Oklahoma Patrol: Trooper suspended for scuffle with paramedic

[yowzayowzayowza]

Source: CNN

(CNN) — An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was suspended Wednesday for five days without pay following a highly publicized scuffle with a paramedic in Okfuskee County in May, according to the Highway Patrol.

The incident, which was caught on dash-camera and cell-phone video, showed Trooper Daniel Martin pulling over a Creek Nation ambulance for a traffic-stop violation. During the incident Martin is heard repeatedly using profanity and twice getting into a scuffle with one of the paramedics.

<a lil snip>

At a news conference Wednesday, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Chris West said Martin “failed to recognized that it would have been more reasonable and appropriate to immediately allow the ambulance to continue to the hospital once he understood there was a patient onboard the ambulance.”

West also said Martin had “probable cause to make the traffic stop and justification to arrest the paramedic for obstructing a police officer” but that the incident “resulted in conduct unbecoming an officer.”

<Not much more>

Read more: http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/22/oklahoma-patrol-trooper-suspended-for-scuffle-with-paramedic/

---

Unbecoming indeed.

[BlooInBloo]

1. That's something at least. Hard to get solid wins against the terrorists.

[winyanstaz]

2. Good news...there is some justice still in America :)

however, the cop should have waited until AFTER the patient was in the hospital to stop the paramedic.
That officer should NEVER get a badge again.

[Ysabela]

6. He'd just join Blackwater if they revoke his badge.

They love having racist, ego-maniacal , violent, power-hungry douches.

[Bette Noir]

3. Um... isn't it legal for an ambulance to run a stop sign?

So where's the "probable cause"?

Oh, now I get it... it was a Creek Nation ambulance. So, the stop was kinda like when Skip Gates got arrested in his home this week.

[Mythsaje]

9. Oh, is THAT what it was?

I was wondering what kind of nitwit cop stops an ambulance.

[Politicalboi]

4. So if the ambulance driver was picking someone up

And the ambulance was empty that would have been alright? Wouldn't someone be waiting for the ambulance that's not coming?

[Ysabela]

5. About. F-ing. Time. n/t

[Divine Discontent]

7. I know! sheesh... glad he got blamed for 'unbecoming' behavior - aka being an ass... eom

[ecstatic]

8. That cop is clearly unhinged and is a menace to society

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4G37Ouy164

[cboy4]

10. The disciplinary letter says he will also have to "report for anger assessment."

Excellent, excellent news

OHP discipline letter to Trooper Daniel Martin------>http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/2009/07/oklahoma-trooper-daniel-martin.html

[opihimoimoi]

11. His type demands long sustained therapy....anger management sessions often inadequate

[Seldona]

12. Five days unpaid?

That is the biggest travesty of justice in this case so far.

If the equivalent behavior would have been exhibited by anyone other than someone 'connected' to law enforcement, he would have had several charges placed against him. Someone could have DIED as a result of his behavior.

You think if we endangered someone's life with a hissy fit, we would get five days off from work unpaid? Bullshit.

[Gman]

17. The guy might have a good record prior to this

losing a week's pay should be enough to get his attention. If this was this guy's first offense on a good record, I don't think it will be the last after watching this guy's attitude on the video.

[tavalon]

13. I watched that a while back

Definitely cringe worthy.

[47of74]

14. The driver gave the officer the finger? Yeah, right.

If I were to believe that I could probably be talked into buying the following;

[lib2DaBone]

15. Homeland Security, The TSA, Militarization of Local Police..

...I was hoping Obama would save money by reigning in the George Bush Storm Trooper nightmare.

[yowzayowzayowza]

25. Suggest loosening a quarter turn....

:tinfoilhat: ... and perhaps adding a yagi.

[formercia]

16. "Creek Nation ambulance"

Now I get it....

[CannabisRex]

18. NO probable cause

there was No probable cause. it is NOT illegal to raise any
finger you wish, as long as it is not intended to provoke a
violent retaliation.

  I researched this after my teenaged daughter was charged
with ' disorderly conduct' at her high school after flipping
off a driver that almost ran over her and two friends that
were crossing the street before school. A typically stupid
deputy sheriff doing school duty saw her and when she returned
to school told hern that it was ' an FBI agent' she flipped
off and that she was in trouble.

