Motorcyclist Calls 911 and Is Told ''Too Bad''.
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I have alwasy been of the opinion that most cops would be in jail if they weren't cops. I got the poop kicked out of me for no reason whatsoever in Chicago by 8 cops in 1968 and I have never looked at them the same way since. I don't think they liked my glasses.
Re: Down with Blue
Your personal attack on all cops is un warranted. I come from military/lawenforcement back ground. My best friend is a Highway Patrolman. I have a number of other friends that are in law enforcement. None of which were bullies or are on a power trip. This cop....well sounds like he should be forced to retire. But if you ask me... I'll tell you this...if you break the law
and a cop catches you who's the a$$. You or him?
Your personal attack on all cops is un warranted. I come from military/lawenforcement back ground. My best friend is a Highway Patrolman. I have a number of other friends that are in law enforcement. None of which were bullies or are on a power trip. This cop....well sounds like he should be forced to retire. But if you ask me... I'll tell you this...if you break the law
and a cop catches you who's the a$$. You or him?
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771 Posts
Thanks for posting, I appreciate it when someone with more experience chimes in.
I've said it and will say it again, police work is tough. However, we all have developed a response to the police, based on our experiences dealing with them. This causes some to get the cops suck attitude. Maybe those that have that attitude deserved the treatment they recieved from officers (ie. street justice), maybe the officers that harrased them deserve to spend time in jail for corruption and abuse of powers. Case by case.
A problem police officers face is the daily presentation to the public. Personally I have never seen a police officer stay stopped at a red light (they just flash em and go), nor have I seen any officer do less than 10 over the posted. This presents a problem, if the public perceives that the officers are above the law, then the laws apply to no one.
Also your point about the large paint brush is true. We often group people for our ego convenience, eco-wackos, gun-nuts, red/blue state, etc. It is endemic to our society, and we all should try to not group eveyone under a conveinant catch phrase. Nor should we say all cops suck....just a bunch.
I've said it and will say it again, police work is tough. However, we all have developed a response to the police, based on our experiences dealing with them. This causes some to get the cops suck attitude. Maybe those that have that attitude deserved the treatment they recieved from officers (ie. street justice), maybe the officers that harrased them deserve to spend time in jail for corruption and abuse of powers. Case by case.
A problem police officers face is the daily presentation to the public. Personally I have never seen a police officer stay stopped at a red light (they just flash em and go), nor have I seen any officer do less than 10 over the posted. This presents a problem, if the public perceives that the officers are above the law, then the laws apply to no one.
Also your point about the large paint brush is true. We often group people for our ego convenience, eco-wackos, gun-nuts, red/blue state, etc. It is endemic to our society, and we all should try to not group eveyone under a conveinant catch phrase. Nor should we say all cops suck....just a bunch.
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209 Posts
I fully agree that police officers working real crimes have a difficult and underappreciated job. However, I believe that traffic enforcement has led to a lot of the animosity described, and the primary issue - and this has little to do with the police - is that cops are used as tax collectors and insurance adjusters.
If traffic enforcement was focused on reasonable safety and not revenue generation, then I think that attitudes would change. Travelling 80 MPH across I-70 in Kansas is virtually never "dangerous" by any reasonable standard, but I guarantee that you'll get a ticket if you try it for any extended period.
This situation creates a natural adversarial position - cops are doing work that at heart they know is useless when compared to their primary mission, making them bitter and resentful, while the citizenry is enraged at destructive and intrusive financial penalties.
Oh yeah, all-in a DUI costs quite a bit more than $1K. I know many people who have gotten them, and the consensus is about $10K - serious money for most people.
cdg
If traffic enforcement was focused on reasonable safety and not revenue generation, then I think that attitudes would change. Travelling 80 MPH across I-70 in Kansas is virtually never "dangerous" by any reasonable standard, but I guarantee that you'll get a ticket if you try it for any extended period.
This situation creates a natural adversarial position - cops are doing work that at heart they know is useless when compared to their primary mission, making them bitter and resentful, while the citizenry is enraged at destructive and intrusive financial penalties.
