Nfl Player Pulled Over Outside Hospital While Rushing To Be With Dying

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Let's see. He's 25, been an officer 3 years, has 2 children and a wife. And now his family will face ridicule, he will face discipline (which will be overturned on appeal), and insults will no doubt be hurled at his kids by other kids and adults. Man, what a great $50,000 a year job. Any takers out there????

---Educators in public schools get less....(they aren't 100% safe jobs either... I had a kid bring a gun to school probably meant for me, he had been suspended the day before) I would still be in favor of firing an educator if they did something so stupid. This guy lacks the judgement skills to be in policework, the classroom, and most jobs that deal with people.. The fact that he has a wife and kids mean nothing to me.. This guy may eventually get someone killed, a common citizen and fellow officer. I would never want to work with him.

---Also people in the tech industry, oil industry, and others are getting laid off for no personal problem reason. ...With the economy as it is... yes, there will be other takers for his job. . In fact locally our TV just commented recently that our city now has many more applications for positions including law enforcement. This guy should be gone...

... The fact that he draw a gun when the guy jumped out of the car doesn't bother me, where the event took place is crazy, on the hospital parking lot with the hospital is only a few feet away. and the story that followed--his actions are crazy... HE IS A TOTAL IDIOT. His own department should want him gone. Afterall.. that car wasn't going anywhere, he had it until the story checked out.

---I disagree with an above post... NFL player or regular guy ... this is a news story... just a bigger one because that he was. Moats did not deserve the treatment he received... the policeman will.... that is what he gets for being stupid. Stupid on an oil rig will get you or your co-workers killed. I have known of a few.

Edited March 27, 2009 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[EagleD]

I learned years ago, no matter the extenuating circumstances, when you get pulled over by a cop do these 3 things:

1. Turn off the car and take the keys out of the ignition. Place them on the dash if you can.

2. Put your hands on the steering wheel (where they can be seen) and wait for the cop to come to your door. Do NOT get out, unless of course the cop asks you to.

3. Treat the cop with respect, but don't kiss his ass. He/She has probably determined if you are getting a ticket by the time they talk to you. If, as in this case, there are reasons for your behavior, wait for the cop to ask you. If an authority figure with a gun is questioning you, do what he says. Don't startle, scare or piss that person off, it can only be a detriment to you.

I've had a few brushes with cops, and I try to follow these rules. It was harder to do as a young driver, but on more then one occasion I've had quite pleasant conversations with cops while they write me up. Sure I'm pissed, but I'm also guilty. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

[UNT90]

I watched the video last night. I have a couple questions. Can an officer really take a person to jail for running a red light? Isn't that just a simple moving violation? If so, it does frighten me a bit that an infraction that warrants a civil fine of $75 from a camera in Frisco can get me a night in the pokey down in Plano/Dallas if either an officer or I happen to have a burr up our butts on any given day.

As for the towing of the car, am I legally responsible to find a marked, legal parking space while immediately stopping the vehicle the second I see the lights come on? What was with the threats to tow the vehicle? I've actually thought about this one driving through Little Elm. I had a police car following me (I'm guessing that he saw the wind cause me to swerve and thought maybe I was drinking), and at certain points on the road, I wondered where I would pull over if he turned on his lights. Is it ok to somehow signal a police car that you're looking for a safe place for both you and him to pull over?

I really see both sides of this issue. I think the office did act within the letter of of the law, but most certainly not the spirit. I think Moats and his family were a tad bit more excited than the news stories care to admit, thus making it more difficult for the officer to assess the situation. Bottom line, the officer is young and somewhat inexperienced. I think he let the job and its power get to him on this one. He did appear to me at time to be creating reasons to provoke Moat. Doesn't necessarily mean that he's a 100% bad cop or that he should never wear the badge again. It does worry me that maybe DPD is sending out under trained and therefore reactionary officers out on the streets both for their own safety and my peace of mind knowing that any interaction I may have with the law will be handled professionally without exception. Guys like that should be riding with an older officer for quite some time before being let out on their own.

