Cop in my town got busted for littering.

[SlitheryDee]

A guy confronted a cop in my town because he saw his passenger throw a candy wrapper out of the car window on the way into town. The exchange got nasty fairly quickly. Of course they recorded the conversation and put it on youtube practically the moment they could. The officer was apparently fired today as a result of this.

A local television station has a condensed version of the video on their site, but I'll include the full length (8+ minutes) link as well.

condensed version

full version

Now I happen to know this police officer and he always struck me as one of those who let the job get to his head a little bit, but he was always respectful to me and is actually a pretty good customer of mine. I kinda want to take his side in this because the two guys filming him were obviously just trying to get a video that would get a lot of youtube views from the get-go. Putting forth the appearance of civic responsibility when all you're really looking to do is start some shit and get some notoriety is disingenuous and pisses me off, so I'm automatically biased against them. No doubt the cop was out of line too though. Still, I find it hard to blame him when he's just expressing the kind of anger I'd be feeling in that situation.

 

[HumblePie]

Based off that video, that officer needs to find a new job. How you can defend him and his attitude at his job I have no idea.

People working at police need to be held to a higher standard. If that guy likes being a jack ass to others while on duty then he needs to either work at Dick's Last Resort or the help desk for a Cable company. At there customers expect that attitude.

 

[z1ggy]

Agreed that cops should be held to a higher standard. They are supposed to be the "good guys" that people seek when they need help.

I can't watch the video so I can't comment on how the cop responded, but I figure if he was let go, it was pretty unprofessional. Cop's passenger possibly broke the law by littering, the cop should have just accepted this fact and done whatever had to be done to remedy the situation. It's pretty petty and the youtubers were probably trying to start something (and are probably cop haters), but as a police officer, you have to hold your sh*t together.

 

[SAWYER]

Those two guys are straight up the most country ass people I have heard in a long time. I am in Arkansas and dont know anyone that talks that way so they must really be backwoods as hell!

 

[Scarpozzi]

No one knows what it's like being a cop unless you're actually a cop. It's easy to feel like you're above the law when there's no one who can arrest you easily (when you're in uniform). The age of the Internet and cameras is new enough that people aren't on their guard 24/7...

People provoking the police are just as guilty as the police officers themselves for letting their guard down.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Wait - I thought the police are suppose to be a protected kind of criminal..

ANANDTECH FORUMS,.. you lied to me!! You told me cops never get punished for their crimes!!

Also, neither of the guys filming him was shot, arrested, beaten and murdered by this cop.

Come on now guys,.. what gives?!

 

[SociallyChallenged]

No one knows what it's like being a cop unless you're actually a cop. It's easy to feel like you're above the law when there's no one who can arrest you easily (when you're in uniform). The age of the Internet and cameras is new enough that people aren't on their guard 24/7...

People provoking the police are just as guilty as the police officers themselves for letting their guard down.

I don't know what it's like to be a cop... so it's ok for him to litter? He's only being confronted because of that. Could've avoided it entirely by just stuffing it in his pocket.

 

[lozina]

Good.

I am sick of the above-the-law cops plaguing our nation. Speeding down roads in non-emergencies and such.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

if reckless driving, littering and verbal abuse are all this cop does, consider yourself lucky. he very clearly understands that the rules our society has set for itself apply to sheep, not wolves like himself.

 

[SunnyD]

I've always wanted to get out of my car, pick up the cigarette that some asshat flicked out of their window (preferably still burning), walk up to their car and toss it back in saying, "You dropped this."

 

[SlitheryDee]

Based off that video, that officer needs to find a new job. How you can defend him and his attitude at his job I have no idea.

People working at police need to be held to a higher standard. If that guy likes being a jack ass to others while on duty then he needs to either work at Dick's Last Resort or the help desk for a Cable company. At there customers expect that attitude.

I'm defending him mostly because I know him to be pretty decent and because I hate people like the two filming in that video. Camera-armed crusaders like them are repugnant in how they seek out conflict with anyone and everyone just so they can get a few hits on youtube. He knew this and the more smug they got, the angrier he got.

Honestly though, he should have mastered his emotions and just told them some satisfying lie. Personally I would have said "Oh yes. I'll absolutely be reporting him for disciplinary action as soon as we get back to the station. Have a nice day", which would be so untrue as to come off as sarcastic. Bet they wouldn't post that on youtube though.

 

[HumblePie]

Those two guys are straight up the most country ass people I have heard in a long time. I am in Arkansas and dont know anyone that talks that way so they must really be backwoods as hell!

Uhh, my wife and many in my family talk that way. And before you ask, my wife is not a US citizen but a citizen of Spain. So what is your point to this terrible insulting stereotype based on an accent?

 

[HumblePie]

I'm defending him mostly because I know him to be pretty decent and because I hate people like the two filming in that video. Camera-armed crusaders like them are repugnant in how they seek out conflict with anyone and everyone just so they can get a few hits on youtube. He knew this and the more smug they got, the angrier he got.

