Trooper, Paramedic Fight Caught on Tape [Archive]

MacGeek7

May 28, 2009, 12:52 PM

I don't know how many of you have seen this, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over an ambulance that was taking a women to the hospital. The reason? Because the ambulance failed to yield to the OHP as they responded to a call. The police then pull over the ambulance and arrest and assault an EMT, police brutality is really starting to get out of hand.

From news9.com (http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=10427244) in Oklahoma

It all started because the ambulance failed to yield to OHP troopers, who were en route to a call along highway 62 in Paden.

Davis said the driver of the ambulance was trying to avoid hitting a car that slowed down and wasn't aware of troopers nearby until it was too late.

...after OHP troopers finished their official business, they pulled the Creek Nation ambulance over. One of the troopers chided Paul for failing to yield.

Here are the links to the story and video, what's your take on all of this?

Oklahoma Highway Patrol fight with EMT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KluItc365hU) [Youtube clip]
News9 Report (http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=10427244)

kdum8

May 28, 2009, 01:24 PM

I don't know how many of you have seen this, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol pulled over an ambulance that was taking a women to the hospital. The reason? Because the ambulance failed to yield to the OHP as they responded to a call. The police then pull over the ambulance and arrest and assault an EMT, police brutality is really starting to get out of hand.

From news9.com (http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=10427244) in Oklahoma

Here are the links to the story and video, what's your take on all of this?

Oklahoma Highway Patrol fight with EMT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KluItc365hU) [Youtube clip]
News9 Report (http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=10427244)

Do you think that there's any chance the cops behaved like that because he was black and they were racist?

alphaod

May 28, 2009, 01:26 PM

Do you think that there's any chance the cops behaved like that because he was black and they were racist?

It's probably the main reason, but obviously no one is going to admit that.

Andrew Henry

May 28, 2009, 01:30 PM

Do you think that there's any chance the cops behaved like that because he was black and they were racist?

Wouldn't be one bit surprised...

jessica.

May 28, 2009, 01:40 PM

Why is it that when white people and black people get into any sort of tiff (namely a white police officer and a black man) the white police officer is racist? Based on the video ONLY, the officers were in the wrong. I don't know that it automatically deems him a racist.

RITZFit

May 28, 2009, 02:55 PM

lol, just as I was reading this thread the news story was flashed on tv. Although the officers' reasons weren't clear, it was pretty obvious that it was really bad judgment call on their part... "failure to yeild" > "human life" :rolleyes:
that news station I was watching suggested it was a bad case of inflated ego

NoSmokingBandit

May 28, 2009, 02:59 PM

kdum8

May 28, 2009, 03:03 PM

fireshot91

May 28, 2009, 03:36 PM

gibbz

May 28, 2009, 03:49 PM

If only I knew why the rest of country has such a negative opinion of my "great" state .... hmmm

Queso

May 28, 2009, 04:39 PM

Those policemen need a severe attitude adjustment. They are drunk on the power that uniform gives them.

Sack them all with loss of pension.

Rodimus Prime

May 28, 2009, 08:43 PM

If there was two emergencies, shouldn't the paramedics get the right of way? I mean, they're rushing to save somebody (Most likely). The police are catching somebody that is (Most likely) stealing- They COULD be shooting up the place, but then I'm sure the paramedics would be called also.

I don't think that was justified in any way. The paramedic should've fought back. He'd be resisting arrest, but that would be justified right. He didn't do anything wrong!

The police out rank the Paramedics.

Reason being is Police can handle basic life support and are also hire up on the first responders list. Paramedics are their for advance life support. Hence they can arrive 2nd at a location. Police are needed to secure the area before the paramedics could even move in. This was explain to me by a fire fighter on how it all worked.

MacDawg

May 28, 2009, 08:48 PM

I would say that in most situations like this we just get a slice of the story, not the whole thing. It is easy to pass judgement based on insufficient information. Yes, there is a video... everything seems to be caught on video these days... but we likely never get the whole truth.

