Originally posted by x0847Marine
Cops running into people is the cost of doing business sometimes, its recognized that officers do a lot of driving, emergency and otherwise, and over the course of a 20 year career accidents will happen. Its a tough business and bad things happen to good cops.
This doest mean there's no punishment, when courts allow depts to handle cases administratively guys can get MONTHS off, demoted, re assigned... they pay for it, just not the way some people in the civilian world would like.
Yes accidents will happen
And I dont think many people would begrudge them that.
But
When things happen that seriously injure or kill people. And its undeniably obvious that the officer screwed up. All any of us want is for that person have to man up and face the same consequences that we would have to make.
The one thing we certainly do not want. is for the department of the official spokesman to come out saying as in the case of the two girls "He was on a call" when the records show he wasnt. "He wasnt speeding" when the black box says he was.
THEN when only after months charges are filed to continue to stand behind the offending officer and blatantly say "the officer did nothing wrong"
when the facts show otherwise and as a result two people are dead.
Well thats just infuriating
Or in the case with the governor "Speed had nothing to do with the accident" Sorry but 91 MPH in a suburban during the afternoon hours when people are starting to get off of and come home from work is too fast on a highway unless there is a dire emergancy no matter whom is in the car. To say that speed wasnt a factor when the vehicle in question was going 91 MPH is an insult to just about anyones inelegance.
Then he comes out and claims the driver not only "wasnt using a cell phone". but "didnt even have one". And it comes out that not only did he have one but he was using it just prior to the accident.
These are the types of things that irritate the bejesus out of the public.
this is where the Blue shield of protection goes entirely too far
If they just came out from the get go and said "ok this guy did this or that and will be issued this summons or that" There would be no public outcry.
But failing to do that gives us the impression that law enforcement feels they are above and immune to the law.
And that ticks the public off.
Then when people get ticked off and complain about it. A bunch of cops decide to do something like what is in the original post.
To us that just smacks of arrogance and ego and abuse of power.
Its a temper tantrum and nothing less. In which case. Who protects us against them??
Now I dont think anyone wants to see the laws so stringently enforced that people, including cops are going ot get nailed to a cross on every little thing.
But, by the same token if by chance a cop screws up and people get SERIOUSLY hurt or die. We just want them to take the same lumps as the rest of us would regardless of the public good we to may do.
If I were a doctor and I had saved countless lives. And I sped,ran a stop sign and killed two people. Or I while traveling at a high rate of speed well above the posted limit,during the beginning of rush hour,was also shown to be talking on a cell phone and got into an accident that put one of my passengers who wasnt wearing a seat belt on the critical list.
I would still be charged.
Thats all we are expecting.
I personally dont feel its an unreasonable expectation
As much of a butt wipe as I think he is. At least the governor had them issue him a citation for not wearing a seatbelt which he promptly paid.
Now it can be said there was public pressure to do so. And one citizen did file a complaint to issue him one when it became apperent the state was not going to dispite all their touting of "Click it or Ticket" Zero Tolerance" policy.
It is entirely probable that he succumbed to public pressure. But I'd say give him a pass on that one inasmuch as he was in the critical list for a week.
But at least he owned up to it, accepted his ticket. just like the rest of us would have to. and paid it.
Now its a non issue.
Nobody is looking to begrudge cops some of the things they do even if they arent technically supposed to be doing them such as speeding,running red lights etc when not on a call.
People by and large would just as soon give them a pass just as we would like ot be given a pass on occasion.
BUT. If in the process of doing these things they arent technically supposed to be doing.. (Lets face it. EVERYONE speeds now and again)Something goes terribly wrong and it is because of the things they were doing wrong that it happened.
Dont cover it up and lie and claim "they did nothing wrong" when its painfully obviously they did
Accept and face the consequences just as the rest of us have to.
Like I said.
I dont think that is an unreasonable expectation.
This "Ticket blitz" is ridiculous and these guys just dont get it. they feel under attack but they dont get what it is they are under attack about.
Nobody has said they do a bad job. We just hate when one of them isnt in our eyes held to the same accountability as the rest of us when we have done the same thing. nothing more, Nothing less We dont want private in house disciplinary action. then we dont know and to us it looks as if none has been taken at all.
And we HATE being lied to by spokes people with claims of "He did nothing wrong" when we all know its a lie.
THAT is where our gripe is