The last paragraph is pretty dead on. As far as the towing issue, many cities, including Dallas, have instituted an automatic tow policy for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (No Insurance), that's why the officer initially threatened to tow his vehicle. You can be arrested for any traffic violation in the State of Texas except for speeding and no seat belt. Red light cameras cannot positively ID the driver, therefore the citations you receive from this is a civil (not criminal) citation, whereas when an officer witnesses this violation, it is a criminal offense.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

I learned years ago, no matter the extenuating circumstances, when you get pulled over by a cop do these 3 things:

1. Turn off the car and take the keys out of the ignition. Place them on the dash if you can.

2. Put your hands on the steering wheel (where they can be seen) and wait for the cop to come to your door. Do NOT get out, unless of course the cop asks you to.

3. Treat the cop with respect, but don't kiss his ass. He/She has probably determined if you are getting a ticket by the time they talk to you. If, as in this case, there are reasons for your behavior, wait for the cop to ask you. If an authority figure with a gun is questioning you, do what he says. Don't startle, scare or piss that person off, it can only be a detriment to you.

I've had a few brushes with cops, and I try to follow these rules. It was harder to do as a young driver, but on more then one occasion I've had quite pleasant conversations with cops while they write me up. Sure I'm pissed, but I'm also guilty. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

--One part of that I have always wondered about... My father was on a jury of a murder case (occured in Dallas, about 1950) in a situation where the policeman walked up to the car window and the driver just shot him dead .. At one time police seemed to prefer the driver to get out, stand their car door, with their hands completely exposed.... It seems a bit safer than walking up to a window in the dark.... That was taught to me by my father and also mentioned in drivers ed when I took it decades ago..... I see the reasoning both ways.. the other way you could tell the driver did not have a weapon and was not about to flee in the car. ... Nowdays I stay in because it is what they now want.

---The jury case... the driver was speeding aftert robbing a store and was trying to get away... The jury including my father convicted him and he got to meet "old Sparkey".

_____________

Above of course the family was rather "exicted". It is not every day your mother or mother-in-law is dying.

Edited March 27, 2009 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[KRAM1]

I do think this is a sad day for the Dallas Police Dept. I do not think this is the "rule" with the Dallas Police force, but rather an exception where a young cop went "way over board" on some sort of "power trip" and lost all sense of "right and wrong" according to the situation. These guys and ladies work their buns off each and every day to help protect the citicens of their communities, and actions such as this just make their already difficult jobs even harder. Too bad.

The guy may lose his career over this incident. I hope not...because this guy will probably learn a great deal from this "stupid mistake" and be a much better cop for it in the long run. If he has not had a history of such actions, this needs to be a serious learning situation for him and cops the world over.

I was once pulled over and started to step out of my car to meet the cop with my license and insurance. He made it known VERY quickly that I should stay in the care AND he had his hand on his gun when he told me that...not drawn, but ready to go! I learned too...stay in the car. These guys never know when someone will just pull a gun and blast away. I understand that.

When guys (and ladies) in uniforms with guns tell you to do something...you darn sure better do it! Once that is accomplished, it is part of a cops job to evaluate the situation and "do the right thing". Can you imagine the goodwill for the Dallas Police Dept. that this cop could have created had he determined the situation and helped the family get to their relative faster...maybe even with a bit of an escort? Instead, he went on a bit of a "power trip" and just plain blew it! My guess, after having time to reflect, the cop is pretty embarrassed about the whole thing and would like to just get out of sight for awhile.

By the way...it was a Cornith cop who pulled me over on Swisher Rd. who had the hand on the gun....it was early morning on the way to work and I was driving a bit over the limit. He ended up giving me a "warning" and sending me on my way. Said he did so because of my cooperation and the fact that when he checked I was "free" of tickets, etc. He made me "promise" not to speed on Swisher going forward....fact is, I drive the limit or lower on Swisher for the three years after that "warning" and intend to do so for the future. Shows what some cooperation and some "understanding" of the situation by the cop can do...I think very highly of the Cornith Cops these days.