Woof, Woof - Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

peskaa

May 29, 2009, 03:14 AM

The police out rank the Paramedics.

Reason being is Police can handle basic life support and are also hire up on the first responders list. Paramedics are their for advance life support. Hence they can arrive 2nd at a location. Police are needed to secure the area before the paramedics could even move in. This was explain to me by a fire fighter on how it all worked.

Since when do police have anything approaching paramedic training? They might have basic first aid and be able to stick a bandage on somebody, but that'd be about it. If somebody was having a heart attack then all a policeman could do would be to watch.

Now, the order in which they can "respond" to the same scene is another issue entirely. If its different incidents, the police should let the paramedics go first.

Sdashiki

May 29, 2009, 10:25 AM

Since when does a police officer have the right to assault another civil servant?

Pissing contests aside, the guy did not deserve what happened to him.

Rodimus Prime

May 29, 2009, 10:45 AM

Since when do police have anything approaching paramedic training? They might have basic first aid and be able to stick a bandage on somebody, but that'd be about it. If somebody was having a heart attack then all a policeman could do would be to watch.

Now, the order in which they can "respond" to the same scene is another issue entirely. If its different incidents, the police should let the paramedics go first.

All police are CPR trained. Now it is correct they have nowear near the training of Paramedics.

lets assume they are responding to a different crime. Police still are going to our rank the parimedics in the order of who gets the right away because the police will be securing another location and with the huge potentional of reducing to eliminating the need of a paramedics to even respond.

At driver ambulances also screwed up. He should of yeild the right of way to the cop. The cops response to it was completely over boarded. A correct way the cop should of dealt with it was talk with the driver after wards and explain what he did wrong.

Abstract

May 29, 2009, 11:12 AM

The police out rank the Paramedics.

Reason being is Police can handle basic life support and are also hire up on the first responders list. Paramedics are their for advance life support. Hence they can arrive 2nd at a location.

We're not talking about two groups heading to the same scene. We're talking about two separate cases, where the police are headed to a crime or accident, while paramedics are actually in the middle of saving a woman.

I think it's OK to have pulled the EMT over, but not while the woman was still in the back. That's completely stupid. Take her to the hospital, then talk.

Rodimus Prime

May 29, 2009, 11:50 AM

We're not talking about two groups heading to the same scene. We're talking about two separate cases, where the police are headed to a crime or accident, while paramedics are actually in the middle of saving a woman.

I think it's OK to have pulled the EMT over, but not while the woman was still in the back. That's completely stupid. Take her to the hospital, then talk.

Oh I agree how the trooper handled the case was completely wrong.

I was just pointing out the parametric was also in the wrong by not yielding the right of way to the police. Even though it was 2 different cases the parametric should of yield the right of way to the police.

I believe among first responders it goes police - Firetruck - then Paramedic Police are at the top of the list. Paramedics are on the bottom.

As for correcting the paramedic. I was meaning the cop should of done it at the hospital before they went on their next call.

Abstract

May 29, 2009, 12:16 PM

I believe among first responders it goes police - Firetruck - then Paramedic Police are at the top of the list. Paramedics are on the bottom.

Is that first responders to one scene, or is that applicable for completely independent cases? What if the ambulance wasn't empty, but carrying someone in serious condition?

Besides, I believe the ambulance said they simply didn't see the police officer/car because their attention was diverted towards trying to avoid other traffic. I don't know if it's true, but I certainly can believe it.

Tilpots

May 29, 2009, 01:04 PM

I was just pointing out the parametric was also in the wrong by not yielding the right of way to the police.

If it was such an emergency for the police, why take the time to pull the ambulance over? Those cops should be fired, regardless of the fight. What kind of idiot pulls an ambulance over with a patient in the back?

They all have communication equipment and could've easily worked it out over the radio. These jackie cops couldn't have waited to get around the ambulance?

