Seriously.......

[holderoftruth]

I read this story and this is the first I've heard of it, but I am sure that people have heard it.

The link has the story as well as the unedited police dashboard cam.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032609dnmetcopstop.3e9c080.html?nTar=OPUR

This is just awful, I would have that officer's head.....

[c0r]

i dont even know what to say to this. this is why people hate cops. the guy is a dick and should lose his job, end of story. the video is pretty crazy as well...

http://www.dallasnews.com/video/index.html?nvid=345818

[c0r]

its really big of the police dept to drop the ticket he got for running the red light.

/sarcasm

[holderoftruth]

In the video the SUV clearly has its EMERGANCY lights on. Maybe that is a sign that it is an EMERGANCY. Even after hospital staff came and vouched for Moats and the father of the dying woman, the cop still made him wait. The cop even threatened him with even more violations. I am glad the daughter of the women ignored the officer and went in anyways. This just makes me sick.

[carpanfan96]

I think the cop was suspended from duty for this, imo he should've been fired.

[Skew]

I think the cop was suspended from duty for this, imo he should've been fired.

He was. Not sure if it was with or without pay.

[Murph]

While I agree that the cop was in the wrong, the "victims" really shouldn't have brought race up with the press unless they had reason to. Instead they just guessed. Doesn't do much to help racial tensions throughout the country.

Of course I wonder if they said that completely out of the blue of if the press sort of "baited" them into making that comment. Wouldn't surprise me.

[holderoftruth]

The article said he was placed on paid administrative leave.

[thefuzz]

You have to treat every case the same, or you actually can run into race/sex problems as a firefighter/emt/police officer.

While he was a dick, thats his job, and lets don't sit here and say that motorists that have on their hazard lights should not be stopped because it's an emergency.

Would I be pissed if I was the one stopped, yes. Am I going to call out a cop for giving them a bit of a hard time after two of the occupants fled from the vehicle.....no.

Tough situation for both parties.

[Delhommey]

This is not unusual cop behavior.

[holderoftruth]

I agree with you. If you watch the video Moats raised his voice numerous times at the officer. It is his job to pull someone over for running a red light. The officer's reason for holding Moats and the other guy was that he didnt pull over on the side of the road. He said at the end if he wouldve pulled over and explained the situation then he would have let him go. If I was in Moats postion driving the car and we were that close to the hospital then I would have done the same thing though.

It is a tough situation for both parties. I will agree with Murph that the wife shouldnt brought up the race card. Never good to do that because he was doing his job.

[outlaw4]

Finally got around to watching the video:

Some thoughts:

On holding Moats when initially stopped: Plausible - It's not like people don't lie to cops that it's an emergency when it's really not. However, with the flashing lights and stopping by the hospital ER, the officer could had gained confirmation that this was a real emergency if he was unsure.

On the officer pointing his gun: Plausible - On one hands, officers should have the right to defend themselves when the situation is unknown. Then again, the situation didn't necessarily warrant it. At least explanation and apology would had been warranted if this was the only thing that happened.

On the officer's language: Poor - I just don't see the need for an officer to use offensive language towards anyone, especially since that could escalate a normal situation into a violent one. I have a lot of respect for officers that keep their cool and composure when the other person is not. Just look at traffic stop videos where cops keep it cool while the driver is yelling, screaming, and throwing vulgarities.

On continuing to hold Moats after being informed it's a real emergency: Unacceptable - I'd like to think that even if the officer had applied poor judgment and was not acting properly, he would had realized it by this point and immediately allowed Moats to go inside. To me, this is the key point that destroys just about any defense for the officer in this scenario.

On playing the race card: Unnecessary - There's no need for it. Whatever the reason the officer did what he did given the facts and circumstances will unlikely change people's perceptions on the matter.

[Ja Rhule]

While I agree that the cop was in the wrong, the "victims" really shouldn't have brought race up with the press unless they had reason to. Instead they just guessed. Doesn't do much to help racial tensions throughout the country.

Of course I wonder if they said that completely out of the blue of if the press sort of "baited" them into making that comment. Wouldn't surprise me.

I told this story to my dad... He said I bet cop was white and dude was black... check

I told this story to my gf... She said I bet cop was white and dude was black.. check

I told this story to my friend... He said I bet cop was white and dude was black.. check

[Delhommey]

I don't think it's a white/black thing. Cops just don't know what to do when you're not intimidated by them so they start having to flex.