Dallas officer delayed NFL player as relative died (Conroe, Tenaha: attorney, college)

[Pontificator]

Originally Posted by rscalzo

Escort to where? He finally stopped at the hospital? He admitted the violation and didn't stop when told to stop by use of the emergency lighting. Insensitive, yes. No violation of departmental policy unless it is there policy not to stop violators in the first place.

If the relative was that sick, why not be at the hospital instead of rushing the last minute. He was held 13 minutes, her daughter was not held at all.

And no one was being rushed due to a medical problem. No treatment was being withheld. Play the race card???? Show me how at almost 2am he could see the race of the driver inside the vehicle. Another press inducted news feature.

Have you ever held vigil over a relative dying of cancer? I've been in this same situation, and was fortunate that I was able to get a bit of sleep at an adjacent boarding room for family members. This family had gone home to sleep, and received a call that the end was imminent. He did stop at the light, and was waived through by a compassionate driver who saw his hazard lights. Read the article and watch the video.

This event is simply appalling, and I hope the area public will demand the firing of this excuse for a human.

[lonestar2007]

I first commented on this incident in a thread started yesterday in the Dallas forum. Basically, what I said was the officer is an a**hole, one of those 'I've got the power and I'm gonna make you squirm' jerks. I said this made the City of Dallas and the State of Texas look bad and that it would be on national news. Today, when I turned on my computer there the story was on the front page of AOL. Good job, Officer Powell! You made headlines!

I do not believe this was a race thing at all. He is an ignorant hick with a gun strapped to his hip and he would pulled this crap on anyone. In his mind, he's The Man! Ugh, makes you want to get down on the ground and vomit!

I just hope he has one hell of a hard time finding a new job because you can bet he gets fired from this one.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by rscalzo

Escort to where? He finally stopped at the hospital? He admitted the violation and didn't stop when told to stop by use of the emergency lighting. Insensitive, yes. No violation of departmental policy unless it is there policy not to stop violators in the first place.

Actually, if you read the story associated with the link, you can see that the police chief himself has indicated there may have been multiple violations of department policy.

If the relative was that sick, why not be at the hospital instead of rushing the last minute. He was held 13 minutes, her daughter was not held at all.

Hospitals discourage this, there are visiting hours and they do not prefer that too many family members stay constantly. It is very typical that family members might go home at night, and if the patient's condition changes dramatically they may be called back.

And no one was being rushed due to a medical problem. No treatment was being withheld. Play the race card???? Show me how at almost 2am he could see the race of the driver inside the vehicle. Another press inducted news feature.

I think the disgust is at the officer's behavior after the occupants exited the vehicle (when the officer could clearly see the race of the individuals), nothing to do with the being pulled over part. As horrible as this behavior is to watch, it is sadly not surprising. I don't think it is wrong to question whether this would have played out the same way had the family been white.

[catman]

I find it appalling. I hope they fire the jerk. A little compassion would have helped a lot.

[case44]

No lines needed to be drawn here, and that officer was way out of line. So inexcusable.

[nomore07]

Originally Posted by rscalzo

Escort to where? He finally stopped at the hospital? He admitted the violation and didn't stop when told to stop by use of the emergency lighting. Insensitive, yes. No violation of departmental policy unless it is there policy not to stop violators in the first place.

If the relative was that sick, why not be at the hospital instead of rushing the last minute. He was held 13 minutes, her daughter was not held at all.

And no one was being rushed due to a medical problem. No treatment was being withheld. Play the race card???? Show me how at almost 2am he could see the race of the driver inside the vehicle. Another press inducted news feature.

Have you ever been to Dallas? Are you familiar with the road systems and culture? Are you suggesting that every death is predictable down to the minute?

There is another thread about this as well.
Dallas Police - The Moats incident

[AK123]

It's on other national news now.
I just feel so sad for Moats. At least his wife got in there to see her mom in her last moments here.
Moats should be commended for his behavior. He can be heard repeatedly saying "yes sir", and not once did he mention that he was an NFL player.

[catman]

Moats' behavior was indeed remarkably restrained. I doubt that I could have been so well behaved under the circumstances.

[case44]

Originally Posted by catman

Moats' behavior was indeed remarkably restrained. I doubt that I could have been so well behaved under the circumstances.

And that's an understatement, catman. Now, granted, Moats did run a red light, so that's something the cop would have had to talk to him about, anyway. But the cop should have shown a heck of a lot more sensitivity than he did in an effort to get an understanding so both parties can understand, and the episode could have -- and should have -- turned out so much differently. While I wouldn't condone red-light running, you have to look at the person's situation.

[Philip T]

So why has not the Dallas PD already fired the jackass . . . or why have the rest of the cops not already told him to resign?