Anyway, sad day for the Dallas Police and for this officer and for the Moats family...there are NO WINNERS HERE!

[Cerebus]

Re: Guns.... It has been my experience that people who live in very urban areas tend to not understand guns at all, or even the purpose of most of them. Almost all gun fanatics I know have all been urban people... not rural or semi-rural people... I own several guns but no assault weapons... WHY? ...Are they expecting a civil war?? Besides the vast majority can not even name one situation that they or anyone they know ever had a use for one. ... Most people are much more likely to shoot themselves or a family member than need an assault weapon .

/facepalm

So much fail here.

I hate to derail what has been a good discussion, but you hit a pet peeve.

1) The term "Assault Weapon" kills me. Anti-gun people used to call all scary looking weapons "Assault Rifles", and tried to use that word to scare people ignorant of fire arm facts. When it was pointed out to them that Assault Rifle has a particular meaning, a select fire carbine that fires an intermediate round, they had to use another word. Assault weapon was used to scare people away from scary looking rifles like the semi auto versions of the AR and AK.

The somehow fail to realize that ANY rifle round is going to punch through a vest, and that these "assault weapons" wont punch through level III and IV ballistic plates, while many, many deer hunting rounds will.

2) The "expecting a civil war" comment. If you take time to read the papers of our founding fathers, you'll see the right to keep and bear arms isn't there for hunting, sporting or even self protection, its the because it was believed the best government would come when the government knew the people could resist tyranny with arms.

3) "Vast majority": The vast majority of people won't have their house burn down, but insurance is a good idea, the vast majority wont save anyones life with CPR, but its a good idea to know it, the vast majority wont be in a major auto accident, seat belts are a good idea.

4) Most people are more likely to shoot themselves or a family member: You need to read some of John Lott's research on this. Also, the vast majority of people who shoot themselves are middle aged male suicides, and since I am a libertarian, I see no problem with this.

Also, I come from a town so small that I thought Odessa was THE BIG CITY when we moved there.

/rant off

I have to go take care of a sick wife. I probably won't be back to debate any of this soon.

[gangrene]

As for the towing of the car, am I legally responsible to find a marked, legal parking space while immediately stopping the vehicle the second I see the lights come on? What was with the threats to tow the vehicle? I've actually thought about this one driving through Little Elm. I had a police car following me (I'm guessing that he saw the wind cause me to swerve and thought maybe I was drinking), and at certain points on the road, I wondered where I would pull over if he turned on his lights. Is it ok to somehow signal a police car that you're looking for a safe place for both you and him to pull over?

I never pull over until I find a "safe" place to do so - for both my safety and the safety of the officer. I've never had to explain my reasoning for not pulling over immediately but I've also never had to look for very long to find an empty parking lot or place to do so. I've seen people stop in the HOV lane, left turn lanes, etc...lots of places that could put themselves in danger because other drivers would not expect to see a parked car there. Most policemen with common sense would understand and appreciate that. IMO Powell's threat to give Moats a ticket for being illegally parked was just more of his power trip to (what was it he said?) "screw you over" and "make your night very difficult" to make Moats understand "what he can do (according to Texas state law) do.

Ok, I just watched this video again....I'm pissed off again...but I have more new questions. When Powell called the hospital, the nurse explained to Powell that Ryan Moats was needed in ICU to sign the paperwork to resuscitate his mother-in-law. I'm not sure why he was the one that was needed to sign the paperwork (and the fact that anyone is required to sign paperwork to revive someone from death is an entirely different issue), but the nurse clearly stated that Ryan Moats was needed for that purpose and, yet, Powell continued with his warrant checking/ticket writing for another 10 minutes. This guy is a real embarrassment to the DPD, to hear him boast to the Plano officer about being in a chase and lecture Moats on his attitude... His IQ has to be way down there. Does DPD still require recruits to have completed 40+ hours of college at a minimum GPA? If so, maybe they need to raise that requirement just a bit or require 20 hours of common sense training.

