LEO intimidates restaurant customers--UPDATE
Video tape is now posted: Use link below (Full story)
And we wonder why respect for police officers is deteriorating. I saw the tape on the news. The LEO is a total jack$$$. This POS needs to be retired.
"A Memphis Police Commander, the fourth in the chain of command, is under investigation for police intimidation. It all started over a table at a pancake restaurant.
Jonathan Simpson and his friends went to eat at a local restaurant last week. As they were about to sit down, they were told to move; not by the waitress but by Inspector Don Drewry of the Memphis Police Department.
In exclusive surveillance video obtained by Action News 5, Jonathan Simpson and his friends walked into the Pancake Shop on Summer Avenue.
"Ma'am do you mind if we sit here," said Simpson. The waitress nods yes. But, Inspector Don Drewry came in behind them.
"This is a police table. You have to leave," Drewry was heard saying.
Full story
And we wonder why respect for police officers is deteriorating. I saw the tape on the news. The LEO is a total jack$$$. This POS needs to be retired.
"A Memphis Police Commander, the fourth in the chain of command, is under investigation for police intimidation. It all started over a table at a pancake restaurant.
Jonathan Simpson and his friends went to eat at a local restaurant last week. As they were about to sit down, they were told to move; not by the waitress but by Inspector Don Drewry of the Memphis Police Department.
In exclusive surveillance video obtained by Action News 5, Jonathan Simpson and his friends walked into the Pancake Shop on Summer Avenue.
"Ma'am do you mind if we sit here," said Simpson. The waitress nods yes. But, Inspector Don Drewry came in behind them.
"This is a police table. You have to leave," Drewry was heard saying.
Full story
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If anyone is still interested, you can google COMMERCIALAPPEAL.COM and see what you come up with. I did a search for "jonathan simpson" in the past 14 days and got no hits. I don't know when this incident occurred so yoou may have better luck. I live S. of Memphis and it is one of the major papers here.
EDIT Whoops, looked up wrong name, shud have been DON DREWRY. I guess it's time for bed!! T0 -
Sorry for the long rant.
There seems to be a lot of COP haters & bashers around here. In my younger Harley riding days I was harassed by a few LEO's, and I over came it. It didn't cause me any irreparable harm, and I didn't sue anyone ether. Back then America wasn't as sue happy as they are now. My problems with the Police when I was a teenager only made me want to be a better Police Officer.
I didn't give this Jerk a pass, and I didn't read anything that made me think Nunn or many of the other LEO's here did ether. But, there are a few of you who love to take advantage of any opportunity that comes along whereby LEO's are put in a bad light. Nunn and I have never met personally, we have spoken on the phone before, but we have never met. However, when someone starts slamming him for being an LEO, I'll be quick to come to his aid, and I would do the same for any other LEO also. You want to jump on David for being a moderator, then go right ahead. Some of the things that he has done on GB I felt were a bit heavy handed, but he did them under the guise of being a moderator, not an LEO. He is a gun smith, and he has a lot to offer us here, and his opinion is valued. But, attack him for being an LEO, and you're attacking me and many others here also.
Look, we are human just like you are. Most of us became LEO's because we wanted to serve the public, not rule over it. It isn't about a power trip like some here think. Those types of officers are usually weeded out at the academy level.
When I became an LEO I quickly learned that the only individuals who are on your side are fellow LEO's. This camaraderie is what keeps a LEO's head above water. We learn that the department, and the State, County, or local agency you work far is not there to watch out for your best interest. The only one who has your back is another LEO. This has also bred a problem with what some call the "Thin Blue Line". LEO's don't like to rat on a fellow officer, because they know they might need to depend on another officer to cover their backsides someday. This can become an inherent problem when trying to investigate a personnel complaint.
A lot of LEO's will not have anything of value such as property in their names. They usually keep it in their spouse's name. They know a moments notice that Joe Public can fabricate a complaint that may cause them to lose everything they own, even if they end up winning in the long run. This is also why LEO's are not so quick to judge another LEO. They want to give them the benefit of the doubt if possible. Every complaint must be investigated. In 31 years as an LEO I have had several complaints made about me. I have been able to rise above all of them, and every last one of them was false. I once wanted to sue a person civilly for the false charges he filed on me, but my agency calmed me down and talked me out of it. There was no Union who came to my help. It cost me $1800 in attorney fees to stop my department from taking action against me without first investigating the incident. When they finally did they saw the complaint was false.
