Frustrated Dallas Sheriff Arrests Motorcyclist For Wearing A Helmet Camera

[jay dub]

1. Ever have a Local Yokel lie through his teeth while under oath to his buddy the JP?

On the plus side #1 gets me out of jury duty because I tell the judge that I will not believe the testimony of any LEO because of the LY's actions.

Hey, that's what I used too for jury duty. It was fun telling the judge that w/ every ounce of pride in a courtroom. Cops lie, no doubt about that!

[PlatinumRSV]

UPDATE: http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Sheri...169543346.html

DALLAS — The Dallas County Sheriff's Department has issued a 38-day suspension to a deputy who stopped a motorcycle rider without cause and seized his helmet camera. The raw video of the Memorial Day weekend arrest by Deputy James Westbrook has been seen by almost half a million people around the world on YouTube.

The suspension — which Westbrook can appeal — amounts to almost two months off without pay.

“I think we should applaud the agency," said Dr. Robert Taylor, a criminal justice expert at the University of Texas at Dallas. "There were days in American law enforcement when nothing would've happened. And those weren't too far off."

However, Taylor said other departments would have surely fired Westbrook.

Westbrook made the arrest on Memorial Day weekend, when local law enforcement departments were on high alert. They wanted to prohibit reckless behavior by motorcycle riders on the anniversary of a biker event where they shut down North Central Expressway in Dallas and sprayed graffiti on the road.

During his arrest of biker Chris Moore, Westbrook said: "The reason you're being pulled over is because I'm gonna take your camera and we're gonna use it as evidence of in the crimes that have been committed by other bikers."

It is not illegal to wear a camera on your helmet. And experts say Westbrook’s reason did not constitute probable cause to make a traffic stop. But what bothers Taylor more than Westbrook's traffic stop is the deputy's verbal outbursts and how he slammed the squad car door on the biker's leg. "Those are the kinds of things that smack of all the ugly things we see in law enforcement,” Taylor said.

Hunter Biederman, Moore's lawyer, said Westbrook should have been fired. "I think they're sending the message that what he did was okay,” Biederman said. He is prepared to take this to trial, a rare step for a small offense. But Biederman said it was necessary after his client was arrested, mistreated, and then held in the Dallas County Jail. "I don't think this person should be out patrolling our streets. I don't that type of person should be stopping and arresting our citizens,” he said. Prior to responding to the biker situation, Westbrook had arrested a drunk driver. Eight of Westbrook's 38 suspension days were related to him leaving his prisoner at the jail without booking him in while he went out on the biker call.

Deputy Westbrook declined to comment on the case to News 8. He has not served the suspension yet and can still appeal.

[kevinb]

That update sounds about right. Being told to go two months without pay is, in some ways, a more meaningful punishment than simply getting fired. It forces one to consider the seriousness of what one did in context. Getting fired doesn't necessarily mean anything more than that they don't want to deal with you any more. Maybe they just didn't like you and were looking for an excuse to get rid of you. But a suspension without pay means that even as much as they may otherwise value you and want to keep you around, they can't afford to unless you behave - you definitely screwed up.

[craigo298er]

Glad to see he got suspended. I only sided with the rider because of what the cop said...admitting that he didn't do anything wrong. I've had cops follow me for miles, even in my GS waiting for me to do something wring it seemed

[Racer X]

Hey look the little choads are complaining about police brutality

[QUOTE=bentgixxer;3368624]Your thoughts?





"http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7b7_1348193790

[PlatinumRSV]

[QUOTE=Racer X;3222011]Hey look the little choads are complaining about police brutality

Your thoughts?





"http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7b7_1348193790

Those guys are total idiots. But has nothing to do with the guy who was arrested in the original post.

[klavdy]

Not everyone klavdy - just you. Hopefully, I won't be at a a ski resort or some other freezing cold place when I lose my shit and pump you full of hot lead - seeing as you disguise yourself as a terrorist I might end up blowing away half the population of poor balaclava clad skiers before I finally get to you

Still ignoring your Oath of Office, acting unethically and bringing discredit to the Force, eh?
Remember how you swore you would serve?


I……………………DO SWEAR – THAT – I WILL WELL AND TRULY SERVE – OUR SOVEREIGN LADY THE QUEEN – AS A POLICE OFFICER WITHOUT FAVOUR OR AFFECTION – MALICE OR ILL-WILL – UNTIL I AM LEGALLY DISCHARGED – THAT I WILL SEE AND CAUSE – HER MAJESTY’S PEACE TO BE KEPT AND PRESERVED – AND THAT – I WILL PREVENT TO THE BEST OF MY POWER – ALL OFFENCES AGAINST THAT PEACE – AND THAT – WHILE I CONTINUE TO BE A POLICE OFFICER – I WILL – TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE – DISCHARGE ALL THE DUTIES THEREOF – FAITHFULLY – ACCORDING TO LAW.
SO HELP ME GOD.

Remember the Code of Conduct you also are obliged to follow?
The one that comes with your costume and badge?

Code of Conduct and Ethics:
An employee of the NSW Police Force must behave honestly and in a way that upholds the values and the good reputation of the NSW Police Force whether on or off duty.
Whether on or off duty your conduct will reflect on the NSW Police Force.

Wonder what the PIC would make of your threats?

[Hondo11]

Those squids in Dallas are a pain in the a$$, blocking the roadways (even major highways and interstates), grouping up and riding below the speed limit to screw with everyone else, etc. However, and this is coming from a former LEO, you can't just make stuff up and toss people in the pokey for it. Police Officers have the authority to restrict and/or take away another man's freedom and that is not something you take lightly or abuse. It's disappointing to see this happening because it tarnishes the reputation of the agency and other police officers, but it's nice to see they brought disciplinary action instead of just circling the wagons.

[commandodave]

I had a LEO follow me for ten miles on the drive home tonight during rush hour traffic. If he saw another motorist doing what he was doing. he would have been ticketed.

The particulars: This was a heavily traveled two lane road. There are no passing zones on this stretch of road. Even if there were, oncoming traffic was heavy enough that passing would not have been possible. Sometimes there was no shoulder. I had the cruise control set at the speed limit. There was a full lane of cars in front of me so that I could not have gone faster if I had tried.

The LEO was tailgating the whole time. Most of the time he was so close that i could not see the headlights on his cruiser. When the road did open up to two lanes in each direction, he pulled out and wove in and out of traffic to get ahead. No turn signals, no flashing lights, 20 mph over the speed limit. he sure instilled a lot of respect in me for the law. NOT!

[playero_loko]

glad to hear that pig got what he deserves!!! those "squids" surely do stupid shit but in no kind of way, shape or form was it the other guy's fault! that was nothing more than a guy getting profiled because he was riding the same type of motorcycle! hopefully he (the PIG) will realize his mistake and be more fair to apply the law the way it's supposed to be and less judgemental to the other bystanders that simply ride the same style of machines.