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've seen Webb Hubbell with the same exact look on his face...........
Was that before he lusted for Hillary's fat ass, or after he partook of his pleasure, and was ready to vomit???
It will just put more crooked cops on the Kennedy payroll. Unlike Clintoon, they are not required to commit suicide.
Hmmm. A Kennedy admitting to binge drinking isn't news.
Now, a Kennedy admitting to binge sobriety, now THAT'S news!
"There are questions about why Kennedy was not given a sobriety test immediately after the accident."
He's a kennedy. What more proof do you need that he was drunk.
Not so. The courts have held that "treason, felony, or breach of the peace" covers all criminal offenses. Nowadays, a privilege against arrest in a civil case is no great matter; but it was important in the early days of the Union, when imprisonment for debt was common.
In any case, the Capitol Police officers would have known the House was not in session; it's their job to know.
I wondered to whom the Capitol Police answer. It tuns out that the force is under a Board consisting of the Architect of the Capitol and the Sergeants-at-Arms of the two Houses. The Architect of the Capitol is a Clinton appointee (his term expires next year), but the Sergeant-at-Arms of each House was elected by the current membership.
Going by this witness's statement here there's no doubt in her mind that Kennedy was at fault in the accident April 15th 2006.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2006/05/06/kennedys_behavior_driving_is_questioned_by_eyewitness/
RHODE ISLAND ACCIDENT
Kennedy's behavior, driving is questioned by eyewitness
By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff | May 6, 2006
NEWPORT, R.I. -- A woman who witnessed a two-car collision involving Representative Patrick J. Kennedy outside a Portsmouth, R.I., drugstore last month said he had been weaving and driving aggressively beforehand and was impaired when she confronted him outside his car afterward.
''He was swaying, and his eyes were glazed," said Sheila Lash, 75, of Newport, who alleges that Kennedy briefly drove against traffic on April 15 before he turned his car into the CVS parking lot and collided with another car turning in from the opposite direction. ''Then he said the most unlikely thing: 'I'm so sorry for the fuss.' "
Portsmouth police provided copies of the accident report yesterday but declined to comment.
Lash, who said Kennedy almost struck her car before the 10:09 a.m. accident, added that she could not tell whether he had alcohol on his breath because she has a poor sense of smell from having broken her nose years ago.
But the part-time antiques saleswoman was so appalled by Kennedy's appearance and driving, she said, that she gave her phone numbers to the other driver and told him to give them to police because she had to leave for Providence. The responding officer called her later that day, she said, and she described what she saw.
NECN Extra: Full Kennedy announcement
Congressman Patrick Kennedy announces that he will enter rehab for addiction to prescription pain medication Friday, after a highly publicized crash near the Capitol. NECN's R.D. Sahl has more.
http://www.boston.com/news/necn/
Scroll down to "More Top Stories".
I dunno about the word privelge here...Kennedy was driving a lowball 1997 Mustang...not even the GT model. What gives? The Kennedys have hundreds of millions of dollars, this guy is a congressman and he drives a car that is worth $5,500 in the Auto Trader?
To me it looks like it is his drinking car. He takes it out when he knows he is gonna drink and do drugs and he doesn't want to bang up a $80,000 Mercedes.
Just wait, whether he is or he isn't gay, Patches will come out of the closet and be guaranteed a seat (cough) for life.
Does even ONE American have a question as to why this was done?
I am also sick of our non-partisan govt agencies....police,judges, CIA....playing favorites.....its like Communist Russia anymore..
Does anyone REALLY think he's checking into the Mayo Clinic for rehab. I'm betting there is a well-reimbursed Doctor friend of the Kennedy's at the hospital. It's a hideway for Patrick...not a hospital.
One would suppose that googling might turn something up.
Thanks for posting it.
Right here mate.
....there was a threat of a full force revolt by the rank and file.
I hope it is true.
@@@@
I've heard that there are two conflicting groups within the Capitol Police - pre-9-11 officers who traditionally "look after" the members of Congress, and post-9-11 officers who want to be a serious security force.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.