Oh yeah, all-in a DUI costs quite a bit more than $1K. I know many people who have gotten them, and the consensus is about $10K - serious money for most people.
cdg
I wrote this:
"I am just writing to tell you that I was both outraged and disgusted by the cavalier attitude that Trooper Robert Peasley displayed on a recent 911 call. After reading this article it is incomprehensible that some one in this position could be so heartless and uncaring. Something more than a 15 day suspension should be done to this officer, if nothing else but to serve notice to any one else in his position that this will absolutely not be tolerated."
Nocando
"I am just writing to tell you that I was both outraged and disgusted by the cavalier attitude that Trooper Robert Peasley displayed on a recent 911 call. After reading this article it is incomprehensible that some one in this position could be so heartless and uncaring. Something more than a 15 day suspension should be done to this officer, if nothing else but to serve notice to any one else in his position that this will absolutely not be tolerated."
Nocando
I agree that this officer was wrong and should be punished for his remark, it should be noted (I think it has been) that he did route emergency services to the scene and no time was lost because of his remarks.
After viewing TV reports, I noticed that the rider was riding a tricked out Ninja and the site of the accident was an obvious stunters road. I can only assume this young man was out stuntng without a helmet. The report showed a picture of the rider that his friends placed at the funeral. It shows him riding a full wheelie at speed whithout a helmet.
I wonder how many times the police had been out chasing off these riders and warning them of the dangers of stunting and breaking the traffic laws??
I do not have a "he got what he deserved" attitude toward the rider, but I can see a certain amount of frustration that could arise because of the type of riding.
After viewing TV reports, I noticed that the rider was riding a tricked out Ninja and the site of the accident was an obvious stunters road. I can only assume this young man was out stuntng without a helmet. The report showed a picture of the rider that his friends placed at the funeral. It shows him riding a full wheelie at speed whithout a helmet.
I wonder how many times the police had been out chasing off these riders and warning them of the dangers of stunting and breaking the traffic laws??
I do not have a "he got what he deserved" attitude toward the rider, but I can see a certain amount of frustration that could arise because of the type of riding.
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1 Posts
I agree with the reprimand the officer recieved. The punishment will go further then the loss of pay and 15 day suspension because of the national recognition the story has gotten. It will leave a mark on the officer for the rest of his life and undoubtedly hinder his career.
Also, I have first hand experienced the disregaurd Police have for Motorcyclists and more specifically sportbike riders. Police have on many occasions disregarded and endangered me and my fellow riders lives to issue mere 100 dollar citations for minor speeding infractions (10 mph under the SL, some greater but by no means felony offenses). I think these types of acts occur more often than suspected and that is where most of the discontent comes from regaurding police and motorcycle/sportbike riders.
Also, I have first hand experienced the disregaurd Police have for Motorcyclists and more specifically sportbike riders. Police have on many occasions disregarded and endangered me and my fellow riders lives to issue mere 100 dollar citations for minor speeding infractions (10 mph under the SL, some greater but by no means felony offenses). I think these types of acts occur more often than suspected and that is where most of the discontent comes from regaurding police and motorcycle/sportbike riders.
For what it's worth, here's my reply from the Commissioner:
"Thank you for allowing me to respond to your recent e-mail to Governor M. Jodi Rell dated March 23, 2005, concerning the way in which the State Police at Troop E in Montville responded to 911 calls reporting the tragic accident that claimed the life of Justin Sawyer. Everyone at the Department of Public Safety feels deeply sorry for the Sawyer familys loss and sincerely regrets the remarks that were made to the 911 callers by Trooper Robert Peasley. I also appreciate and understand your reaction to the Troopers handling of the calls. Please let me explain the actions Ive taken and the reasons for doing so.
After learning of the incident, the Commanding Officer of the Connecticut State Police ordered the Internal Affairs Unit to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 911 calls. Specifically, the Internal Affairs Unit was ordered to determine the specific order in which the 911 calls were received at the Troop, the remarks made by both Trooper Peasley and the dispatcher with whom he worked that day, and their actions in dispatching both State Police Troopers and emergency medical personnel to the scene. In doing so, Internal Affairs investigators interviewed every witness to the accident and all emergency services responders. The investigators also reviewed all available police and ambulance dispatch records and tape recordings of the 911 calls that reported the accident.
