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Officer Disciplined in Kennedy Crash (Too late boys)
ABC News ^ | 5 May 2006 | Lisa Stark and Mary Walsh

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.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: 2setsoflaws; abovethelaw; abuseofpower; alibi; ambien; anothersecondchance; aristocrat; buyacop; buyadate; capitolpolice; coddled; congress; corruption; democrats; depression; districtofcolumbia; donutwatch; doublestandard; drugaddiction; druggie; drugs; drunk; dui; dynasty; fop; getoutofjailfree; getoutofjailfreecard; hewasdrunktoo; homo; idiotvoters; idlerich; isheaswisher; kennedy; lawisforlittlepeople; littlepeopleobeylaws; mayoclinic; mustbenice; notagain; painmedication; pampered; patrickkennedy; pkwilldoitagain; privilege; queer; ratcrime; ratsarespecial; recidivism; rehab; royal; royalty; scandal; scotfree; sobrietytest; sot; taxdollarsatwork; technicoloryawn; toff; wastrel; whopays; youpayforthis
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To: AmeriBrit
I just watched that video clip from boston.com.

http://www.boston.com/news/necn/ ">

You all may have to click the link for the video below the top story.

You all have to watch this.

The next time some liberal MSM partisan starts complaining that Fox News is the "F Network" because they are "biased", think of this puff piece.

They bring in 3 experts to testify that Patrick having a drug relapse is "part of his on going recovery process." They mention the alcoholism of his mother Joan, but not Patrick's alcoholsim, nor his father Ted's!

They throw out statistics saying millions of others are depressed and/or addicts (so what's the big deal?)

There are real addicts and alcoholics out there, but the ones who should be applauded are those that honestly confront their addictions and seek recovery with an open heart.

Patches has done neither, and now his enablers in the MSM are at it again.

181 posted on 05/07/2006 4:32:03 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: SkyPilot; Howlin; Freee-dame

Kennedy tangled with the concrete barrier much closer to the Hawk (in SE Washington) than to his home in NE. He was close to home but on the south side of the Capitol - not where anyone goes to cast a vote.

Consider this possibility - he was "under the influence" and blurted out that he was on his way to a vote, because he has tangled with law enforcement before on the same route from his watering hole at the Hawk, so it popped out as a matter of habit, a well-used excuse.


182 posted on 05/07/2006 4:38:05 AM PDT by maica ( We have a destination in mind, and that is a freer world. -- G W Bush)
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To: skimask

Can someone help me here or is it just my imagination that there seems to be a double standard.

@@@@

The motto of the Dem party is --

***But That's Different***


183 posted on 05/07/2006 4:43:32 AM PDT by maica ( We have a destination in mind, and that is a freer world. -- G W Bush)
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To: Christopher Lincoln

I think you are incorrect but I will do further research. It may be different in different places and it also may be different with Federal Law.But regardless the point I was trying to make was that Kennedy made the statement to keep from being arrested and I do believe that,why else would he have said it other than to get out of being arrested or as an excuse.
If you have some information on where the courts have ruled that I would appreciate you giving it to me so I could look it up, thanks.


184 posted on 05/07/2006 5:05:30 AM PDT by gunnedah
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To: gunnedah

By the way I have known officers to use the Breach of the Peace deal as a catch all but had their cases thrown out as being to vague. Surely it could not be considered Treason or a Felony.


185 posted on 05/07/2006 5:09:17 AM PDT by gunnedah
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To: trashcanbred; KarlInOhio

>>>>"significant administrative and personnel corrective action has been taken."

>>A week spent on the Kennedy yacht...

I dunno, this could be much worse that it appears on its face. If a Kennedy is at the helm, and the trip involved a private flight to Hyannisport with a Kennedy piloting, and miscellaneous ground transport involved various Kennedys driving, it could be a life-ending experience.

I personally would want no part of any venture that involves a Kennedy at the controls of a transportation device.


186 posted on 05/07/2006 5:11:02 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: SkyPilot
Is There a Kennedy Curse? - "Along with a record of public service....."

There is no curse... these people all inherited Uncle Teddy's reckless lifestyle. Either that or subconsciously they all have a death wish because of all the guilt they carry around being a Kennedy.

187 posted on 05/07/2006 5:45:26 AM PDT by trashcanbred (Anti-social and anti-socialist)
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To: My Favorite Headache
It could be his drinking car or even his drop car for all I care.   Favorite, baby, he is still privileged enough to so far above us, even drugs are okay for his like.
188 posted on 05/07/2006 7:41:41 AM PDT by Lady Jag (Learning to shrug is the beginning of wisdom)
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To: SkyPilot

Shame on you. Don't you know that the PC term is inebrio-American?
Now fix it.


189 posted on 05/07/2006 8:25:00 AM PDT by Cheburashka (World's only Spatula City certified spatula repair and maintenance specialist!!!)
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To: SkyPilot
If "Patches" has a hole in the bottom of his Fruit of the Looms, then his "I was was with a woman" defense could become an even bigger problem for him.

And nobody is going to ask if the woman has XX chromosomes

190 posted on 05/07/2006 8:39:54 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (A planned society is most appealing to those with the hubris to think they will be the planners)
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To: AmeriBrit

None of it adds up....but then again...none of it ever does with the Kennedy's. I don't want to be accused of being a Mustang hater here...I love them. I owned a 9.8 second quarter mile Stang through most of the 90s. I just don't see Kennedy driving a 9 yr old car that was the lowest model of the Stangs at the time.


191 posted on 05/07/2006 9:18:13 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache ("Scientology is dangerous stuff,it's like forming a religion based around Johnny Quest and Haji.")
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To: gunnedah

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article01/21.html#f379


192 posted on 05/07/2006 9:33:43 AM PDT by Christopher Lincoln
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To: gunnedah

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article01/21.html#4


193 posted on 05/07/2006 9:37:09 AM PDT by Christopher Lincoln
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To: Christopher Lincoln
Thanks,great information. I stand corrected and apologize for putting out erroneous information.I have added this sight to my favorites.
194 posted on 05/07/2006 10:03:42 AM PDT by gunnedah
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Comment #195 Removed by Moderator

To: trashcanbred

"A week spent on the Kennedy yacht..."

He will get a book deal, time on 60 minutes and if lucky, a position on Kennedy's staff.


196 posted on 05/07/2006 3:49:48 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Democrats = The Culture of Treason)
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To: American Quilter; Howlin; rock58seg

Ambien is not supposed to be mixed with alcohol, but the sleep-driving and other bizarre sleep-behavior reported to have been caused by Ambien are not associated with alcohol use. This stuff has caused sleep-driving, sleep-eating (one woman gained over a 100 pounds after she began taking Ambien, and before discovering what was going on while she slept), and other very active (sometimes violent) behavior during sleep, in ordinary people who weren't drinking alcohol, and whose bizarre behaviors stopped immediately when they stopped taking Ambien.


197 posted on 05/07/2006 5:35:12 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: SkyPilot

Too late on purpose I assume. Double standards for liberals.


198 posted on 05/07/2006 5:37:45 PM PDT by ladyinred
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Comment #199 Removed by Moderator

To: Howlin

"... too many woman involved with the Kennedys take the money and shut up."

Except for those pesky dead ones.


200 posted on 05/08/2006 12:24:43 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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