Someone made a comment about whether this was news simply because Moats is an NFL player. I think that was a big factor, but I also think it would have made news because the patient died while Moats was being detained. If it hadn't been Moats, I think the emotional factor would have been enough to make this the public spectacle it has become...provided the right person at a news station was contacted with the details. I came across another fine example of policing without common sense, this time in Boston.

While the Moats story is bad, this one is equally as bad:

Woman in Labor receives ticket

12/04/2008

All too often, the congested roads of Greater Boston conspire with the vagaries of childbirth to leave a mother-to-be in a car on the roadside at one of life's most critical moments. A hard-bitten state trooper shows up and morphs into a highway midwife, clearing the newborn's nose and mouth, cutting the cord, and sometimes even saving a life.

This is not one of those stories.

Jennifer Davis was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Nov. 18, her contractions just 3 minutes apart. Her husband, John, was trying to appear calm for his wife's sake, driving in the breakdown lane of Route 2. They pulled up behind a state trooper to ask whether they could continue using the lane to reach the next exit, near Alewife Station.

Not only did the trooper say no, he gave them a $100 citation for driving in the breakdown lane, made them wait for their citation while he finished writing someone else's ticket, and even seemed to ask for proof of pregnancy, Jennifer Davis said.

"He said, 'What's under your jacket?' I said, 'My belly,' " Davis said. "He waited and gestured with his head like, 'OK, let's see it.' He waited for me to unzip my jacket. I mean, it was so clear that I was pregnant."

The Davises say the contretemps occurred after two other troopers they encountered had waved them along in the highway breakdown lane, allowing them to evade gridlock while advising them to be cautious and keep their hazard lights on.

While State Police spokesman David Procopio declined to comment on the merits of this stop, he noted that state law prohibits driving in breakdown lanes on Route 2.

"The trooper made a judgment call to enforce the law governing the use of the breakdown lane," said Procopio. "If the couple does choose to submit a letter of complaint, we'll review it in accordance with our procedure."

The officer who gave the citation - Trooper Michael Galluccio of the Brighton barracks, according to his identification number - could not immediately be reached for comment.

Though the Davises live about 30 miles away in Dracut, Jennifer Davis, 38, wanted to have her baby at Mount Auburn, where she had also given birth to her 7-year-old son, Brendan.

"For 10 months we had been saying, 'As long as I don't go into labor during rush hour' - which we did," said Davis, a social worker for a visiting nurse group affiliated with the hospital.

They left for Cambridge after dropping Brendan off at school. Her contractions were about 5 minutes apart.

But the roads were so clogged that John Davis began using the breakdown lane. Davis - whose driving record has six speeding violations over the past 20 years, according to the state Registry of Motor Vehicles - said he tried to get troopers' permission to use the emergency lanes when they encountered them along their journey.

On Route 3, he pulled over and told a trooper that his wife was in labor. The trooper said they could use the breakdown lane only when traffic was backed up and only while using their hazard lights. On Route 128, they got stopped by a second trooper who allowed them to continue in the breakdown lane after noticing the infant car seat in the back of their Honda Accord and the mother's condition.

"I know people fabricate stories all the time," Jennifer Davis said, "but it was pretty clear that I was in labor."

Once on Route 2, they pulled up behind the trooper who ultimately cited them, who was attending to a car in the emergency lane.

He asked at least twice if they wanted an ambulance, but they declined, Jennifer Davis said. "I told him, 'My contractions are about 3 minutes apart. We just want to get off this exit.' We thought it would save us a little time."

State Police policy discourages the use of police escorts for private vehicles, except in life-or-death situations, Procopio said. But for a misguided moment, when the trooper left their car to finish up with the other motorist, John Davis hoped that the officer would come back to help them through traffic.

"Ironically, I was relieved to see the police. I thought, 'Oh cool, he'll help us,' " said John Davis. "He made it worse. He held us up."