Internal Affairs investigators determined that, in response to a call for help, Trooper Peasley responded rudely and unprofessionally. When told of the street bike accident on Incinerator Road, Trooper Peasley said "too bad," and hung up the phone. In response to the next call from that scene, Trooper Peasley told the caller that State Police would respond and added "[you] shouldnt be playing games." About the same time, the dispatcher working with Trooper Peasley took another call from the scene and assured the caller that help was on the way. Importantly, the investigation revealed that despite the Troopers unprofessional, rude and inappropriate comments, both State Police and EMS personnel were dispatched promptly to the crash scene. Indeed, the reporting witness estimates that the first State Trooper arrived within five minutes of the accident. In short, the evidence shows that neither the dispatcher nor Trooper Peasley ignored the calls for help. They dispatched help to the scene within seconds of the first call.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Trooper Peasley fell far short of conduct that Connecticut residents expect and the Connecticut State Police demand from a Trooper. For that reason, Trooper Peasley, who has an unblemished 18-year career and who has often been praised by the public and his superiors for his dedication, has been suspended for 15 days without pay.
The State Police has a long and proud tradition of dedication to the people of this state. That tradition rests on the selfless efforts of many brave men and women who regularly place themselves in harms way to protect others. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. This incident tarnishes that tradition and embarrasses this proud agency. At the least, we hope that we have learned from it and that it will not be repeated.
More importantly, our hearts go out to Justin Sawyers family and friends. And if the remarks of the Trooper have added in any way to their grief, we are deeply sorry.
Thank you again for writing and for allowing me to respond."
Sincerely,
Leonard C. Boyle
COMMISSIONER
"Thank you for allowing me to respond to your recent e-mail to Governor M. Jodi Rell dated March 23, 2005, concerning the way in which the State Police at Troop E in Montville responded to 911 calls reporting the tragic accident that claimed the life of Justin Sawyer. Everyone at the Department of Public Safety feels deeply sorry for the Sawyer familys loss and sincerely regrets the remarks that were made to the 911 callers by Trooper Robert Peasley. I also appreciate and understand your reaction to the Troopers handling of the calls. Please let me explain the actions Ive taken and the reasons for doing so.
After learning of the incident, the Commanding Officer of the Connecticut State Police ordered the Internal Affairs Unit to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 911 calls. Specifically, the Internal Affairs Unit was ordered to determine the specific order in which the 911 calls were received at the Troop, the remarks made by both Trooper Peasley and the dispatcher with whom he worked that day, and their actions in dispatching both State Police Troopers and emergency medical personnel to the scene. In doing so, Internal Affairs investigators interviewed every witness to the accident and all emergency services responders. The investigators also reviewed all available police and ambulance dispatch records and tape recordings of the 911 calls that reported the accident.
Internal Affairs investigators determined that, in response to a call for help, Trooper Peasley responded rudely and unprofessionally. When told of the street bike accident on Incinerator Road, Trooper Peasley said "too bad," and hung up the phone. In response to the next call from that scene, Trooper Peasley told the caller that State Police would respond and added "[you] shouldnt be playing games." About the same time, the dispatcher working with Trooper Peasley took another call from the scene and assured the caller that help was on the way. Importantly, the investigation revealed that despite the Troopers unprofessional, rude and inappropriate comments, both State Police and EMS personnel were dispatched promptly to the crash scene. Indeed, the reporting witness estimates that the first State Trooper arrived within five minutes of the accident. In short, the evidence shows that neither the dispatcher nor Trooper Peasley ignored the calls for help. They dispatched help to the scene within seconds of the first call.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Trooper Peasley fell far short of conduct that Connecticut residents expect and the Connecticut State Police demand from a Trooper. For that reason, Trooper Peasley, who has an unblemished 18-year career and who has often been praised by the public and his superiors for his dedication, has been suspended for 15 days without pay.
The State Police has a long and proud tradition of dedication to the people of this state. That tradition rests on the selfless efforts of many brave men and women who regularly place themselves in harms way to protect others. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so. This incident tarnishes that tradition and embarrasses this proud agency. At the least, we hope that we have learned from it and that it will not be repeated.
More importantly, our hearts go out to Justin Sawyers family and friends. And if the remarks of the Trooper have added in any way to their grief, we are deeply sorry.
Thank you again for writing and for allowing me to respond."
Sincerely,
Leonard C. Boyle
COMMISSIONER
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