Police state???

**Badawg** · 04-22-2009, 06:44 PM

Have you guys seen this? I cannot for the life of me figure out WTF this officer was thinking he was doing... Arresting a newsguy for reporting the news is definitely not a good thing, and I am appalled by this guys actions.

When the fourth estate can no longer report on what Government and the citizens are doing, the republic sinks like a stone...

Would any of you LEOs like to comment on it?

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/cri...ter.arrest.cnn

**crashdive123** · 04-22-2009, 06:59 PM

I've seen the video a couple of times and read some on-line reports regarding it. Here's what I would need to know in order to conclude whether or not the officers actions were justified: What happened prior to the start of the popular clip we've seen. While it is reported that the reporter was stopped in the emergency lane where several other vehicles were stopped, was the LEO trying to clear a path fro rescue vehicles? They were on the opposite side of the highway - were they causing a hazard by stopping people at the scene (on the other side of the fence) while fire and rescue were trying to do their jobs? Were others being told to clear the area as well? There are too many unanswered questions for me to condem the actions of the officer. Not saying he was right, or wrong - just saying I don't have enough information.

**Badawg** · 04-22-2009, 07:22 PM

I don't see how that incident could be construed in any way as anything but rotten behavior by that LEO. It was obvious he was filming and was press. It was obvious he was not adding to the mess on the other side of the fence, and it was obvious that the reporter attempted to comply with the orders barked out by this rabid LEO.

I'll tell you right now that that man running around with a loaded firearm does not make me feel safe... I am sure there are extenuating circumstances, but unless the reporter was telling the cop to shove it or was some sort of threat, there is no excuse for the man-handling both he and the camera man received.

Here is some more video and also video of the local PD after the incident. Something tells me we haven't heard the last of this...

http://www.kvia.com/global/story.asp?s=10216950

**crashdive123** · 04-22-2009, 07:31 PM

You may be right. The report said that the reporter was attempting to stop and interview people on the other side of the fence. Were authorities trying to clear that area of all but essential personnel in order to clean up the scene and get traffic moving again. Were they trying to clear non-essential personnel in order for rescue vehicles and personnel to have better access? I don't know. Maybe I was reacting more to the title of your thread. If (and I do mean if) the LEO was out of line, that hardly qualifies as a Police State. Now, if it is determined that he was in the wrong and his lietenant, captain and chief all deny it and start arresting people that report on it.... then I think we may have crossed into the realm of police state.

**Badawg** · 04-22-2009, 07:40 PM

I agree with most of what you say. Especially that last part. It's important that the chickens come home to roost. Similar incidents are happening all over the place though, and it's a known fact that all kinds of reporting on the Iraq war and the last administration was suppressed, but I digress into politics which is Verboten so I'll shut up now.

I know there are LEOs on this list, and I ask all of you: Look at the behavior exhibited by this Sergeant, and if you see it in your colleagues, don't let it slide. It might be some guy on the street now, but next time it could be your cousin, brother, father, friend... And when a man is that agitated and has a gun, bad things happen...

**Rick** · 04-22-2009, 07:43 PM

I don't know. It's the first I've seen of it and BASED SOLELY ON THAT VIDEO I'm not certain the officer did anything improper. You have an interstate highway (or at least a multi-lane) that traffic is slowing down on. If the officer thought the stopped vehicles constituted a traffic hazard then I think he is within his rights to ask them to move. The fact they are reporters is secondary to the issue. Even the news anchor seemed to side with the cop when he repeated over and over, "A police scene".

I agree with Crash on this. Even if the officer turns out to be completely wrong it hardly constitutes a police state.

**tonester** · 04-22-2009, 08:09 PM

if the reporter would have listened in the first place none of that would have happened. once the officer starts putting on the hand cuffs then thats when the reporter says he will go ahead and leave... to late for that, he shouldve listened the first time. the officer wasnt trying to stop him from reporting the news, he just wanted him off the scene. the reporter could have done interviews and could have reported whatever he wanted to from a safe distance... theres no reason to be so close to a scene of an accident unless you are a first responder or trying to save some ones life, if you are not there for that reason then get out of the way.

**Ken** · 04-22-2009, 09:43 PM

I've watched several different clips on this story. This officer was just in the sh*t last month on a variety of charges, including abuse. In this case, he was also clearly wrong. Just before he arrested these reporters, he threatened to arrest a nurse (the ONLY person attending to an injured person) if he did not leave as well.

This cop, like a minority but still far too many others, clearly abuses his authority and lacks the temperament and discretion required by his job.

He should be fired.

**Rick** · 04-22-2009, 10:30 PM

Odd that he made sergeant with those qualities. Either he has changed, the qualifications are messed up or something else is wrong.

**Nativedude** · 04-22-2009, 11:11 PM

That Sgt. has had other grievances filed against him for "over-exertion of authority" by citizens that weren't so lucky to have a video camera capture it all, and he threatened to arrest a nurse on scene that was helping one of the victims. What kind of BS it that?

He clearly over stepped his bounds with the news crew, who was, after all, doing their job. . . .What their paid to do!

When I was a Paramedic, we had news crews, sometimes 3 or 4, on scene, and never once did any cop try to run off or threaten to arrest a reporter or cameraman that was reporting on the accident.

I don't know what was wrong with that Sgt., but I agree with Ken. . ."he should be fired!"

**Badawg** · 04-22-2009, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Ken

I've watched several different clips on this story. This officer was just in the sh*t last month on a variety of charges, including abuse. In this case, he was also clearly wrong. Just before he arrested these reporters, he threatened to arrest a nurse (the ONLY person attending to an injured person) if he did not leave as well.

This cop, like a minority but still far too many others, clearly abuses his authority and lacks the temperament and discretion required by his job.

He should be fired.

Ken, share your sources please? Sounds like a good read...

Definitely abusive behavior. Maybe he was bummed he didn't get to work at Abu Grabass? And like I said before, it starts with little things you know, like "Don't taze me bro", and the next thing you know the only news we get is Faux news, Fairly unbalanced...

**Ken** · 04-22-2009, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Badawg

Ken, share your sources please? Sounds like a good read...

http://www.kdbc.com/Global/story.asp...av=menu608_2_3

http://www.newspapertree.com/news/37...f-cop-reaction

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_121876...CE0DA4EF2.html

http://wfmz.com/view/?id=802896

http://news.aol.com/article/police-o...eporter/439188

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517482,00.html

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp...24525&nav=AbC0

http://www.inquisitr.com/22493/in-te...ting-the-news/

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_121876...CE0DA4EF2.html

**Ole WV Coot** · 04-22-2009, 11:23 PM

Police state, NO. Now it's a different story in a few small towns, depending on your last name and who you know.

**Rick** · 04-22-2009, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Coot

Police state, NO. Now it's a different story in a few small towns, depending on your last name and who you know.

Now THAT'S the truth! Always has been and always will be in small town America.

**trax** · 04-23-2009, 10:57 AM

That cop behaving like that doesn't make for a police state, however, if that cop gets away with doing that...yeah, that is the essence of a police state. The argument always comes back of number of such incidents or it being an isolated incident, but I believe a country has principles or it doesn't, ergo...

I know a couple of LEO's personally who I believe do a great job and I can certainly respect the stresses that kind of work are probably close to unimaginable to most of us, but you're supposed to be aware of that when you pin on the badge.....

I also believe that there are a lot more incidents like that which go unreported or there doesn't happen to be a camera handy to catch the action. Ken's right, that cop should be fired.