Outrage after cop keeps man from dying relative

[Lord Undies]

To say it's race-related is ridiculous. The guy did break the law and the cop should have pulled him over. But when he got the details from the occupants of the car and the nurses at the hospital, he should have assessed that this was not going to be a typical traffic stop and he should act accordingly. He needs better people skills, to say the least.

Yes, a simple "There is no excuse for speeding and endangering others, but I understand your neglect of the law, so consider this a warning, and God Bless your family in your hour of need" would have been the way to go.

[Strider]

I will even go out on a limb here and say that the cop can be HELD LIABLE for contributing to the death of the woman. This is not just a case of sensitivity, but outright negligence in a medical emergency.

The Dying woman was not in the car.....she was in the hospital dying.
How would the cop be held liable?

[Chris_]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4017382

they can't help but think that race might have played a part

When will Je$$e and $harptooth arrive to lend "assistance"?

[EastFacingNorth]

I don't give a hoot about the racial component of this story.

This officer acted inappropriately.  Even the Chief of Police said so.

I wonder if the cop was "ordered" to make that apology, or if he actually meant it.

In many jurisdictions, the Chief's primary job is to kiss whomever's ass is necessary to maintain good PR for the department.  For the Chief to claim that one of his officers acted inappropriately has ZERO relation to what events actually occurred, and only to how that statement will spin in the media.

[GOP Congress]

I think you misread the article.  The dying woman was already in the hospital and dying from cancer.

The cop in no way contributed to her death.

If the woman was not in the car, and in fact the very first concern was for her health by all parties, then I stand corrected as to my recommendation for criminal charges. In that case, the ticket should have been written, and the courtroom should be the place to arbitrate the result. The cop could have been a bit more sympathetic as well, but that is more of an ethical than legal observation.

My mistake was in watching the video, the way the guy was talking, was like the dying woman was still in the car, and he was trying to take care of the ticket before taking care of her condition. Since she was already being taken care of, then the policeman had to assess the situation as a whole, and a ticket may have been appropriate. All circumstances in life are dynamic, though. Frankly, I wonder if calling an ambulance would have increased the chances of the woman dying or not (as opposed to driving her to the hopital straight away). EMT's are fairly sophisticated as to life-saving and continuing techniques that civilians aren't able to perform.

[rich_t]

If the woman was not in the car, and in fact the very first concern was for her health by all parties, then I stand corrected as to my recommendation for criminal charges. In that case, the ticket should have been written, and the courtroom should be the place to arbitrate the result. The cop could have been a bit more sympathetic as well, but that is more of an ethical than legal observation.

My mistake was in watching the video, the way the guy was talking, was like the dying woman was still in the car, and he was trying to take care of the ticket before taking care of her condition. Since she was already being taken care of, then the policeman had to assess the situation as a whole, and a ticket may have been appropriate. All circumstances in life are dynamic, though. Frankly, I wonder if calling an ambulance would have increased the chances of the woman dying or not (as opposed to driving her to the hopital straight away). EMT's are fairly sophisticated as to life-saving and continuing techniques that civilians aren't able to perform.

Dude...  The dying woman had been in the hospital for a while.  Her family was merely rushing to say goodbye after the hospital called to say she is now dying.  She at no point, was in the car during this incident.

[Rebel]

This cop handled that very poorly. I'm a huge supporter of the cops, but some are out of f'n control. Here's a much more egregious incident:


http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/mar/21/traffic-stop-cut-life-short-man-says/

[MrsSmith]

The cop resigned.

You know, he really wasn't the greatest that night...but he didn't do anything that should have cost him his job.

[thundley4]

The cop resigned.

You know, he really wasn't the greatest that night...but he didn't do anything that should have cost him his job.

I agree with that.  A reprimand and apology should have been the end of it.

[Rebel]

I agree with that.  A reprimand and apology should have been the end of it.

He resigned. He wasn't fired. Moats had already accepted the apology. The issue was dead until he brought it back up by resigning.

[MrsSmith]

He resigned. He wasn't fired. Moats had already accepted the apology. The issue was dead until he brought it back up by resigning.

Do you seriously think he wasn't taking a lot of heat over it?  It may have been dead to us, but I doubt he'd have resigned...in this economy...unless he was given good reason to think he'd better.

[thundley4]

He resigned. He wasn't fired. Moats had already accepted the apology. The issue was dead until he brought it back up by resigning.

Like MrsSmith said, he was still most likely under pressure from someone to resign.

[rich_t]

He probably was under some pressure to resign.  I for one, am glad that he did.  His actions were outrageous and IMO inexcusable.

I can't help but wonder if there are other complaints in his service record.

