted this here. Weird. (I know I didn't)

Anyway yeah, I saw the videos, Moats was about as calm as you could possibly be, considering the situation. The cop even pulled and pointed the gun at his wife, while she was entering the hospital with her back turned.

 

[Ecks]

You know what. I don't know what the whole situation was. But from the officer's point of view. You have to think about it. He's pulling over a speeding vehicle that's apparently even ran a red light. It doesn't matter what their reasons were for running it. The officers's standpoint is this, because more often than not a person driving a vehicle that's speeding and running red lights carelessly is that this person could very well be an extremely dangerous individual. He drew his gun in the first moments of the confrontation and rightfully so. I dunno about you, but if I was in his situation do you think im going to believe "My mother is dying." right off the bat. Hell no, I sure as hell wouldn't want to be distracted by feeling sorry for the guy only to have him pull a gun and shoot back at me.

Even if that wasn't the guy's intention. As a fellow law enforcement officer, you simply can't give in to softness just because of what someone says. It could easily be a distraction tactic. Those guys have to put their lives on the line and this guy did what any other officer given the situation initially would have done.

Sure, it's a very unfortunate situation. But this officer was just doing his job and being cautious in order to protect his own life. They really don't get paid enough money to do their jobs (cops/police).

 

[Tymon]

You know what. I don't know what the whole situation was. But from the officer's point of view. You have to think about it. He's pulling over a speeding vehicle that's apparently even ran a red light. It doesn't matter what their reasons were for running it. The officers's standpoint is this, because more often than not a person driving a vehicle that's speeding and running red lights carelessly is that this person could very well be an extremely dangerous individual. He drew his gun in the first moments of the confrontation and rightfully so. I dunno about you, but if I was in his situation do you think im going to believe "My mother is dying." right off the bat. Hell no, I sure as hell wouldn't want to be distracted by feeling sorry for the guy only to have him pull a gun and shoot back at me.

Even if that wasn't the guy's intention. As a fellow law enforcement officer, you simply can't give in to softness just because of what someone says. It could easily be a distraction tactic. Those guys have to put their lives on the line and this guy did what any other officer given the situation initially would have done.

Sure, it's a very unfortunate situation. But this officer was just doing his job and being cautious in order to protect his own life. They really don't get paid enough money to do their jobs (cops/police).

Initially, right, you're right.

The situation changes when an officer, 2 nurses and a doctor come outside to tell him that his mother-in-law is indeed dying and he needs to get inside immediately, yet, the officer detains him for somewhere around 20 more minutes, lecturing him, all around insulting him, and seems to get a little self satisfaction when the guy finally runs in, panicked

 

[Mirewen]

Dude if you read it, the cop was totally out of line. Yes, stop him in front of the hospital, but when you have a nurse and another cop telling you that his mother actually is dying, follow him up to the damn room and see for yourself if you don't believe him. Cops do have a harsh job, I wanted to be one for quite a while but they dont get paid enough for the shit they have to deal with. However, this cop showed no compassion and no common sense. Those are things someone carrying a weapon has to have.

 

[Excalibur]

I dunno about you, but if I was in his situation do you think im going to believe "My mother is dying." right off the bat.

When they pull into a hospital parking lot...yeah. It's just like if someone was having a baby and the dad was rushing to get there.

Those guys have to put their lives on the line and this guy did what any other officer given the situation initially would have done.

No, if any other officer would have done the same thing then this one wouldn't have gotten suspended for what he did. Any cop worth his salt would have followed him into the hospital to make sure he was telling the truth. Then he would either leave or wait for the his mom to pass before giving him a ticket. At least, that's what I would have done if I was a cop.

