[kellyhound]

Dallas Police Chief David Brown has fired an officer who drove off while a woman whose children had been kidnapped at gunpoint tried to flag him down.

Senior Cpl. Les Richardson, a 28-year department veteran, was one of two officers Brown fired Wednesday. Brown also gave out a 45-day suspension.

Richardson, 61, had volunteered to cover officers at a burglary-in-progress call on the morning of Aug. 25.

While en route, police said dispatchers announced that there had been shots fired and a suspect had rammed a woman’s car in the area where Richardson was driving.

He then drove by a woman who was shouting at him that “That’s him, that’s him, right there.”

“Right here what, baby? I’m on a call,” he said before quickly driving off.

The woman was referring to her ex, Steven Douglas, who had rammed her car with his pickup and then taken two children out of her car at gunpoint.

Hours later, Douglas led police on a chase after they spotted him. After he hit a van, he ran away on foot.

An officer who caught up to him and witnesses say Douglas pointed the gun at the officer. The officer fired his gun, killing Douglas, 29.

The children had been given to a family member and were unharmed.

Richardson was placed on administrative leave after the woman told investigators what happened.

The department released dash cam video of the incident, which also shows him smoking a cigarette in the patrol car.

Richardson’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brown also fired Leroy Sharp, a southwest patrol officer, for taking 121 days off work with permission last year.

Sharp left work early March 21, saying he was sick. He later said he would need to be off work for awhile.

Sharp’s initial leave of absence was approved through July 2013, but his commanders denied a subsequent request. Sharp still didn’t show up to work.

And Officer Doyle Wynn was suspended 45 days for failing to fill out a domestic violence report on Nov. 5, 2013, for a woman who had “visible injuries,” police said.

Wynn took the woman back to her home while the suspect was still there and waited while she got her personal property, police said.

While Wynn was under investigation, a supervisor caught him sleeping in his squad car Dec. 20, 2013, after he had been dispatched to a theft in progress call.

The supervisor tapped on the window and told him to go to the call, which he arrived at 37 minutes after he had been dispatched.

All three officers have the right to appeal their discipline under civil service rules.

[TheVrist]

A police force full of fail

[commondenom]

indeed....but good to read these stories....this means that the higher ups are taking notice of the publics feelings and doing something about it.....fingers crossed we get to read many many more stories like this as the state of the police force in the US is shocking....half of the guys couldn't run around a block let alone catch a fleeing crook and the other half are on the take and they're ALL too twitchy and paranoid

[30564U]

Well...there's just no way to fix this one no matter how hard I try. There can be no excuse for the officer's stupidity, laziness, and ineptitude...other than working too long as a beat cop. He's just gotten too complacent after 28 years. Very very few individuals can handle working as a patrol officer for that many years...most folks just burn out and it's time to retire. I realized this in myself when it was time to go...you just get weird and set in your ways. Police work needs a fresh perspective and is a young man's game. I do not agree that the chief needed to fire this officer...after 28 years of service the chief should just get him off the street and put him somewhere where he can't hurt anyone for the next two years so the guy can retire with his 30 years. Aside from that point of contention...the officer should have his butt kicked and lose some money...but not fired. He also should be forced to stop smoking on duty. Nothing looks trashier that a uniformed officer smoking a cigarette or chewing tobacco. It just gives the wrong impression.

[30564U]

Originally Posted by commondenom ↗

indeed....but good to read these stories....this means that the higher ups are taking notice of the publics feelings and doing something about it.....fingers crossed we get to read many many more stories like this as the state of the police force in the US is shocking....half of the guys couldn't run around a block let alone catch a fleeing crook and the other half are on the take and they're ALL too twitchy and paranoid

That's bullshit...I'm was neither unable to chase and catch a bad guy nor was I ever "on the take". And I certainly was never twitchy or paranoid. In fact, I never ever worked with anyone who was on the take, twitchy, or paranoid. Stop being hysterical...you know that's a dumb over simplified statement. You're better than that.

[winnn420]

wow! cop or not that dude was a douche bag! couldn't give 2 fucks about a screaming citizen even after hearing reports of shots fired in the area?? Hard to believe there wasn't other incidents in his 28 years.

[30564U]

Originally Posted by winnn420 ↗

wow! cop or not that dude was a douche bag! couldn't give 2 fucks about a screaming citizen even after hearing reports of shots fired in the area?? Hard to believe there wasn't other incidents in his 28 years.

Given the termination...kinda make you wonder doesn't it?

[Oswald2001]

Originally Posted by winnn420 ↗

wow! cop or not that dude was a douche bag! couldn't give 2 fucks about a screaming citizen even after hearing reports of shots fired in the area?? Hard to believe there wasn't other incidents in his 28 years.

************************************************** *************
"The woman was referring to her ex, Steven Douglas, who had rammed her car with his pickup and then taken two children out of her car at gunpoint."

************************************************** *************

People like this psycho woman create their own psycho dramas over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...

If you respond to them quickly, they'll just do the same thing again all the sooner.

[Pyramid_Head]

Some people never cease to amaze me.

[Shakey]

Sounded like an uppity black.