[thundley4]

He probably was under some pressure to resign.  I for one, am glad that he did.  His actions were outrageous and IMO inexcusable.

I can't help but wonder if there are other complaints in his service record.

Wonder no more. I read this a couple of days ago.
"Dallas officer Powell jailed Zach Thomas' wife
Maritza Thomas, wife of former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas, was jailed for three hours after being pulled over for an illegal U-turn by Robert Powell, the same police officer who detained Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats while his mother-in-law was dying, according to a report on the Dallas Morning News' website.

Maritza Thomas, who is Latina, was arrested last July while her husband was at Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Four of the five tickets Powell issued to her were later dismissed, according to the newspaper.

"This in no way compares to what happened to Ryan Moats and his family," said Zach Thomas, according to the paper. "But we wanted to tell our story, not knowing how many others have been affected by Officer Powell. We know the vast majority of the Dallas police force are good and professional people, but this guy just seems excessive."

A Dallas Police spokesperson did not comment on Thomas' accusation." The Sporting News

[rich_t]

Wonder no more. I read this a couple of days ago.
"Dallas officer Powell jailed Zach Thomas' wife
Maritza Thomas, wife of former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas, was jailed for three hours after being pulled over for an illegal U-turn by Robert Powell, the same police officer who detained Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats while his mother-in-law was dying, according to a report on the Dallas Morning News' website.

Maritza Thomas, who is Latina, was arrested last July while her husband was at Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Four of the five tickets Powell issued to her were later dismissed, according to the newspaper.

"This in no way compares to what happened to Ryan Moats and his family," said Zach Thomas, according to the paper. "But we wanted to tell our story, not knowing how many others have been affected by Officer Powell. We know the vast majority of the Dallas police force are good and professional people, but this guy just seems excessive."

A Dallas Police spokesperson did not comment on Thomas' accusation." The Sporting News

So... perhaps officer Powell had a propensity to be over zealous in the application of his authority?

[seabelle]

I wonder, had Moats pulled over when the pursuit began and explained the emergency to the Officer, would  he have given him an escort?  That is, lead the rest of the way with the flashy lights?

I blame both Moats, for breaking traffic laws (especially for not pulling over) and the Officer for not following Moats into the hospital, then dealing with the traffic matters later !

I guess I'm tired of NFL players thinking they're above the law, and thankful he didn't cause a serious accident.

[rich_t]

I wonder, had Moats pulled over when the pursuit began and explained the emergency to the Officer, would  he have given him an escort?  That is, lead the rest of the way with the flashy lights?

I blame both Moats, for breaking traffic laws (especially for not pulling over) and the Officer for not following Moats into the hospital, then dealing with the traffic matters later !

I guess I'm tired of NFL players thinking they're above the law, and thankful he didn't cause a serious accident.

According to the article I read, at no point did Moats claim to be an NFL player. 

I also watched all 17 minutes of dash-can video.

[Miss Mia]

I wonder, had Moats pulled over when the pursuit began and explained the emergency to the Officer, would  he have given him an escort?  That is, lead the rest of the way with the flashy lights?

I blame both Moats, for breaking traffic laws (especially for not pulling over) and the Officer for not following Moats into the hospital, then dealing with the traffic matters later !

I guess I'm tired of NFL players thinking they're above the law, and thankful he didn't cause a serious accident.

Considering AT the hospital a nurse and a Plano police officer told Officer Powell that yes, indeed his mother-in-law was inside the hospital dying at that very moment and he still didn't let up, I doubt if Moats had pulled over immediately there would have been much of a difference.  I also read today that Moats was driving with his hazards on and came to the red light, stopped and waited until it was clear before proceeding through the red light. 

[rich_t]

I heard Moats saying "Yes Sir" a lot to the cop.

He wasn't resisting in any fashion.

The cop over reacted and said "I can screw you over". That ladies and gentlemen is abuse under color of law.

Title 18 USC 242

[rich_t]

This cop needed to be fired.  He was allowed to resign.

He will be lucky if Moats doesn't sue.

I know I would if I were Moats.

[rich_t]

Considering AT the hospital a nurse and a Plano police officer told Officer Powell that yes, indeed his mother-in-law was inside the hospital dying at that very moment and he still didn't let up, I doubt if Moats had pulled over immediately there would have been much of a difference.  I also read today that Moats was driving with his hazards on and came to the red light, stopped and waited until it was clear before proceeding through the red light. 

The cop's own dash cam video backs that up.

[seabelle]

According to the article I read, at no point did Moats claim to be an NFL player. 

I also watched all 17 minutes of dash-can video.

Thanks for clarifying.  That's what I get for trusting the media's editing 

My son's in law enforcement, so I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt.