9beers: put me on ignore because I have a different opinion than you. That way, you're only talking to people who agree with everything you say and you'll feel like you're right about everything

He'll be force fed your opinions one day when somebody else who doesnt have you on "ignore" copys them in to their own denouncement of you.

libranoelrose: Yes, because you aren't trolling at all.

No, no I'm not. Sometimes doing the right thing and doing the smart thing are not one in the same.

libranoelrose,
Other than that put him on ignore.

I really hate ignore lists. Sometimes trolls really did deserve it, Winterwhile with his political cartoon meme was really annoying and didn't add value.

And trolls, (sometimes known as those that offer an alternative point of view, even somewhat irrationaly), have a function. Diversity of opinion. Sometimes they are out to get a reaction, but sometimes they prevent boards like these from becoming a circlejerk of one opinion.

I can go to another another website, see pics of kittens posted, and offer reassurance to another poster. I just don't see any interesting comments sometimes.

Trolls when kept in check have a function too.

BronyMedic: buckeyebrain: Waiting patiently for the Fark Cop Apologists to tell us why this Knight In Blue deserves every penny of back pay and an engraved apology...

One, you're an idiot.

Two, good decision on the city. What makes anyone think that the man is responsable enough to be a cop when he's not even responable enough not to drive after drinking.

Cop apologists, like CruiserTwelve and his cronies, all over Fark. And I'm the idiot. Gotcha.

However, I do agree wholeheartedly with the city's decision.

I saw this on the Spokane news last night, and they had a quote from one of the council members basically saying that he was fired not for being an alcoholic or for the DUI/crash, but for leaving the scene. I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know if that's the best (or even a valid) approach to defending their decision when he sues, but I expect that (and that they offered to keep him on as a desk jockey and he declined) is the approach they'll go with. Having a judge decide in his favor would mean that being drunk (even as the result of a disability) was a legitimate excuse for that level of irresponsibility and would set a disastrous precedent, as someone upthread mentioned.

I'd like to join the celebration, but somehow, not getting "back pay" for pulling a stunt that would land any workaday schmo in country for 3 months, take every dime he has and make him a pedestrian for 6 months doesn't strike me as "Release the doves! Diogenes, phone home! Oh, joy, the hypocrites got a wrist slap!" woo hoo. Let alone feeling like we've crawled out of the slime pit because, in one instance in ten thousand, part of what should have happened, did happen. Lemme know when cops who commit crimes are pressing license plates.

Mugato: So you agree with paying him off because he's threatening to sue for 4mill?

No, I just said that they've opened themselves up to a lawsuit that could end up costing much more. Then some dipshiat jumped on me for stating the obvious. Who knows what will happen.

And you thought Spokane cops just shot and killed people.

On a more serious note...

I'm not going to play devil's advocate here. This guy in the article acted in a reprehensible manner in light of the responsibility and public trust he was SUPPOSED to carry.

I work in emergency services. More specifically, I'm a paramedic/firefighter and I work in a rough town. No, it's not as bad as Detroit, but we've ranked pretty high per capita in some areas of violent crime in recent years. I respect cops because they've carried the weight to settle threats to me and my guys, be it gained through crooked means or not. For example, imagine trying to work on someone in the back of an ambulance, in the middle of a night club parking lot, while an angry mob is rocking the vehicle side-to-side from the exterior. Then the "po-po" shows up and puts a stop to it. It doesn't matter where they derive their authority from, we're just damn glad to see them.

One of these police officers that could be considered an enforcer in such situations has recently been arraigned for sexual assault of a minor. I would have once white-knighted the guy, but of course that's been reevaluated. Still, it's hard to forget those times he intervened for me and my guys and kept us safe.

My point of this whole CSB is to say that cop haters or defenders want to see this shiat in black and white, but it rarely ever is.

Shame they didn't just prosecute him for the FELONY he committed in the first place. Now he's suing the city for his back pay because they cut him a break thanks to the think blue line.

If he was a convicted felon, like he should be, then he wouldn't have a leg to stand on, not that a drunk like him could stand.

The law is, or the law isn't.

And if one of the perqs we allow the people we hire to enforce it is to not live by it, then it isn't.

And they don't.

And the rest is arguing how much stink is tolerable.

buckeyebrain: Cop apologists, like CruiserTwelve and his cronies, all over Fark. And I'm the idiot. Gotcha.

No, I referred to you as an idiot because you make it out like someone who would defend a police officer in a time when facts are unclear or contradictory, or blatently biased, would be OK with an incompetant drunk who can't even sober up enough to drive being on the force.

And Karl the Klubber (Thompson) remains free after murdering Otto Zehm in cold blood.

Mutt Farkinov,
One of these police officers that could be considered an enforcer in such situations has recently been arraigned for sexual assault of a minor. I would have once white-knighted the guy, but of course that's been reevaluated. Still, it's hard to forget those times he intervened for me and my guys and kept us safe.
My point of this whole CSB is to say that cop haters or defenders want to see this shiat in black and white, but it rarely ever is.

My opinion has changed. Life is gray and as a police officer he is protecting our freedoms, even if that cop has seen bad days and is now a little rough around the edges.

I say we let him walk and give him his job back. Hell, let's give him eight million.

Everyone else, backoff and stop the cop hate.

I could see the cop's lawyer doing it on contingency: "hey I might get 15 grand".

I could also see this as a set up for incumbent council members to show they are tough on police corruption- but I doubt this.

Cop is probably just a dumbass, and this is his last, best bet.

Expect to see the cop in a murder/suicide story with his gay lover within 8 months.

/if your reading this gay lover, get out now. Jeebus, move to Cleveland if you have to.

DUI hit and ruins my life. I lose my job and my house. This asshole sees it as the farking lottery. How does a hit-and-run get him $275,000 in backpay, while not working, because he's a criminal. Had he been sober while endangering the public would he have no claim in court right now? School teachers unions are being professionally busted, yet these thugs go unabated. No education but plenty of police state.

Mutt Farkinov: On a more serious note...

I'm not going to play devil's advocate here. This guy in the article acted in a reprehensible manner in light of the responsibility and public trust he was SUPPOSED to carry.

I work in emergency services. More specifically, I'm a paramedic/firefighter and I work in a rough town. No, it's not as bad as Detroit, but we've ranked pretty high per capita in some areas of violent crime in recent years. I respect cops because they've carried the weight to settle threats to me and my guys, be it gained through crooked means or not. For example, imagine trying to work on someone in the back of an ambulance, in the middle of a night club parking lot, while an angry mob is rocking the vehicle side-to-side from the exterior. Then the "po-po" shows up and puts a stop to it. It doesn't matter where they derive their authority from, we're just damn glad to see them.

One of these police officers that could be considered an enforcer in such situations has recently been arraigned for sexual assault of a minor. I would have once white-knighted the guy, but of course that's been reevaluated. Still, it's hard to forget those times he intervened for me and my guys and kept us safe.

My point of this whole CSB is to say that cop haters or defenders want to see this shiat in black and white, but it rarely ever is.

In other words, you think cops should be able to do whatever they want. As long as it protects your ass.

ElizaDoolittle: I'm usually pro-union but this guy can kiss my ass

Selective outrage then?

He was protecting the public safety by driving drunk. Why are we being so mean to him?

metametameta: CrispFlows: Alcoholism may be a disability but it is definitely something that would disbar serving in a public trust capacity.

You don't hire a profoundly deaf man to be an air traffic controller or a 911 dispatcher.
You don't hire a completely blind man to an electrician or a fighter pilot.
You don't hire an idiot to be an mathematician or a NASA mission coordinator.

Besides, the excuse of alcoholism doesn't make sense - why are criminals in jail that committed crimes while under the influence of alcohol?

By that logic, they couldn't help themselves cause they have a disease.

It's also an insult to all the responsible alcoholics who treat their disease seriously and collect their sober tokens. Being an alcoholic doesn't automatically mean it's okay to be drunk or commit crimes. He wasn't fired for being an alcoholic, he was fired because he was a drunk. They aren't the same thing.

/Best friend is 15 years sober.

------

It's a shiatty article, but if you read it closely, you'll see that he received "deferred prosecution" for DUI and Hit & Run, which basically means "keep your nose clean and go to AA for one year, and we'll drop the charge". It's common in WA for first offense DUI. The problem was that a condition of DP was (at the time) that his car must be fitted with an ignition interlock and breathalyser. He was fired because that prevented him from performing the duties of the job he was hired to do. (they aren't going to put an interlock on a cruiser that is shared by 3 shifts) He was offered a desk job with no driving responsibilities but he wouldn't take it, so they fired his punk ass.