I am the Internal Affairs Officer for my department, and I see BS complaints all the time. Some have merit, and when they do action is taken. Unless someone pressed the issue under FOIA, the action taken is kept in the personnel file of the agency, and isn't for public viewing. This is different if a criminal charge is being pursued.
What this jerk did looks badly at first glance when you watch the video, but there are two sides to a story, and you just can't pass judgment until all sides have been interviewed. I'll be the first to say that this administrator is on a slippery slope here, but I would also be the first one to come to his defense when Joe Public starts their dog piling, and gang banging on him. He is innocent until found guilty, but he does have a lot of egg on his face.
Tailgunner, I'm still waiting for the Lautenberg references. I can't find any LEO exemptions.
Trinity +++0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
. . .
When I became an LEO I quickly learned that the only individuals who are on your side are fellow LEO's. This camaraderie is what keeps a LEO's head above water. We learn that the department, and the State, County, or local agency you work far is not there to watch out for your best interest. The only one who has your back is another LEO. This has also bred a problem with what some call the "Thin Blue Line". LEO's don't like to rat on a fellow officer, because they know they might need to depend on another officer to cover their backsides someday. This can become an inherent problem when trying to investigate a personnel complaint.
Precisely the mentality shared by all cops---cover it up.
I mispoke when I said 'Cops have no respect for anyone.' Cops have no respect, period. They have earned this reputation.
Clouder..
Clouder..0 -
These kids now have an arrest record. Going to be hard for them to get a job for a long time. 0 -
Whiteclouder,
I wouldn't expet you of all LEO haters here on GB to understand.
No one said anything about covering anything up. That is your BS attempt to take my words out of context to try and prove your silly point. It is also proof of what I am saying. You are the type of person who would file a false report just to mess with an LEO. Your they type of person who makes other LEO's watch each others backs.[:(!]
Trinity +++0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
Whiteclouder,
I wouldn't expet you of all LEO haters here on GB to understand.
No one said anything about covering anything up. That is your BS attempt to take my words out of context to try and prove your silly point. It is also proof of what I am saying. You are the type of person who would file a false report just to mess with an LEO. Your they type of person who makes other LEO's watch each others backs.[:(!]
Trinity +++
How can it be out of context, cop, the entire paragraph is given to provide just that? And you're exactly right, I AM the type who will make you watch what you're doing. I don't FEAR you. You screw up, I'm going to call you on it---instantly.
Clouder..0 -
It comes down to this.
When you carry a gun, and wear a badge and have arrest powers, you cannot AFFORD to have a bad day. You are the cop first, and human second. The things you do in the midst of a powertrip have the potential to imprison, discredit for life, or kill the people YOU ARE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE! Excuses are pathetic!
Some of you badge-y types are as bad as black folks wanting to excuse your own ilk for anything, rationlize anything, "what-if?"-everyone to death with pointless mental gymnastics. All to pander to that "thin blue line" instead of using your heads.
Accountability and moral consistency are essential to preserving integrity. Without integrity in the PTBs there is no respect and without respect we have what we have today. Ever-increasing Balkanization and fractalization of different camps with different agendas, all squabbling and squealing for LESS accountability...oh, and more tax dollars.
Sick. America is sick and sad. It's everyone's fault. Mine too.
D.0 -
quote:Originally posted by drobs
These kids now have an arrest record. Going to be hard for them to get a job for a long time.
+
And no doubt having to watch out for the putz's buddies watching them.
Don0 -
"How can it be out of context, cop, the entire paragraph is given to provide just that? And you're exactly right, I AM the type who will make you watch what you're doing. I don't FEAR you. You screw up, I'm going to call you on it---instantly."
