Thoughts on the the San Marcos Police Officer (Round Rock, New Braunfels: live, safety)

[springbean]

that pulled a man and his girlfriend on August 15 while their dog died in the car. Who was to blame and who should be reprimanded?

Here's the article, and if have you haven't heard about this make sure you watch the video:

San Marcos Couple Blame Traffic Stop for Dog Death

The couple appeared on Good Morning America this morning.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5601299&page=1

[aaauger]

Inexcusable behavior. An abuse of authority. Control without compassion.

[Mckellyb]

This tweaked enough people it actually made NYC local news, this weekend.

While I question the logic of the first clip I saw, the one on the news last Friday, I think it was, which had them going 113 MPH and traveling from Round Rock to New Braunfels (BTW, their speed has been lowered, significantly, since...because the cop "needed" to go 300 MPH to catch you doesn't mean you were going 300 MPH...this is more common than you may think, and they were obviously not in RR...ah, the media...), the cop needs to go bye-bye. Had it been one comment, I might could let it slide, but he merely got more stand-offish and honestly, more of an ass as the stop proceeded.

Our pets are our children. My wife and I have no kids, so to say "It's just a dog...you can get another one" would have had me turned toward the car door, slapping that sucker into gear. Smart? No. His comments? Inexcusable.

Moron. And yes, I'd call him that to his face. Had that been me, 80% of the words I said would have been bleeped by censors.

I see this cop referred to in the above article as a 'rookie'. The local news story I saw, which was immediately after this happned, so subject to less revision, said he was a San Marcos PO for 6 or 8 years. Definitely not a rookie, though obviously long enough to become thick-headed.

I love the argument of "you're putting your own life in danger"...um, last time I checked, I still have the right to risk my own life, if I want to, at least in Texas. Granted, I don't have the 'right' to risk the lives of others, however, so much as being in society adds a small risk to everyone you may encounter. I readily admit, the driver being on the telephone with the vet isn't helping his case at all. I mean, his spouse/GF was with him, and it wasn't like she was having to restrain an 85 lb. labrador who is having seizures. Having been in a situation somewhat similar to this, however...my wife just about cut two fingers off when a garage door pinched them in the rollers...traffic laws be damned, she's getting to the hospital, which was four miles away, as quickly as her old '81 diesel Mercedes would get her there.

[another_hot-day]

I would have gone to jail that night for sure.

[TexasHorseLady]

Should he have stopped them if they were speeding 90mph? (Which is what I heard originally.) Absolutely, for the safety of the rest of the people on the road.

But from that point on, he handled the entire situation VERY badly. Once he saw that there was an emergency situation, he should have done what another police officer I heard said he would do - escort them to the vet with lights, not sirens, and then, once the dog was being seen to, write the citation.

The chief didn't say the officer was a rookie; he said he made a "rookie mistake". Which it was - clearly, he doesn't know how to prioritize or deal with people in distress, and that's something every police officer should know.

[Mike78613]

Driver was speeding. I don't care who the heck was dying. That driver could of killed others on the road. He should of called 911 to either have a WAMMMMBUlance or PO come out to escort him to the animal hospital! Please give driver a Darwin Award for 2008!

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

Driver was speeding. I don't care who the heck was dying. That driver could of killed others on the road. He should of called 911 to either have a WAMMMMBUlance or PO come out to escort him to the animal hospital! Please give driver a Darwin Award for 2008!

As far as I know (and with all the animals I have, I suspect I would know), there are no ambulances for animals. Only recently have there been after-hours emergency clinics for animals. I doubt the police would send someone out for a choking dog, as well.

However, as said, the police officer SHOULD have pulled him offer, and up to that point, was in the right. It's how he handled it from that point on that is at issue.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

As far as I know (and with all the animals I have, I suspect I would know), there are no ambulances for animals. Only recently have there been after-hours emergency clinics for animals. I doubt the police would send someone out for a choking dog, as well.

However, as said, the police officer SHOULD have pulled him offer, and up to that point, was in the right. It's how he handled it from that point on that is at issue.

Many speculations are to be expected. But if I were an officer, my job would be to protect the people and saftey of the roads I patrol. If the driver was in freak panic and if this officer had to calm him down, it was meant to be. However, this officer had in his possession, I still would of question his speeding concerns and the officer did right what he had to do in this situation.

What if this person really robbed a bank, got pulled over and then the driver was saying he’s in a rush to see his dying wife @ the hospital. You think it’s right that he should not question and let this speedy Gonzalez go along his way?

[TexasHorseLady]

Is that what you think I said? If you'll read back, I think you'll find that I was very specific (though it wasn't my idea, it was what another police officer said would be appropriate under the circumstances), and it doesn't involve letting "this speedy Gonzalez go along his way". Quite the contrary, in fact.

[Mckellyb]

I don't think you will find one person who would argue, foolishly, this person should not have been pulled over or let go to be on their merry way.

Those of us who disagree with the situation aren't necessarily saying this.

You will find many who will argue the cop, while in the right for pulling them over, became rather stupid, rather quickly. I also don't think you'll find many who would argue this driver was 100% in-the-right for doing this the way he did.

I have no problem with the driver getting a speeding ticket...I'm sure he doesn't, either. It was the way it was handled after the stop which is the pathetic thing.

Cops can't write tickets any faster than one every 20 minutes, BTW...unless there is a quota to be met or a reward will be given.