Yup, and that appears to be an Institutional error, rather than just an individual one -- a warrant for evading arrest has to go through several hands, I'm pretty sure.
Still... I'd consider it more like "evil" or "wrong" than "stupid" for a police department to operate -- as they seem to be doing there -- on the basis of "obeying a police officer's order is more important than saving a human life". (Give or take a little, that seems to be what was going on, and I'm surprised only that the officer didn't use either a taser or a gun.) Mind you, it's likely that there'll be a major Public Outcry and most or all of the charges will be dropped... or at least that's what I'd have expected a few years ago; now... who knows?
It is evil. But to be expected. Outcry won't matter, I don't think.
I read a few more stories, and the husband DARED to use an obscenity with the cop. I think that if you are such a wimp, you shouldn't BE a cop, but I find that many cops are cowards that hide behind badges and guns.
I am ok with the local police, but for the most part, I have no respect for them, and if anyone tells me that is their career, I immediately put my defenses up as they are probably not the sort of human being I'd want to socialize with.
In the states (at least everywhere I've been aware of, calling 911 to say, "I'm treating red lights as stop signs when there is no traffic" isn't going to get to the cop", so that's nonsense.
San Jose has a real problem with "assaults" on officers. Basically they lead the nation in arrests for it; esp. those with force. Have a lot of lawsuits which seem to bear out that they were false arrests; because the city is losing.
When they review the cases... all the arrests are upheld as good arrests, with justifiable use of force.
I'm not convinced the several other hands were made aware of the facts of the case. Chances are the cop used the conventional language, which is designed to meet legal code standard and - possibly - to hide any deficiencies in the fact set.
Which only raises the bigger issue that cops are able to get warrants issued to stupid nonsense like this, without sharing the full fact set.
I have one nit to pick with the article: there's no way the cop could know that the husband was medically trained. Including that piece of information biases us in favor of the couple. And ya kno? There's plenty of facts that could be used honestly to bias us, no need to skew the article.
Glad to see cooler heads prevail. Including retroactive pay to Mr. Wright for the period of his suspension (one day).
I don't think I had a bias for the man because of that.
Here is what I saw.
Guy is going to ER, his wife is having a seizure.
He is using all *deliberate* speed. Not being reckless, only crossing empty streets after stopping, etc.
He is carrying her, somewhat insensible, form; and she is an amputee, so she looks a bit unable to start with
The cop bars the door, as he is trying to enter the ER.
That's where my WTF kicks in.
And the charges on the arrest sheet:
The charges included: traffic violations, evading arrest, assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and registration violation.
He was told to stay by the hospital. The cop left. We've see (cf Peter Watts) that the statutory meaning of assaulting a police officer can be as little as asking what the deal is.
One of the things I was thinking about yesterday is how I have come, as a blanket rule, to mistrust cops. I used to be cautious about them; they have a great deal of discretionary power. These days, I am torn between wanting to be craven, and feeling the need to remind them they work for me, and aren't a power unto themselves.
The more I learn about law enforcement from the inside, the less I am inclined to cooperate voluntarily. My stock phrase is drifted closer and closer to "Am I under arrest or am I leaving?" If the former, then I should have had rights read and lawyer called. If the latter, I head for the door. If I'm stopped at the door then, well, why haven't I been read my rights, eh?
I took it that way, but wanted to further point out I am coming to the point I don't need any help in being a bit biased against the cop. In part this is a vague mistrust of authority figures, but in part it's too many stories like this.
I'm not sure that was the journalist's intent; I took it simply as emphasis. Yes, Mr. Wright has medical experience enough to know that seconds count with a stroke. But I didn't need to know that to react the way I did, which was that the cop was so busy being an officious bastard that he disengaged whatever intellect he might have.
What really horrified me is that after the Wrights were taken back into the treatment area and the officer was told that Mr. Wright would have to remain because his wife was unable to speak, he still didn't acknowledge that it was a genuine medical emergency and proceeded to file all those charges. I don't altogether blame the judge; the judge and the D.A. know only what the officer has told them, and a little selective editing would have been all that was necessary to make it sound like the Wrights were using the E.R. to evade the officer. But that kind of abuse of authority is exactly why most adults, despite what they may have been taught as kids, regard cops with wariness.
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 07:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 07:31 am (UTC)Still... I'd consider it more like "evil" or "wrong" than "stupid" for a police department to operate -- as they seem to be doing there -- on the basis of "obeying a police officer's order is more important than saving a human life". (Give or take a little, that seems to be what was going on, and I'm surprised only that the officer didn't use either a taser or a gun.) Mind you, it's likely that there'll be a major Public Outcry and most or all of the charges will be dropped... or at least that's what I'd have expected a few years ago; now... who knows?
no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 08:31 am (UTC)I read a few more stories, and the husband DARED to use an obscenity with the cop. I think that if you are such a wimp, you shouldn't BE a cop, but I find that many cops are cowards that hide behind badges and guns.
I am ok with the local police, but for the most part, I have no respect for them, and if anyone tells me that is their career, I immediately put my defenses up as they are probably not the sort of human being I'd want to socialize with.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 11:39 am (UTC)Should have called "911" to explain? While he was driving? That's illegal in the UK. Strokes, I understand, are something where timing is critical.
It does look like there's some institutional bias there, beyond what might be called formal caution over a case in progress.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 04:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 07:32 pm (UTC)When they review the cases... all the arrests are upheld as good arrests, with justifiable use of force.
Right.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 07:17 pm (UTC)Which only raises the bigger issue that cops are able to get warrants issued to stupid nonsense like this, without sharing the full fact set.
I have one nit to pick with the article: there's no way the cop could know that the husband was medically trained. Including that piece of information biases us in favor of the couple. And ya kno? There's plenty of facts that could be used honestly to bias us, no need to skew the article.
Glad to see cooler heads prevail. Including retroactive pay to Mr. Wright for the period of his suspension (one day).
no subject
Date: 2010-06-22 07:27 pm (UTC)Here is what I saw.
Guy is going to ER, his wife is having a seizure.
He is using all *deliberate* speed. Not being reckless, only crossing empty streets after stopping, etc.
He is carrying her, somewhat insensible, form; and she is an amputee, so she looks a bit unable to start with
The cop bars the door, as he is trying to enter the ER.
That's where my WTF kicks in.
And the charges on the arrest sheet:
The charges included: traffic violations, evading arrest, assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and registration violation.
He was told to stay by the hospital. The cop left. We've see (cf Peter Watts) that the statutory meaning of assaulting a police officer can be as little as asking what the deal is.
One of the things I was thinking about yesterday is how I have come, as a blanket rule, to mistrust cops. I used to be cautious about them; they have a great deal of discretionary power. These days, I am torn between wanting to be craven, and feeling the need to remind them they work for me, and aren't a power unto themselves.
And that worries me.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-23 12:30 am (UTC)This makes me very sad.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-23 12:34 am (UTC)I would like to see the cop charged with reckless endangerment, of Mrs. Wright's life.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-23 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-23 01:00 am (UTC)What really horrified me is that after the Wrights were taken back into the treatment area and the officer was told that Mr. Wright would have to remain because his wife was unable to speak, he still didn't acknowledge that it was a genuine medical emergency and proceeded to file all those charges. I don't altogether blame the judge; the judge and the D.A. know only what the officer has told them, and a little selective editing would have been all that was necessary to make it sound like the Wrights were using the E.R. to evade the officer. But that kind of abuse of authority is exactly why most adults, despite what they may have been taught as kids, regard cops with wariness.
Personally, I hope he loses his badge.