Lou Cannon of of the Fraternal Order of Police for the District of Columbia said there are questions about whether Rep. Patrick Kennedy received special treatment. (ABC News)
Posted on 05/06/2006 1:43:39 PM PDT by SkyPilot
Investigation Continues as Congressman Enters Mayo Clinic
May 5, 2006 — Capitol Police have taken disciplinary action against a watch commander for the handling of Rep. Patrick Kennedy's car accident, acting Capitol Police Chief Christopher McGaffin said.
Lou Cannon of of the Fraternal Order of Police for the District of Columbia said there are questions about whether Rep. Patrick Kennedy received special treatment. (ABC News)
McGaffin said the incident was improperly delayed due to "poor judgment" on the part of police managers and that a field sobriety test should have been administered to Kennedy after his car hit a barrier near the Capitol at 2:45 a.m. on Thursday.
The police report said Kennedy was speeding and his eyes were "red and watery." It also stated that his speech was slightly slurred and that upon exiting his vehicle his balance was "unsure."
Kennedy announced earlier today that he would enter the Mayo Clinic for treatment for addiction to prescription pain medication.
There are questions about why Kennedy was not given a sobriety test immediately after the accident.
"I would say within law enforcement that there is probably … concern that consideration was given a member of Congress that would not be afforded a normal citizen on the street," said Lou Cannon, president of the Fraternal Order of Police for the District of Columbia.
McGaffin would not elaborate on the disciplinary actions, but he did say "significant administrative and personnel corrective action has been taken." Other officers may be disciplined. No one has been fired at this point.
The report indicates alcohol may have played a role in the crash, but officers from the Capitol Police on the scene were apparently told by their supervisors to simply drive Kennedy home. Kennedy has said that he did not ask for special treatment.
A police officer in Los Angeles said it appears that standard procedures, which would include a field sobriety test if the driver was found to have bloodshot eyes or slurred speech, were not followed.
LAPD Detective Felix Padilla said if an officer suspects driving under the influence he has an "obligation to do that."
"We have a duty to the public to protect the public, and to ignore that would be neglect on our part," he said.
Kennedy has said he was not drinking but had taken the sleeping pill Ambien and another drug that can cause drowsiness. Experts say Ambien has been linked to so-called sleep driving — where users are not even aware they are behind the wheel.
Kennedy has long struggled with depression and drug addiction and now the congressman admitted that he once again needs help.
I hope they fire those cops. Ridiculous.
What is it? A week of paid leave and a "stern talkin' to"?
For a cover-up at this level, prison is called for.
A week spent on the Kennedy yacht...
What about the Congressional Investigation of this pos?
I just hope he is smart enough to insist on driving himself.
SCOTT FREE!
Welcome to the democRat social club.
Too late - Kennedy will never be charged now. They let him off, he cooked up a story about addiction to prescription drugs, and another Kennedy escapes justice - again.
Agreed,....no way now to prove he had been drinking..other than his bar tab...but, then he could say he was buying drinks for othe patrons...
Fox is reporting that a woman was with him that night who tried to get him to not leave the house -- and that she can back up his story that he was not drinking.
Um, where was she Thursday?
You must have beat me by seconds in posting this. As I said on the thread that I posted...It is sad that these guys get off on internal discipline. Only The police and government types get away with that. The rest of us would be charged with a crime and have to go to court. This guy should too.
Paid vacation no doubt. WOW....that will show him!
Are these "experts" Democrats by any chance?
Fox is calling her "The Mystery Woman."
This smells to high heaven. AGAIN.
And Fox is saying he has admitted to binge drinking.
I've lost count of how many things he has admitted to in the last three days.
His story keeps evoloving.
Fox is reporting that Kennedy had a mystery woman in his car....
All the experts I've seen say the only way that happens is when you mix alcohol with it.
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Detectives probing U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s early-morning car wreck interviewed workers at the Hawk ’n’ Dove bar yesterday while rank-and-file Capitol police are pushing prosecutors to throw the book at the well-connected pol. “Mr. Kennedy, by his own admission, was operating under the influence of narcotics, which is a violation,” said Lou Cannon, president of the Capitol police union.
Cannon said detectives probing the Rhode Island Democrat’s 2:45 a.m. wreck visited several watering holes along Pennsylvania Avenue yesterday, asking bartenders and waitstaff if they saw Kennedy in the hours before the congressman crashed his Mustang convertible into a security barricade.
Kennedy checked himself into a Minnesota rehab center last night. Among the bars detectives were focused on was the Hawk ’n’ Dove, a popular tavern that Kennedy is known to frequent, Cannon said.
The Herald reported yesterday that a hostess at the Hawk ’n’ Dove said she saw Kennedy drinking in the bar Wednesday night. Employees at the pub declined comment yesterday. Cannon said despite Kennedy’s decision to seek treatment for his booze and drug problem, detectives are continuing to build a case for prosecutors
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