It is out of context, because I said we cover each others backs. I didn't say we cover things up, that was your assumption of what I said. What I meant was we watch out for each other. No one else will, so we have too. Any LEO who breaks he law and relies on his fellow officers to cover his a$$ isn't worth his salt, and should be excommunicated from the business. You don't need to watch me or anyone else. We are not here to make you be afraid, and you don't have to worry about us screwing up. There are already too many watchful eyes out there doing this, so you don't need to act sanctimonious and warn anyone how you would instantly do anything.
When was the last time you donated any of your free time to public service? When was the last time you did a neighborly act? When was the last time you did anything to help or assist your fellow man? First off, you would have to drop the remote control, and get your duff off the sofa to really get involved in any real life situation that helped better someone besides yourself.
Trinity +++0 -
TS
When I find a few hours I can devote to a search I'll look for it. Until than I have to rely on my memory. BTW, as a rule I have nothing but respect for LEO's, but I'm not blind to abuse of the authority either.
Having been on the "other" side of a IA complaint, I have a quote for you, from the head of the Pontiac, MI IA dept "the officers will come in, state their names and take the 5th on all other questions. Unless they implicate themselves, or a independent witness comes forward, your claim will be found to be groundless".
The followup to that story is that 6 months later those 2 "fine officers" (that had never had a complaint aganst them) were headed for several decades in prison for using a passed out drunk for baton strike practice. It's to bad that A) they told the responding EMS driver to "sit back down we're not done yet" and
the responding EMS driver recognised the victem as a fellow EMS driver.
So you know where you can put all that "we police our own" garbage.0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
Sorry for the long rant.
When I became an LEO I quickly learned that the only individuals who are on your side are fellow LEO's.
Trinity +++
So you think that Fire and EMS personnel are "on the other side"? You think that the Armed Forces are "on the other side"? That is the kind of attitude that makes LEOs look like idiots. I am USN (ret) with 23 years service. I have served in the past as a reserve LEO, as a volunteer EMT, and as the Chief of a volunteer fire department, but I am an enemy of LEOs because I am not one? Get a grip, your paranoia is showing[V][V]0 -
Please continue.............. 0 -
As Mom and Dad told me "The policemen are your friends".
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
When was the last time you donated any of your free time to public service? When was the last time you did a neighborly act? When was the last time you did anything to help or assist your fellow man? First off, you would have to drop the remote control, and get your duff off the sofa to really get involved in any real life situation that helped better someone besides yourself.
Well to answer that question for me, every week. I have over 300 hours of community service this year. Last year it was 500. I know I have broken the 4,000 hour requirement for the lifetime presidents award. Unfortunately by volunteering with the police dept. the citizens look down on us because we have badges, and the cops look down on us because we don't have arrest powers and they think we are after their overtime(even though we come out in the middle of the night in bad weather to relieve them on the road for power lines and tree and accidents). The city looks down on us period, but then that is Cleveland.0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
When was the last time you donated any of your free time to public service? When was the last time you did a neighborly act? When was the last time you did anything to help or assist your fellow man? First off, you would have to drop the remote control, and get your duff off the sofa to really get involved in any real life situation that helped better someone besides yourself.
Trinity +++
Ohhhh, I'm waiting for this one. This is goonna get good!0 -
quote:Originally posted by TrinityScrimshaw
[brIt is out of context because I said we cover each others backs.
All right Nunn, you gonna "cover his backside" and let the name calling slide? I'm taking bets.
Bets? I reckon you lose. I edited the name-calling here and there.
nunn
Doin' what comes natural.
Clouder..0 -
i would tell them that there was no note on the table saying this table was reserved and when we get done,they can have the table..no way will i get up from a table just because some police officers wanted to sit there,,,heck i wouldnt do it for anyone 0 -
I can't speak for Michigan. I don't think I was ever in Michigan. I can tell you this about how it works in Texas.
An officer who is the subject of an INTERNAL investigation cannot "plead the Fifth," unless he wants to be immediately terminated for refusing to cooperate with the investigation. We have to answer questions. We have to make statements. The statement form contains a Garrity warning. Basically it states that we have to cooperate but that the statement cannot be release to an investigator of a concurrent CRIMINAL investigation, and cannot be used against us at a CRIMINAL trial. As long as it is purely an internal investigation, we have no choice but to cooperate or hit the door.
