I totally disagree with this department's internal affairs unit's conclusion and the Chief of Police's punishment. This is the result of a chief getting political and community pressure and caving in to it. During my career I investigated thousands of use of force incidents and this is a complete bow to political correctness. The idiot in the wheelchair looked right at the cop and intentionally rolled right over his foot...in case your wondering, that's battery on a peace officer. If the district attorney failed to file charges then that's another politically correct coward that's elected by the community...a God damned lawyer and a politician. That's like being a retard and a child molester.
Other than get the guy in the wheelchair off his foot...what is it exactly that the officer did wrong? If this wasn't some handicapped guy in a wheelchair, but a non-handicapped guy intentionally stomping on the officer's foot...how would it look? Nobody would have batted an eye...but because the guy's in a protected class, everyone goes all spastic. Let's look at this from another perspective. All I hear is that handicapped folks just need a chance and maybe a little extra help to be productive and "just like everyone else". Now when the officer treats this guy like the jackass he is and knocks him over...all the politicians and paper pushers shit a cow. That officer should be commended for not seeing that idiot's handicap and treating him just like anyone else that committed battery on a peace officer.
What would everyone say if I told you that this guy has a prior criminal history and a history of acting like a dick toward local officers and hiding behind his disability? Would that make you look at this differently? How about if I told you the guy was a registered sex offender and had priors for molesting and annoying children? Would that make a difference?
I really don't see the officer using unnecessary or unreasonable force during this encounter. Just because someone's in a wheelchair doesn't mean he isn't or can't be a significant threat to others.
I agree, I kind of sighed when I read the headline. But then read that he claimed to have a gun and knife and going to/at a school....lucky the crip didnt get shot.