Honestly though, he should have mastered his emotions and just told them some satisfying lie. Personally I would have said "Oh yes. I'll absolutely be reporting him for disciplinary action as soon as we get back to the station. Have a nice day", which would be so untrue as to come off as sarcastic. Bet they wouldn't post that on youtube though.

Doesn't matter how big a douche bag the people filming are. There is no law against being an a-hole in that regard. As a cop he should have simply stated, "Thanks for bringing that to my attention and I'll look into it as best as I can. Thank you sir and have a nice day unless there is anything else I can help you with?"

That would have been the end of the conversation. The cop wouldn't be fired and there would have been zero discussion or youtube controversy videos created. Instead the officer in the video gets defensive and belligerent for no real reason unless he was looking to get himself fired.

 

[SAWYER]

Uhh, my wife and many in my family talk that way. And before you ask, my wife is not a US citizen but a citizen of Spain. So what is your point to this terrible insulting stereotype based on an accent?

My point is they sound backwoods as fuck, not even trying to talk half way normal

 

[SlitheryDee]

Doesn't matter how big a douche bag the people filming are. There is no law against being an a-hole in that regard. As a cop he should have simply stated, "Thanks for bringing that to my attention and I'll look into it as best as I can. Thank you sir and have a nice day unless there is anything else I can help you with?"

That would have been the end of the conversation. The cop wouldn't be fired and there would have been zero discussion or youtube controversy videos created. Instead the officer in the video gets defensive and belligerent for no real reason unless he was looking to get himself fired.

I agree, but the plot just thickened a bit. I saw that very same police officer in my parking lot pulling someone over. Perhaps he wasn't fired after all? Seems like he would want to lay low for a while if not. Weird. Maybe another case of a PD sweeping something under the rug?

 

[SlitheryDee]

My point is they sound backwoods as fuck, not even trying to talk half way normal

That's kind of the way people talk around here. I have a strong accent as well. Nothing like that, but it's definitely there.

 

[Blanky]

I actually expected something much worse. The cop acted like a major prick, and it's great he has received disciplinary action, but after seeing what shawn glans did a week back this cop in comparison seems upstanding. Typical bully mindset, though: instead of apologizing for littering, which is the right thing to do, he tried to act like a tough guy. How can a person respect a cop who acts like this? And a cop who doesn't earn respect should not be in uniform.

 

[smitbret]

A guy confronted a cop in my town because he saw his passenger throw a candy wrapper out of the car window on the way into town. The exchange got nasty fairly quickly. Of course they recorded the conversation and put it on youtube practically the moment they could. The officer was apparently fired today as a result of this.

A local television station has a condensed version of the video on their site, but I'll include the full length (8+ minutes) link as well.

condensed version

full version

Now I happen to know this police officer and he always struck me as one of those who let the job get to his head a little bit, but he was always respectful to me and is actually a pretty good customer of mine. I kinda want to take his side in this because the two guys filming him were obviously just trying to get a video that would get a lot of youtube views from the get-go. Putting forth the appearance of civic responsibility when all you're really looking to do is start some shit and get some notoriety is disingenuous and pisses me off, so I'm automatically biased against them. No doubt the cop was out of line too though. Still, I find it hard to blame him when he's just expressing the kind of anger I'd be feeling in that situation.

Well, at least there's one good police chief in America.

 

[Humpy]

Ferriday Police Chief Derrick Freeman: "I will handle this situation."

I don't know why but my gut says the chief is a liar and the other cop is dumb as fuck.

 

[jlee]

Well, at least there's one good police chief in America.

Yeah, nevermind the hundreds / thousands of ones that never make the news. They must all suck.

 

[Rakehellion]

I'm defending him mostly because I know him to be pretty decent and because I hate people like the two filming in that video. Camera-armed crusaders like them are repugnant in how they seek out conflict with anyone and everyone just so they can get a few hits on youtube. He knew this and the more smug they got, the angrier he got.

Honestly though, he should have mastered his emotions and just told them some satisfying lie. Personally I would have said "Oh yes. I'll absolutely be reporting him for disciplinary action as soon as we get back to the station. Have a nice day", which would be so untrue as to come off as sarcastic. Bet they wouldn't post that on youtube though.

So police should be allowed to break the law, lose their temper, and lie about it to the public. You're fucked in the head.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

The guys recording are pathetic attention whores. The cop is just supposed to take shit off a couple of backwoods idiots that clearly have nothing valuable to do with their time?

 

[SlitheryDee]

So police should be allowed to break the law, lose their temper, and lie about it to the public. You're fucked in the head.

No. He was wrong for certain. I'm just not as pissed at him as I am the two knuckleheads who just discovered the camera on their phone.

 

[master_shake_]

you can tell cops have no fear when it comes to their job security or the law.

"go do something about it", "i don't give a shit"

glad the douche got fired.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'd been perfectly fine with the cop backhanding either one of them.