Fire chief shot by cop in Ark. court over tickets

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090903/ap_on_re_us/us_shot_in_court ^ | 09/03/2009 | JON GAMBRELL

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

JERICHO, Ark. – It was just too much, having to return to court twice on the same day to contest yet another traffic ticket, and Fire Chief Don Payne didn't hesitate to tell the judge what he thought of the police and their speed traps. The response from cops? They shot him. Right there in court.

[Texas Fossil]

We believe in the “Good Neighbor” attitude here in Texas.

Good neighbors do not interfere in others lives.

[Freddd]

When I read the first part of this I thought it was a hoax...

How sad that it wasn’t.

[oyez]

The police departmet is finaced by the fines they issue, a sick situation.

[DaveTesla]

It's unclear exactly what happened next, but Martin said an argument between Payne and the seven police officers who attended the hearing apparently escalated to a scuffle, ending when an officer shot Payne from behind.

Doctors in Memphis, Tenn., removed a .40-caliber bullet from Payne's hip bone, Martin said. Another officer suffered a grazing wound to his finger from the bullet.

Martin declined to name the officer who shot Payne. It's unclear if the officer has been disciplined.

Prosecutor Lindsey Fairley said Thursday that he didn't plan to file any felony charges against the officer or Payne.

[Talisker]

Prosecutor Lindsey Fairley said Thursday that he didn't plan to file any felony charges against the officer or Payne. Fairley, reached at his home, said Payne could face a misdemeanor charge stemming from the scuffle, but that would be up to the city's judge. He said he didn't remember the name of the officer who fired the shot.

Unreal level of rank corruption here. The victim is subject to charges, the shooter cop is literally forgotten. This town has a far bigger problem than just excess traffic tickets.

[LibTeeth]

Re:”I know for a fact that sometimes there is some friction between the cops & firemen.”

As recent as a few years ago in France the gendarmes and firemen fought each other in street riots over some public policy dispute. We can always look to the French to make the day look a little brighter.

These things are going to happen when public servants forget to charge their Tazers during disorderly conduct encounters (sarcasm).

We seriously need to consider free market policing services in this country. Actions such as this come from a monopoly-induced entitlement attitude. Voting is no longer an adequate tool for firing failed public servants and their foot troops. I’d be willing to bet this wasn’t the first sign of corruption and arrogance on the part of those public servants.

[Still Thinking]

Actually, I’m thinking it’s more like WHEN the fire breaks out at the police station and the chief’s house.

[Still Thinking]

Our town is at I think 1.1 officers per thousand residents and I see them all over the place. Can't imagine what it would be like at 40 officers per thousand.

[Still Thinking]

Prosecutor Lindsey Fairley said Thursday that he didn't plan to file any felony charges against the officer or Payne.

Or Payne??? Bet that's a load off his mind, to know that when someone shoots him while attending court, he doesn't have to worry about getting charged with a crime! [facepalm]

[gigster]

“Nothing to see here folks, move along.”

[ellery]

Juuuuuust another isolated incident, courtesy of the biggest gang of union thugs in America.