Maybe the cops in Michigan have a stronger union, but the system we have for policing ourselves works pretty well. It isn't comfortable being in the hot seat, and I have been there a few times, but it is a necessary function.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dawnie
i would tell them that there was no note on the table saying this table was reserved and when we get done,they can have the table..no way will i get up from a table just because some police officers wanted to sit there,,,heck i wouldnt do it for anyone
Heh heh,
But you could just call David, and get it straightened out[}:)][:0][:D]
You notice, even though the kids complied with the putz's wishes, he still shook them down, violated their rights, (at least their 1st and 4th) and for what? because he did not like what he overheard them saying? My bet is the judge tossed the charges as soon as he heard the charges, but their is still a arrest record, (along with fingerprint card) that IIRC, the kids will have to file a court action to have removed from record.
The fact that the LEO's on this board, after seeing the tape, and reading the report, did not condemn the putz is very discouraging, and a indicator of a big problem with law enforcement today.
Don0 -
quote:The fact that the LEO's on this board, after seeing the tape, and reading the report, did not condemn the putz is very discouraging, and a indicator of a big problem with law enforcement today.
I suggest you go back and READ what I and the other officers have posted. How you could come away with the notion that we do not condemn this sort of behavior is beyond me. I just thought the notion of terminating him and stealing from him his retirement account was a little harsh, and illegal.
I would still like to see how this ends up.0 -
Update. The administator resigned, but it isn't over yet.
http://wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=69757310 -
quote:Originally posted by nunn
quote:The fact that the LEO's on this board, after seeing the tape, and reading the report, did not condemn the putz is very discouraging, and a indicator of a big problem with law enforcement today.
I suggest you go back and READ what I and the other officers have posted. How you could come away with the notion that we do not condemn this sort of behavior is beyond me. I just thought the notion of terminating him and stealing from him his retirement account was a little harsh, and illegal.
I would still like to see how this ends up.
David,
He abused his authority, not only did he bully the kids out of their table, he proceeded to violate their civil rights, 1st by searching them, then by arresting them, something I don't think you, or TS or Laredo lefty would do, or even consider doing.
He should NEVER be in a position where he could abuse his authority again, and how could you possibly think he could continue to work in law enforcement without repeating this behavior? And what pray tell do you think he could possibly do to regain the public trust?
You stated you have insurance against this kind lawsuit, who pays the premium on this policy? is it payroll deduction? or does the city (taxpayers) pay it? after the insurance pays off a million dollar blunder, how much do you think the premium will go up? especially if corrective action is not taken?
As far as his retirement, he earned that from the trust of the people, which he violated, what should he be due? Lets say I am arrested, the charge is bogus (ask me about dealing with the batf sometime) I want to fight it, the government has lawyers they pay to put me away weather they win or not, to defend myself, I would have to cash in my retirement & sell my house to try to TRY to keep my freedom, why should a bad cop like this not have to give his up?
BTW, The putz resigned today.
Don0 -
With a little bit of luck, he'll end up in the pokey....
I hear the inmates like to "abuse authority" on occasion0 -
He apparently won't be in a position to do it again, so that part of the problem is solved.
I know it is a damning video, but the fact remains that he has not been found guilty of a crime, nor has he been judged in violation of department policy, at least not yet.
Regarding the insurance: Cities can, and most do, belong to the Texas Municipal League. It's sort of an association. TML provides benefits, and one benefit is the insurance coverage. So, I guess indirectly the city pays for it through dues in the association. It's not just for the cops, either. It's for any city employee, because any of us can mess up and be sued.
I don't know about his retirement, but mine is mine. I get to decide when and how it is disbursed, and to whom in the event of my death. Heck, I paid 7.5% of my pay into it for 26 years. I successfully fought two ex-wives for what they thought was their share of it. Ding-dong-danged if anyone else will take it from me.
Let's play Devil's Advocate a minute. I don't know this guy or anything about him, but the paper indicated that he was 26 years on the job, had been promoted until he was fourth in command, and had an entry in his personnel jacket dating to 1985, when he was disrespectful to a superior officer.
