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.
Sounds like a Repub "Why bother" campaign. These people still voted for Daddy....and he killed someone for cripes sakes.
Did the disiplinery action include checking his finances?
Were there any big deposits?
I think this story is really funny. Who wrote it up and aked a Mexican cop in LA if procedure was correct. Mexican cops are the most corrupt on the planet.
The fix was in.
Here's Teddy's little boy following the same route as daddy. Nip it in the bud before we have another Mary Jo scenario...
He subsequently said he doesn't remember anything about the incident...period.
in negotiations for the price of her services as a witness?
Ah, so they've settled on what she IS, they're just negotiating her price?
Also, I have seen the rumors that Patrick is gay on the other threads, but we have no evidence of it and I don't want to fuel those.
The only inclination I have that it may be true is that he is almost 39 years old and single.
I am sure if he was they would somehow use it to gain even more sympothy...diversity or whatever angle they would use. I just hope if he is we don't have to hear about it. Besides, being a gay Kennedy would not sit right in that family IMO. LOL. (He would probably have some accident or something). One part of the family that does seem ok is the Shriver side. They seem to keep out of trouble from what I can tell and see.
Funny how the liberals don't have a problem with this rich white boy pulling strings, isn't it? Oh, no. There's nothing but silence from the cultural arsonists on the Left.
The mystery woman who has come into a great deal of new-found wealth.
LOL!
If it had been plain old little nobody LibKill, the steel would have been on my wrists almost before I could get out of the vehicle.
One law for the elite, another law for us serfs.
I can too but not till i get the check......
LOL!
If the officer does get it worse than Kennedy, it could be a lesson to all the other "government employees" out there that if they try to help him, they are going to screw themselves.
It has always been that way and isn't going to change. America's caste system at work.
I've seen Webb Hubbell with the same exact look on his face...
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