I think this is overstating the case. It’s a traffic stop. There was no warrant out on her, she didn’t rob anybody, she wasn’t a shoplifter, a murderer, or even a vandal. She had no drugs and she wasn’t drunk. She was speeding. He pulled her over in the hospital parking lot (or at the very least at the hospital entrance). Sure, she could have come up with a story about visiting the hospital to get out of the ticket, but it’s just a speeding ticket, for crying out loud. In the grand scheme of things it’s not that important. If she’s lying, so what — once again, all she did was drive fast, and if she was telling the truth, the officer could have decided to err on the side of caution and show an ounce of compassion instead of acting like a pr*ck (and he definitely came off as one in the video). I can tell you from personal experience that there *are* other officers who would find his behavior embarrassing and offensive. Even though officers are under tremendous stress day in and day out, you don’t necessarily sign away your humanity when you’re issued the uniform and firearm and that fact speaks to just how critical it is that our officers be men and women of extraordinary character — for they have extraordinary powers and responsibilities.
Well said.
At what point was all that information known to the cop? When she was driving 63 in a 35?, When she failed to pull over after being requested to? Maybe when she took off after she pulled over the first time?
And, on what basis can you firmly state she was not drunk?
Do you even have any idea of how many cops are shot or killed over routine traffic stops?
When some one takes off after being pulled over, the cop has to assume the worse.
This woman F'd up big time. The cop, I would say over reacted, but not, IMHO, to the point of brutality.
A lot of people on this thread are judging the officer's actions with the benefit of hindsight. All the officer knew at the time was 65 in a 35 zone and total lack of cooperation. How was the officer to know that this was "just a speeding ticket" and not a DUI, escaping criminal, driving on suspended license, unreported stolen car, etc., etc.?