Someone please post a follow up to this story when these cops get the punishment they deserve.

velocityg4

May 29, 2009, 01:09 PM

The officer should have waited until after arriving at the hospital then spoke to the paramedic. Nothing more.

This was simply an ego contest in my opinion, the officer should be put on unpaid suspension for a week or two.

Why is it that when white people and black people get into any sort of tiff (namely a white police officer and a black man) the white police officer is racist? Based on the video ONLY, the officers were in the wrong. I don't know that it automatically deems him a racist.

Haven't you ever taken Fascism, I mean Sociology. No matter whom you are or what you have done in your life if you are a White male then you are absolutely a racist. All that you can do is not act overtly racist. If you never act in any racist manner you are simply a racist whom does not act on your racist inclinations. White women may or may not be racist it is not so absolute as with white men.

If you are not white any seemingly obvious or overt racist act is not racist, rather it is reverse racism. It is impossible to be a racist if you are not white since white people control the majority of power in the US only they can be racist. Any racist act between two minorities is also not actually racism but rather a reflection of racism passed down from white males.

At least that was the synopsis of my colleges required socialism course, oops I meant sociology. I still managed a B in the course by keeping my mouth shut in class and spouting off the occasional bleeding heart liberal line to placate the professor.

xboxer75010

May 29, 2009, 01:12 PM

All police are CPR trained. Now it is correct they have nowear near the training of Paramedics.

lets assume they are responding to a different crime. Police still are going to our rank the parimedics in the order of who gets the right away because the police will be securing another location and with the huge potentional of reducing to eliminating the need of a paramedics to even respond.

At driver ambulances also screwed up. He should of yeild the right of way to the cop. The cops response to it was completely over boarded. A correct way the cop should of dealt with it was talk with the driver after wards and explain what he did wrong.

According to the EMT statement the officer only had his lights on and not the siren so they were unaware of their presence until it was to late.

http://static.ktul.com/documents/emtstatement_0509.pdf

Rodimus Prime

May 29, 2009, 01:21 PM

Is that first responders to one scene, or is that applicable for completely independent cases? What if the ambulance wasn't empty, but carrying someone in serious condition?

Besides, I believe the ambulance said they simply didn't see the police officer/car because their attention was diverted towards trying to avoid other traffic. I don't know if it's true, but I certainly can believe it.

no matter the case. In independent cases it goes that way.

If they are carrying some one the ambulance has more advance equipment on board to keep the person alive.

End of the day the ambulance driver made a mistake. The cop handled it VERY poorly and incorrectly. The way the cop handled it was completely out of line.

bearbear

May 29, 2009, 03:34 PM

*shrug* Personally, I see nothing wrong in this video.

Dmac77

May 30, 2009, 07:38 AM

I don't care who's higher up on the food chain, but that cup is a total douche. He is pig like the majority of cops. They think that they can do what ever they want because they wear a uniform and carry a gun. Someone needs to set this jerk in his place. In addition to that, what the hell was that cop thinking when he put his hands on the EMT's neck? If I were that EMT, I would sue the state, OHP, and the cop.

I just love how they're trying to pass this off as the EMT's fault, if anyone should be charged with a crime that cop should be the person. Cops are pigs, it's as simple as that.

Don

xUKHCx

May 30, 2009, 07:46 AM

He is pig like the majority of cops.

Cops are pigs, it's as simple as that.

Some would argue those calling an entire group of people derogatory terms based on the actions of a few are pigs. Yes from the evidence given this cop was in the wrong and his actions were wrong and should rightfully be treated as such, however to use this as a basis for an attack against all cops is a bit much.

Dmac77

May 30, 2009, 07:52 AM

Some would argue those calling an entire group of people derogatory terms based on the actions of a few are pigs. Yes from the evidence given this cop was in the wrong and his actions were wrong and should rightfully be treated as such, however to use this as a basis for an attack against all cops is a bit much.

