US police officer rebuked for drawing gun in snowball fight

[dcentity2000]

A senior police official in Washington DC has said an off-duty officer who drew a gun at a snowball fight behaved in a "totally inappropriate" way.

Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said video footage left "no doubt" the officer drew his gun after his vehicle, a Hummer, was pelted with snowballs.

The footage showed an angry crowd gathering, chanting: "You don't bring a gun to a snowball fight".

Ms Lanier said the officer had been placed on desk duty.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8425683.stm

For goodness' sake...



Rich::

 

[DarthKTrava]

He shouldn't have overracted about it. It was a freaking SNOWBALL FIGHT, not a Shootout At The OK Corral.....

 

[Jennasis]

That officer was so out of line.

 

[Jex]

So its ok to throw snowballs at passing motorist? I mean I outgrew that when I was young, not saying to wrongs make a right but look at it from his point of view.

 

[Hercules10]

Vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZuU0vw2k60

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well I can't say that any snowball incident requires a road range response.

What an idiot.

(and no throwing snowballs isn't okay--but seriously--a gun draw?)

 

[Jennasis]

So its ok to throw snowballs at passing motorist? I mean I outgrew that when I was young, not saying to wrongs make a right but look at it from his point of view.

Of course it's not okay, but I am sure you didn't mean to imply that throwing snowballs at a car warranted pulling one's gun.

 

[Jex]

Of course it's not okay, but I am sure you didn't mean to imply that throwing snowballs at a car warranted pulling one's gun.

While I don't agree with how he handled himself, LEO's are trained to understand the dangers of a mob and "mob mentality" it could have went very bad for him if he had not showed dominence.

 

[krcit]

While I don't agree with how he handled himself, LEO's are trained to understand the dangers of a mob and "mob mentality" it could have went very bad for him if he had not showed dominence.

It seemed to me that the 'mob mentality' started when he pulled a gun out after someone hit him(or his car) with a snowball. He should've stayed in his 80k car and called back-up.

 

[Hercules10]

While I don't agree with how he handled himself, LEO's are trained to understand the dangers of a mob and "mob mentality" it could have went very bad for him if he had not showed dominence.

While I might agree with you in a true mob situation. He never had a reason to get out of his vehicle to begin with. A snowball pelting hardly qualifies as a threatening situation.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

While I don't agree with how he handled himself, LEO's are trained to understand the dangers of a mob and "mob mentality" it could have went very bad for him if he had not showed dominence.

A regular citizen could have (and would have) been arrested for showing such dominence.

 

[Jex]

A regular citizen could have (and would have) been arrested for showing such dominence.

Well of course they would have while DC has one of the highest rates of gun crime, its citizens are not allowed to own them, especially not carry one or brandish. I said I dont think what he did was ok, but bottom line is if you don't like the way police treat you when you commit a crime, dont commit the crime. Throwing a snowball at a moving vehicle is a crime.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

He should have tazed their snowballs.

 

[happygirl]

I'm going to give this officer every benefit I can. He was driving the road and see a group of people, next thing he knows he feels and hears something hit his car. I would assume that they were trying to start trouble.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

they might need to rethink if they need his services as an officer. He might become a liability to the department.

 

[lovemygoofy]

The police officer has been put on desk duty and had his weapon removed. The city powers are not happy with him. It was well known that the snow ball fight was going to happen and was happening.

Getting out of the car already showing the gun and then getting in people's faces was completely uncalled for. MORE police were called after this guy was there causing the scene all becausesome snowballs hit his hummer.

 

[Jex]

they might need to rethink if they need his services as an officer. He might become a liability to the department.

With 30 years of service with no disclipnery< sp action, I doubt he his a liability.

 

[happygirl]

The police officer has been put on desk duty and had his weapon removed. The city powers are not happy with him. It was well known that the snow ball fight was going to happen and was happening.

Getting out of the car already showing the gun and then getting in people's faces was completely uncalled for. MORE police were called after this guy was there causing the scene all becausesome snowballs hit his hummer.

I would have caused a scene as well if my car was hit by adults with a snowball. You wouldn;t

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

With 30 years of service with no disclipnery< sp action, I doubt he his a liability.

you become a liability when you show bad judgement, and a willingness to expose your department to litigation for unjustifiable actions, it has nothing to do with longetivity.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I would have caused a scene as well if my car was hit by adults with a snowball. You wouldn;t

No probably not. I thought it was awesome seeing a bunch of people out there having snow ball fights. It was snow not a rock for goodness sake. The man getting out showing a gun like he was Dirty Harry was uncalled for.