The wiggle room in this is that the law changed and people on DP now have their normal driving privileges, which means if the situation happened today, he would be able to drive the cruiser and would not be fired. What he's trying to do is ignore the fact that the law was different when he was sentenced.

Ex Post Facto, beyotch!

soundguy: they aren't going to put an interlock on a cruiser that is shared by 3 shifts)

No? Why not. Seems like a good idea to outfit the entire fleet.

Mutt Farkinov: On a more serious note...

/snip/

My point of this whole CSB is to say that cop haters or defenders want to see this shiat in black and white, but it rarely ever is.

Getting in the middle of violent conflicts is really the only thing I admire about police. And these days, that's the only thing I would call them for.

Then again, I have broken up fights before, and I've never raped a kid. Maybe you're better off with civilians in all cases. Who knows? Half the goddamn proletariat is armed right now, we may not need cops in concealed carry states (only half trolling).

There should be no discussion here, cop convicted of DUI hit and run is immediately off the force and forfeits any pension or benefits. No second chances, no discussion, game over.

libranoelrose: This is a good example of a troll that is obvious.

I dunno, seems like a reasonable response to me.

Currently in Washington State, we have an example of how much cops are revered.

A state trooper was killed a few days ago. Yes, that's a sad tragedy.

The person who killed him then committed suicide.

But that's not enough for the cops. They're going on a witch hunt to find as many scapegoats as they can. So far, 4 people have been arrested. As far as I can tell, their only crime was knowing the murderer. The vengeance will continue.

farkityfarker: Currently in Washington State, we have an example of how much cops are revered.

A state trooper was killed a few days ago. Yes, that's a sad tragedy.

The person who killed him then committed suicide.

But that's not enough for the cops. They're going on a witch hunt to find as many scapegoats as they can. So far, 4 people have been arrested. As far as I can tell, their only crime was knowing the murderer. The vengeance will continue.

The difference between LEO and a street gang is sometimes a steady income and free food. And that's not good.

libranoelrose: What about jail time?

Well if state law calls for it, that too. But the larger point is, if you get convicted of a DUI hit and run, that's it. Really, any hit and run should be enough.

I'm still not surprised that he could find a lawyer who was willing to take this case on... I sometimes wonder how they can sleep at night, knowing they got a murderer off on a technicality or "I was an abused child" defense or whatever...

Crooked cops and lawyers like this one should be taken out on a free cruise to re-enact the Titanic's maiden voyage, without any lifeboats... But we don't have that many Titanic replicas (yet)...

libranoelrose: "DUI hit and ruins my life"

It sounds like a hypothetical.

Albeit a badly stated one. : ) I can't type for sh*t, though, so I can't judge.

libranoelrose: WhyteRaven74: libranoelrose: What about jail time?

Well if state law calls for it, that too. But the larger point is, if you get convicted of a DUI hit and run, that's it. Really, any hit and run should be enough.

I guess I hold myself to a higher standard than most state legislatures.

Anyone that is supposed to uphold the law, and breaks it, should suffer the consequences of breaking that law than others.

That's how it would be in a perfect world. But we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a corrupt world.

farkityfarker: That's how it would be in a perfect world. But we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a corrupt world.

The depressing thing?

It used to be worse.

farkityfarker: Mutt Farkinov: On a more serious note...

In other words, you think cops should be able to do whatever they want. As long as it protects your ass.

I think that's a fairly big leap to conclusion. Either you missed my point or willfully ignored it so you could chime in with your hyperbole. When things are going south in the middle of a mob, it doesn't really matter if the mob sees the cop as a bad guy, or respects them. The priority is to defuse the situation. If I gave the impression that I think it's cool if 80's LA Rampart was wading in, clubbing little kids, that wasn't my intent. But, I'm forthright enough to admit I've had plenty of vodka so hell, maybe it's my fault for not being clear.

/at the house, though, so no driving
//cheers

After all the money it's taken us to clean up the mess of a department Mangan left us, what's another $4M. We've made great strides, in this city, to make the point that we're not gonna put up with this shiat. It ain't the good old boys' club anymore. SPD, it's past time to take notice.

Obviously he should have held out for a $1M a year, and promised to leave the state.