It just seems that there is at least one case of police brutality per week. They all have over inflated egos, and they think they can do whatever they want. The cops in my town get off on pulling 5 year old over for riding their bikes on the sidewalk, amongst other things that let them have their little power trips. I've had bad experiences with cops one to many times, so my opinion of them has been negatively affected. Sorry if I'm biased.

Don

xUKHCx

May 30, 2009, 08:09 AM

They all have over inflated egos, and they think they can do whatever they want.

Again with the board sweeping statements

The cops in my town get off on pulling 5 year old over for riding their bikes on the sidewalk, amongst other things that let them have their little power trips. I've had bad experiences with cops one to many times, so my opinion of them has been negatively affected. Sorry if I'm biased.

The example you listed in your post is hardly one where you can hold all cops as pigs.

I just find it quite ironic for someone with a John Lennon / Yoko Ono avatar who strived for peace and an inherent part of peace is to look for the best in circumstances and try and not hold everyone to the bad examples of a few and not least holding hate towards them. One case per week when police interactions with the public occur practically every minute of everyday, hardly statistically accurate that "all cops are pigs" or even that it is an endemic problem. Yes 1 case is too many but to hold hatred and scorn for all cops due to the actions of the few is wrong.

Dmac77

May 30, 2009, 09:26 AM

Again with the board sweeping statements

The example you listed in your post is hardly one where you can hold all cops as pigs.

I just find it quite ironic for someone with a John Lennon / Yoko Ono avatar who strived for peace and an inherent part of peace is to look for the best in circumstances and try and not hold everyone to the bad examples of a few and not least holding hate towards them. One case per week when police interactions with the public occur practically every minute of everyday, hardly statistically accurate that "all cops are pigs" or even that it is an endemic problem. Yes 1 case is too many but to hold hatred and scorn for all cops due to the actions of the few is wrong.

There just seems to be an epidemic. Every year it seems to get worse. I personally believe the majority of them are pigs, unfortunately. I know that all cops aren't bad, but I believe that most of them are egotistical pigs, that think that they can do whatever they want because they have a badge. I wish that it wasn't that way, but it seems that way.

Don

Rodimus Prime

May 30, 2009, 09:45 AM

There just seems to be an epidemic. Every year it seems to get worse. I personally believe the majority of them are pigs, unfortunately. I know that all cops aren't bad, but I believe that most of them are egotistical pigs, that think that they can do whatever they want because they have a badge. I wish that it wasn't that way, but it seems that way.

Don

Give the number of cops out there and the number of people with camara then mix this with a media that cares only about controversy and money. You will get a story about every week.

I do not think there is a real increase but more a media that has more resourse out their to make some one of athority look bad (in this case cops). It causes a lot of controversy and that means more viewers which means more money. The media a long time ago stop carrying about the truth. They quite often leave out huge critical parts of the story just to make it look worse than it really is.

You need to remember this is a very small percentage of the cops that are bad like this. Most cops are very good, very helpful and quite nice.

Signal-11

May 30, 2009, 06:24 PM

Rodimus, you're not necessarily wrong, but what you're saying is not entirely correct.

The matter of who controls the scene, police, EMS or FD is a matter of contention between the aforementioned agencies and the laws, regulations and precedence can vary greatly between states/jurisdictions. This becomes even more complicated when when state and federal agencies become involved in say, mass emergencies.

There was a highly publicized recent case where video was taken of a trooper arresting a fire chief when the fire chief refused to move an engine he had set up to block. IIRC, the ultimate result was that the trooper was found in the wrong, so I'm guessing in that jurisdiction, unless a crime is being committed, the precedence has been set that the FD/EMS, not the police/LE controls the scene.

I haven't seen the video (limited bandwidth) but was the ambo involved a government emergency response vehicle or was it a private ambulance?

And BTW, first responder first aid training as is most commonly taught to police can be covered in a single day or weekend. To qualify as a paramedic (EMT-P) is at least a year, usually two, of full time instruction/practicals. The two are not even remotely close to being the same thing. That said, some states don't require a Paramedic credentials to drive an ambulance and a EMT-A or B will suffice.