The citation cost them 5 or 10 agonizing minutes before the trooper handed them an envelope and told them they'd be getting something in the mail. The citation came this week. In hindsight, the couple believe the trooper was trying to save them time by mailing the citation, rather than making them wait while he wrote it up.

Jennifer Davis was already deep into labor when they made it to the hospital, but it turns out they had time to spare. Charlotte Jane was born about five hours after their traffic stop, with a birth announcement that made the rounds of the maternity ward.

Said Jennifer Davis, "Our story spread like wildfire."

Stephanie Ebbert can be reached at ebbert@globe.com

[SilverEagle]

My main problem in this story is how the officer acted like a total jerk AFTER the hospital personnel (and another officer) came out to explain the situation to officer Powell. Officer Powell then continued to make the decision to act like a jerk....or maybe it wasn't an act.

The other part of this story at annoys the hell out of me is how it's presented. The story leads with "NFL player"....WHO THE HELL CARES? Is it somehow more tragic that it happened to an NFL player? My wife hadn't heard this story, so I told her the whole story WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT IT WAS A NFL PLAYER AND HIS WIFE. Her reaction was that she was shocked and horrified that anyone is being treated this way by an insensitive officer, who obviously lacked common sense. It was only after she reacted to the facts of the story that I told her that it involved an NFL football player. Her reaction was the same as mine.....SO WHAT?

There are other times that the media reports on a woman who has been killed, or dies in some tragic manner, and they mention how tragic it was that "this beautiful woman was killed". Does her beauty somehow make the death more tragic? Are the deaths of plain (or unattractive) people of no consequence to society? If so, our society is much more shallow than I realized.

Edited March 27, 2009 by SilverEagle

[Cerebus]

Real Quick: The reason his status as an NFL player was always part of the headline is because ESPN broke the story.

[UNTLifer]

I was waiting for this to show up on this board, and, true to my expectations the reaction has been about the same as that of the general public. Now, before I offer up an explanation (not a defense mind you, an explanation) for what may have been going through this officer's head let me make one thing vitally clear THE OFFICER'S DEMEANOR TO PISS POOR AND HE, AS THE AUTHORITY FIGURE, SHOULD HAVE ASSESSED THE SITUATION FAR BETTER

Now, let's look at what the officer was presented with. He was sitting in a hidden position (probably to catch people running that very light) and observed a car come to a stop, then proceed as the light was still red. He turned on his lights AND siren and observed that the vehicle did not stop, yield or give any indication that it was pulling over (spare me the "of course he didn't stop. He was going to see his dying mother-in-law" routine...you have the advantage of hindsight that this officer did not). The facts I have just described, rolling through a solid red after stopping and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle promptly, will signal...in the preponderance of situations...one of two things 1)DWI or 2)Fleeing suspect. Now, with this in mind, consider that when Moats finally does stop his vehicle (and again, we know why he rushed to the hospital, this officer did not) three people exit the vehicle. One of the first things you learn as an officer is to keep control of any/all suspects on a traffic stop. People bailing out of a car when you stop them is a big time red flag...and yes, little old ladies and men can shoot you too. Let me make this next point very clear...this is most likely the reason this officer drew his weapon. A lone officer presented with a driver, and three passengers who have all exited the vehicle must take every precaution to gain control of the situation. You'll notice on the video that the officer tells Moats' wife to get back in the car...which she refuses to do (again, we know why she was in a hurry, the officer did not). I have done this same thing countless times. I am not going to hold a conversation, argue or negotiate with you outside of your vehicle. That's what officers are trained to avoid. Moats' wife walks with her Aunt inside disregarding the officer. Clearly the officer becomes agitated at this point which the video shows...and it all goes downhill from here.

Am I trying to justify this officer's actions? No. Would I have reacted differently? You betcha (that was my Sarah Palinism for the day). Could Moats and his family have returned to their vehicle to explain their predicament? Yes, they could have. True, in a situation like this you are quite emotional and not concerned with a minor traffic violation...but when you tack that minor traffic violation onto a refusal to pull over and several people exiting a vehicle on a traffic stop you escalate the situation. Period.