  She remained silent and refused to speak ( on my standing
orders) and the cop made a lying report saying she had been
seen by another cop as well. In court, the cop was not going
to show, but I had a paid attorney from out of town waiting
and the judge called the cop in. The cop admitted lying, that
there was no FBI agent...he said it was' a joke of
sorts'...and my attorney ripped him a new one until the judge
felt sorry enough for the cop to dismiss the charge and send
the red faced copper slinking from the courtroom, thoroughly
humiliated.

  It does NOT give a cop probable cause when you lift a
finger, any finger. unless you are trying to get someone to
fight...unless there is ' immanent violence', there is no
breach of the peace, which is what D.C. falls under.

  Under almost all conditions, flipping someone off is a
legally protected first Amendment right and the cop in this
case just got his ego bruised and wanted to show that' Indian'
who was going to demand ' respect' regardless of the law.
There was no charge legal and proper under thsi scenario and
the cop's boss stuck up for him ( partly) because cops ALWAYS
try and minimize the damage their pals do...out of a sick
sense of ' loyalty' that ignores the law and procedure
routinely.

  MOST cops today and far different than in the old
days...militarized, unwilling to tolerate any form of protest
from' civilians' and trained to lie on the stand and deny
rights. One thing to remember always: NEVER EVER give '
consent to search' without a warrant...never answer ANY
questions from a cop ( they start with nonsense questions they
have zero right to ask, such as " Where are you going
today?") and never ever give up control of the situation.
Let them know that ANY step out of line will be met with a
legal protest later...most will go away where the pickings are
easier.

  The local cops leave my family alone now...they know that
unless they have the goods it will cost them more than its'
worth.

[Tikki]

19. Hi..Welcome to DU..

Hope to read many more of your posts. :hi:

Good on you being there for your daughter...



Tikki

[madmom]

20. Are we so sensitive now that someone flipping us off is an arrestable offense? Jeesh!

[Javaman]

21. While the officer had "probable cause" that doesn't mean that

judgment and common sense automatically flies out the window.

Dealing with the EMT once at the hospital would have been the prudent action.

A stupid cop with an axe to grind does not make a peace officer.

[CannabisRex]

22. What Probable Cause?

the cop did NOT have any probable cause at all. Probable cause is the highest expression of presumed truth; it goes beyond mere ' reasonable grounds' and is defined as follows ( from memory ):

Probable cause is the KNOWLEDGE that a crime has been is being, or is about to be committed; the fact that flipping a finger is LEGAL means that there was NO probable cause. The cop was outraged because of his EGO , and nothing more. He simply would not tolerate anyone showing him any ' disrespect', and so he went crazy.

Probable cause is the standard for a warrant, or an arrest, far higher than reasonable grounds. here is an example of each:

Let's say that a jewelry store alarm goes off at 2 am , and a cop driving in the area sees a man walking down the street with jewelry dangling from his pockets. No one else is around. The cop could be said to have ' reasonable grounds' to stop and attempt to question the man, but until the jewelry could be linked to the theft there would be no grounds for an arrest. If it was proven by questioning or other evidence that the jewelry was from the store broken into, then the arrest could happen.

Of course the cop violate this all the time, arresting on presumption and hoping they are right...too bad for the innocent if they are...and we need civilian oversight of ALL cops in the USA at all times. It should be mandatory for all exchanges between cops and us to be videotaped and audio taped for later proof.

The fact that most cops HATE being filmed, even as they film US with impunity, means that they have lots to hide. Cops lie like we breathe, as a natural function of life, so they hate being recorded doing their devious'business'as usual. If all drivers had video cameras installed, we would see a lot less nonsense from the cops...the one thing cockroaches and cops have in common is a fear of the light..of the exposure of their dirty deeds, and that is the one thing we need more of...exposure and demand for justice when a cop violates rights.

Many thanks for the welcomes...I have been reading DU for years but now will be a part actively.

[Javaman]

24. The "probable cause" was a traffic voilation.

I'm not saying it makes sense. I'm just quoting from the article.

please, shoot another messenger, thank you.

[Strong Atheist]

26. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Jokerman]

23. A cop who needs "anger management training" should not be on the streets. n/t