 

[Ecks]

Well I didn't read enough of the article or whatever to know he pulled them over at the actual hospital. I figured he just pulled them over anywhere. Nor did I know that a doctor, nurse and apparently another cop were also telling him the guy wasn't lying. That kind of changes things a little bit. Still, I stand by my statement of what he initially did wasn't in the wrong. So the guy lacks some common sense, he made a mistake. Maybe the cop was an asshole. Assholes can be police. Assholes can be anyone/anything really, they're everywhere. Though, I bet if the guy who's mother was dying hadn't been a pro football player, this would never have been made so big of a deal.

But I will say, that if you've got a doctor, nurse and a fellow officer also telling you the guy's mother is really dying, you should calm the hell down and let the man see his mom before she dies.

Also noted, I really only glanced briefly at the article but slightly watched and listened to the video clip as well as read other peoples comments here.

 

[Excalibur]

Still, I stand by my statement of what he initially did wasn't in the wrong.

Yeah I can agree that the cops initial reaction probably wasn't wrong. But he should have definately changed his attitude within the first minute or two.

Though, I bet if the guy who's mother was dying hadn't been a pro football player, this would never have been made so big of a deal.

For real...

 

[Morcheeba]

Wow okay where to start...

Cop - "You're not driving an emergency vehicle you have no right to direct traffic"

IMO.. he had his 4 ways on (indicating trouble of some kind) once the officer turned his lights on, he's in an emergency situation therefore the vehicle he is currently driving is NOW an emergency vehicle.

Cop - "shut your mouth, your attitude sucks right now, I can make your life difficult"

IMO - arrogant cock smoker. Idiotic to boot.

If this man's mother in-law passed while all this was occurring I would happily sue that man/department.

 

[Linhjah]

If this man's mother in-law passed while all this was occurring I would happily sue that man/department.

She did. ; ;

Finally, after a 20-minute delay, the officer ticketed Moats for running a red light. By the time Moats made it up to the emergency room, his mother-in-law was dead.

 

[Calv/Godofdeath]

I agree to a point, but when he could've easily caused a huge accident and possibly killed someone else just to see someone else dying. If they knew her time was limited they should've been there with her before she was fading not rushing to get there MAYBE causing more accidents.

I will agree the officer should've changed his perception after the others told him he wasn't lying and just given him a ticket/warning after.

 

[Linhjah]

I agree to a point, but when he could've easily caused a huge accident and possibly killed someone else just to see someone else dying. If they knew her time was limited they should've been there with her before she was fading not rushing to get there MAYBE causing more accidents.

I will agree the officer should've changed his perception after the others told him he wasn't lying and just given him a ticket/warning after.

His mother in law had breast cancer, and a lot of times with cancer, its just a drawn out thing. You can't always be certain - even right up until the very end - if/when that person will die. IMO, speeding to get to the hospital so you can be with a loved one is totally appropriate.

I feel your "just to see someone else dying" kind of trivializes the ordeal. Being with a loved one when they pass can provide a sense of closure and help the grief process. Sure, the mother-in-law may not be aware of what is going on, but that doesn't change how helpful it can be for her survivors.

 

[Strid]

Saw this on the news last night, pretty shitty but it doesn't surprise me to see that kind of behavior out of a younger cop in TX. No matter how you look at it though, unless you're a buck short of a Happy Meal, he wasn't "just doin' his job", he failed to do his job properly all the way around. He should be fired not because of the situation though, but because of his ego, there is no way he is an asset to any force with an approach like that.

I agree to a point, but when he could've easily caused a huge accident and possibly killed someone else just to see someone else dying.

I'm guessin' you didn't watch the video, but he made sure no one was commin' before he did anything reckless, at least that is what the report said last night and what some of the shown dash cam of the "chase" was about.

 

[Morcheeba]

I believe I read that this officer was/is 3 yrs on the force. He's not green.

I believe they practised caution, though speeding, considering the situation I don't really think they risked harming anyone else on the road.

It was VERY appearant to me judging by emotion alone when they arrived AT emergency what they were saying was very much the truth. Officers are trained to read people, it plays a major part in their day to day.. he's a fuckup. I can imagine he feels bad givin the outcome and he really should.