Alright, fire away with your "Cops are just big bullies" and "Badges and guns don't make you Gods" and "This is why I hate cops" junk.

Oh, and a few things the media got wrong (the media hating Republicans should enjoy this). This was Moats' mother-in-law, not his mother. May seem like a minor difference but the emotional "punch" to the reader is different and how hard is fact checking really? Also, it has been claimed that the officer drew his "service revolver". This is a young officer and revolvers haven't been issued in the academy in about a decade or longer. And, finally, let's not forget that the media has ended pretty much every article with Moats' claims that "I think race did play a factor in it." Pure conjecture on the part of a man who is clearly, and justifiably, upset...not factual information. Scandal sure does sell papers though, doesn't it?

emmitt,

Thanks for an "insider's view" of these situations. I can't imagine what goes through the mind of an officer approaching a vehicle he's pulled over that either has dark tinted windows so you can't see in, or when people bail and run. One question, the report I heard said Moats had his emergency flashers on. Is that correct?

(I didn't take the time to read all the posts, so I apologize if this has already been asked)

[UNTLifer]

Yes and no. The officer's professionalism still doesnt excuse the fact that you broke the law. Moats had no leagal justification for running the red light or speding, or failure to stop. However, in the intrest of caring and kindness, he should have been let go.

Your arguements are, to me, typical of many officers, by the book, and I understand that based upon the dangers you all face on a daily basis, but in this instance, I would have done the same thing if I was Moats.

Using officers shot in the line of duty in one of your posts was a poor example. How many of them were shot at the entrance to a hospital?

The officer should have been the one calm, and Moat's, IMHO, had every right to be upset. It was his, and his family members, last chance to be with a loved one about to die. Have you ever lost a parent or loved one? I have and wasn't given the opportunity to say goodbye, but if I was called and told my father was about to die and I had "x" amount of minutes to see him, I would have flown to the hospital with hazard lights on and carefully run every stop sign and red light I encountered. You only get to say good-bye once.

Edited March 27, 2009 by UNTLifer

[GreenMachine]

emmitt,

I can't imagine what goes through the mind of an officer approaching a vehicle he's pulled over that either has dark tinted windows so you can't see in, or when people bail and run.

or the officer could be thinking, "Damn, I have to put down my jello filled doughnut." J/K

[Guest JohnDenver]

emmitt,

Thanks for an "insider's view" of these situations. I can't imagine what goes through the mind of an officer approaching a vehicle he's pulled over that either has dark tinted windows so you can't see in, or when people bail and run. One question, the report I heard said Moats had his emergency flashers on. Is that correct?

(I didn't take the time to read all the posts, so I apologize if this has already been asked)

Yes, this is true. The whole video was release to the public after the DPD press conference yesterday. Even when he went through the red light (after coming to a complete stop and making sure it was safe to cross), he had his hazards on.

[UNT90]

I'm thinking that anyone pulled over in the next several weeks for speeding, running a red light or stop sign simply has to say "My brother (mother, father, aunt, uncle, or other family member) is dying and I'm on my way to the hospital." Sure fire way to get out of a ticket, at least for a while.

[Guest JohnDenver]

I'm thinking that anyone pulled over in the next several weeks for speeding, running a red light or stop sign simply has to say "My brother (mother, father, aunt, uncle, or other family member) is dying and I'm on my way to the hospital." Sure fire way to get out of a ticket, at least for a while.

You are quite apathetic and think very low of humanity. That saddens me.

[GreenBat]

I respect and admire anyone who is in a profession that puts there life on the line to protect me. I have read this entire thread and have followed this story since it broke Tuesday night. The only problem I have is the way Moats and his wife were treated. It shines a bright light on Powell's failure as a human being, not a police officer. He did not do anything incorrect as a police officer. He was well within his right to stop Moats for running the red light and should have because Moats broke a traffic law. He is correct when he said that Moats attitude "sucks," but I would think a normal thinking human being would understand the circumstance and understand that the attitude was directed at the situation and not the officer. I would hope that any officer that stops me, in any situation, would treat me with respect until they asked questions and found out what the problem was.