Let's assume that that was the only problem he ever had, and it was early in his career, and that there were no more problems. At least the article didn't mention any others. So, why, all of a sudden, does he begin to act like a turd? What can cause a man to undergo a personality change? Reckon he has some sort of undiagnosed illness?
I submit that it is possible, and worth looking into.0 -
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quote:Originally posted by nunn
He apparently won't be in a position to do it again, so that part of the problem is solved.
I know it is a damning video, but the fact remains that he has not been found guilty of a crime, nor has he been judged in violation of department policy, at least not yet.
Regarding the insurance: Cities can, and most do, belong to the Texas Municipal League. It's sort of an association. TML provides benefits, and one benefit is the insurance coverage. So, I guess indirectly the city pays for it through dues in the association. It's not just for the cops, either. It's for any city employee, because any of us can mess up and be sued.
I don't know about his retirement, but mine is mine. I get to decide when and how it is disbursed, and to whom in the event of my death. Heck, I paid 7.5% of my pay into it for 26 years. I successfully fought two ex-wives for what they thought was their share of it. Ding-dong-danged if anyone else will take it from me.
Let's play Devil's Advocate a minute. I don't know this guy or anything about him, but the paper indicated that he was 26 years on the job, had been promoted until he was fourth in command, and had an entry in his personnel jacket dating to 1985, when he was disrespectful to a superior officer.
Let's assume that that was the only problem he ever had, and it was early in his career, and that there were no more problems. At least the article didn't mention any others. So, why, all of a sudden, does he begin to act like a turd? What can cause a man to undergo a personality change? Reckon he has some sort of undiagnosed illness?
I submit that it is possible, and worth looking into.
I'l give you that, maybe in a nasty divorce, cheating wife, whatever, but again, how much leinency would a judge give joe public?
Don0 -
How about a brain tumor? Stranger things have happened. 0 -
It is unlikely that he just recently became a turd. Most turds have always been turds, they have just gotten away with it for to long. Being a turd doesn't mean he doesn't have a right to exist, but turds shouldn't be in positions of authority. I've known a few. Some of them are fun to play with. 0 -
I know a fellow that became a first class turd after he was in a bad car wreck and suffered a head injury. He became an insufferable pain in the butt after he got out of the hospital. Brain damage affected his personality. 0 -
Perhaps what we can all take from this is that it's a bad idea to make generalizations about a whole group of people based on the actions of one person.
I'm sure that Nunn does a good job and is conscientious and is ethical. I would bet that 95% of cops do the same. Aside from the pension question, it seems that most of his anger and the anger of other LEOs who have contributed to this discussion stem from some people branding all LEOs as thugs because of this one fellow's actions.
I also fully understand what Nunn is saying when he points out that there may be more to this story. I, too, watched the two shooting videos he wrote about, and I was appalled at the first one and then appalled at how quickly I had rushed to judgment when I saw the second one.
I am a teacher. My blood boils when something about the schools comes up on this board and people write, "See, see how lazy / incompetent / uncaring / absurd teachers and schools are?" I know that I do a good job everyday and so do 95% of the teachers I work with. I also know that on this board is a post about a kid suspended for drawing a gun, and all sorts of comments about how wrong that is and how the schools are all screwed up and so forth. I would imagine that perhaps that child has a history of bullying other children and teachers, that he's been suspended before, that he's been told to never do anything wrong again, that perhaps he drew the gun and with a glare in his eye showed it to a student he'd been bullying. And I know that the school is not allowed to disclose any of that because it has to be kept confidential. If we knew all of that, then the school's actions seem much more reasonable.
Yes, there are some howling, unvarnished injustices in this world. For every one of those, though, there are many, many more complicated situations where people make tough calls and do their best. It is a natural and very regretable human tendency to make all of the later into the former. Doing so allows us to happily see the world in black and white, when really it is almost solid gray.
So I resolve to back off a bit and to try to reserve judgment on some things. And I think we should all acknowledge that most people (cops and teachers included) do a good job and behave ethically. Tarnishing their good works because of the actions of a few is wrong indeed.0
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