 

[Ecks]

I believe I read that this officer was/is 3 yrs on the force. He's not green.

I believe they practised caution, though speeding, considering the situation I don't really think they risked harming anyone else on the road.

It was VERY appearant to me judging by emotion alone when they arrived AT emergency what they were saying was very much the truth. Officers are trained to read people, it plays a major part in their day to day.. he's a fuckup. I can imagine he feels bad givin the outcome and he really should.

They called him a 3 year veteran. That's really an oxymoron.. 3 years hardly makes you a veteran. I've been in my career for about 2 and a half years. While I may know and react to a situation better than someone who just started, that doesn't mean I'm a veteran. I still consider myself to be kind of new and feel like I still have a lot to learn.

While the officer was not exactly a newbie, the point I'm making in contrast to your statement is that he isn't exactly a seasoned professional either and he has a lot of room to improve. Though I guess that won't be happening for him now that his reputation and career are pretty much ruined.

And also.. lolz.. you think officers are trained to read people? That only depends on the person and how much experience in dealing with people he's had. People skills aren't trainable. Some people have them, some people don't. There's no law or anything that prevents someone who can't read people to take the courses required to be a police officer. Officers are mostly trained on how to interpret the law, as well as receive basic law enforcement classes. In fact the only difference in the courses I took verses what a police officer or sheriff deputy take is that they get extended classes in law and how to interpret them, as well as tactical driving courses and some course on writing reports and narratives. I had a report writing class, but it's a different kind. I guess theirs is just a bit more advanced, or something. Other than those extra few courses, that's all the basic training you need to complete. Then bam, you're ready to get hired. For my line of work, I also had to take a state board exam after I graduated my classes. I'm not sure if police officers and deputies have to do something like that as well, but I don't see why they wouldn't.

 

[Morcheeba]

They called him a 3 year veteran. That's really an oxymoron.. 3 years hardly makes you a veteran. I've been in my career for about 2 and a half years. While I may know and react to a situation better than someone who just started, that doesn't mean I'm a veteran. I still consider myself to be kind of new and feel like I still have a lot to learn.

While the officer was not exactly a newbie, the point I'm making in contrast to your statement is that he isn't exactly a seasoned professional either and he has a lot of room to improve. Though I guess that won't be happening for him now that his reputation and career are pretty much ruined.

Right, but he's not green and IF by chance superiors describe him as green he's not a bright one.

After college and 3 active years he should have in the least picked up basic skills of reading people. I can read random people rather well in the first couple minutes of conversation, con artists and such there'd be no way as I'm not trained, but hell if you're observational you shouldn't have much difficulty reading people. I don't think he's very good in this aspect and if/when brought off suspension he should have to submit a good number of hours for retraining.

** sorry if that all sounded garbled.. I'm practically passing out so.. yeah time to crash.

 

[Strid]

More on the readin' people... You can't train that. The guy just didn't use his head, he let his ego take over when his "control" was questioned. Had he been a nicer fella, though he prolly wouldn't be in the mess to begin with, it wouldn't be such an issue. When they interviewed people who knew of him and talked about how people on the force felt about him, it all added up to him just bein' a douche canoe. You don't have to read people to be a successful police officer, you have to use your head, just like anything really.

 

[Ecks]

Right, but he's not green and IF by chance superiors describe him as green he's not a bright one.

After college and 3 active years he should have in the least picked up basic skills of reading people. I can read random people rather well in the first couple minutes of conversation, con artists and such there'd be no way as I'm not trained, but hell if you're observational you shouldn't have much difficulty reading people. I don't think he's very good in this aspect and if/when brought off suspension he should have to submit a good number of hours for retraining.

** sorry if that all sounded garbled.. I'm practically passing out so.. yeah time to crash.

I kind of thought you should be sleeping.

Anywho, I wrote more onto what I had posted.