Another thing that makes me wonder is why this dash-cam video took seven days to make up the chain of command at the DPD.

[GreenBat]

You are quite apathetic and think very low of humanity. That saddens me.

Thank You JD, I was thinking the same thing.

[UNT90]

You are quite apathetic and think very low of humanity. That saddens me.

Guess I shoulda put a smiley face at the end of it. Would that make it all better?

But it is a fact. And people will do it.

[Guest JohnDenver]

Guess I shoulda put a smiley face at the end of it. Would that make it all better?

But it is a fact. And people will do it.

It is a fact that officers will shoot and kill innocent citizens too. It is far from the norm. I don't cast a shadow upon cops because of it. Thus, your thinking lowly of humanity because some may use this excuse in coming weeks, while the vast majority would never even consider it as a option.

[gangrene]

Yes, this is true. The whole video was release to the public after the DPD press conference yesterday. Even when he went through the red light (after coming to a complete stop and making sure it was safe to cross), he had his hazards on.

Yes, and Moats even told Powell that he had hazard/emergency lights on, to which Powell replied, "That doesn't matter (with an added sarcastic little laugh). This is not an emergency vehicle and you do not have the right to control the traffic. You do not have that right." I would have thought and done the exact same thing as Moats...in fact, I did do that when my wife was in labor and I was driving 90 MPH on LBJ, with my hazards on, to get her to that hospital. My hazards worked effectively to help notify traffic that I had some sort of emergency and they quickly moved out of my way. But, I guess I risked the possibility of suffering the same fate as Moats since I was not in an "emergency vehicle".

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

It is a fact that officers will shoot and kill innocent citizens too. It is far from the norm. I don't cast a shadow upon cops because of it. Thus, your thinking lowly of humanity because some may use this excuse in coming weeks, while the vast majority would never even consider it as a option.

---Absolutely agree with you..

---Very much doubt this would happen.. (use that excuse) Sometime during my lifetime I have heard of someone that used something similiar for excessive speed and the officer checked with the hospital to see if he was actually there (he was). He had copied the license number and name obviously. Even so which is better... let a few get by with a false excuses for minor law violations (a careful running of a red light) or this situation???

--- This guy showed far too poor judgement to be in law enforcement. He needs to find something else to do.

[gangrene]

He did not do anything incorrect as a police officer.

Wrong. He incorrectly notified dispatch that he was not in a chase (because that is against DPD pursuit policy) and later told Moats that he could arrest him for fleeing...which, makes it obvious to me he felt he was involved in a chase. He is also being investigated for comments he made to the Plano officer regarding his deliberate mis-wording of an investigation report to justify a police chase in January. And, last but not least, he made "unwarranted threats of arrest" according to Chief Kunkle, who also suggested that the dashcam video will be utilized in the police academy's training curriculum.

[UNT90]

Every Police Academy's training cirriculum.

[UNT_playmaker]

Ice-T and N.W.A. are my heroes!

Honestly, in my limited experience with police, I've met three types.

1) Good honest cops who want to serve, but eventually become detectives, and therefore get taken off the beat.

2) Good honest cops continuing a family tradition who stay on the beat for the duration of their careers (this type seems limited to the northeast).

3) Beat cops who are never gonna' move up because they love the power trip.

Unfortunately, category three are the ones who make the news and create the negative perception.

3a) Los Angeles cops who are so grossly underfunded, understaffed, and overworked, that they have just stopped caring.

Very good Assumptions and points..... very true....except the top part, anyone who advocates for civil public servants to be killed are nothing but thugs and it pisses me off that they are well-off because of it.

[oldguystudent]

Very good Assumptions and points..... very true....except the top part, anyone who advocates for civil public servants to be killed are nothing but thugs and it pisses me off that they are well-off because of it.

For the sake of clarity, the Ice-T and NWA remarks were direct sarcastic responses to Emmitt's prediction of cop hating comments.