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.
Long overdue.
Every now and then, we catch a glimpse of the other one, the one where responsibility is a joke, and consequences don't exist for certain behaviors that would be disastrous for persons in the "other America".
America has a ruling class. We don't like to admit it, but we have aristocracy in this country just like all the other ones do, because we fail to hold politicians accountable through the use of term limits and other measures that would keep them in line.
We will soon forget this incident, just like all the others, including PK's murdering father, because they keep us busy dealing with our own issues like filling our gas tanks.
You saw it all in full focus this week; Patrick Kennedy tells a bold-faced lie, CNN was ready and willing to back him up with a supporting story, as was the print media, now we have a girl hired to say she was with Kennedy, and the bar tab from the place Kennedy was drinking as disappeared, as well as the memories of the people who saw him there.
All it took was a few dollars to the right people, and the story goes away. This is America. Still the greatest, but sometimes, not so great.
Photo below courtesy of Martin Fierro.
"Lie after lie, after lie, after lie, after lie, after lie......."
I knew they would trash the Capitol Police.
Don't get me wrong; these guys SHOULD be reprimanded.
But before this is over, those fools on the Hill are going to 'realign' the CPO so they won't "bother" them anymore.
You're exactly right; I did exactly what makes me sick about the liberals.
I should not have alluded to his sexual orientation; my only excuse is that I was making a lame joke.
>>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.<<
There are successful prosecutions without chemical evidence - particularly when you go on TV and admit you were on drugs and then witnesses turn up that you were drinking.
"There are two Americas! One for rich Democrats, and one for the rest of y'all."
Did the tow truck operator talk to Kennedy? Did he see a woman with Kennedy? Did the cops see a woman with Kennedy? Did a cop drive a woman home separately? Or did a cop drive them both back to Kennedy's digs?
What's the time line on all this?
I wonder if the police brass are going to alter cop reports with all these details in them so that not only is Patches' fanny protected but also theirs.
Leni
Note to self: Follow-up on this in one year and see if anything came of it. Check to see if this clown gets reelected. I think I already know the answers.
Suppose Kennedy does it again and something worse happens? Manslaughter?
So true, he could just say "You think a Kennedy ever has to ASK for special treatment??? Of course I didn't ask...."
It was my doing. I don't want to throw that out because it really isn't relevant to this case (other than it would also show that Patrick is really, really morally depraved).
But, since the Kennedy clan is throwing this "He was with a woman" defense out there, then I do believe it is reasonable to at least ask the question.
Exactly, he was not only "asking" for special treatement he was "demanding" special treatment.
I saw pictures of his Mustang on the news. It had a few scratches and very little damage. Did I miss something?
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