Posted on 12/19/2008 7:19:34 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
Police Officer David Seaton lies in a hospital, his body broken, a colleague dead, questions lingering in the wake of the traffic fatality he caused.
Why?
Why was he driving 100 mph in a 45 mph zone en route to a shoplifting call?
Why did he run a red light at an intersection where two patrol cars were parked and lit up?
SAPD investigators don't know. They haven't asked. And that's one reason this case is tearing up the rank-and-file. Police recommended a manslaughter charge against Seaton without interviewing him.
“We made an attempt to interview Officer Seaton,” SAPD spokesman Gabe Trevino said in an e-mail, “but the request was never approved by his family.”
Police don't typically need family approval to interview manslaughter suspects. But there's nothing typical about this case.
On the day the manslaughter recommendation was sent to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, Seaton still didn't know he'd killed a close friend and fellow officer, Robert Davis.
“Can you imagine,” union president Mike Helle said, “if the first time he finds out about anything, he sees it on TV?”
As of late Monday, another officer said, Seaton believed Davis was alive.
“Officers have been visiting with him for a while,” said the cop, who isn't authorized to comment. “Seaton thinks someone else hit him. But he knows Davis was at the accident. He's asked if Davis is all right. Officers either say, ‘He's OK,' or ‘We don't know.' No one wants to tell him what happened.”
That's one of the perplexing elements about this case. The more light that falls on the speeding fatality, the deeper the driver sinks into the dark.
It wasn't clear what Seaton knew Tuesday. I couldn't reach his family for comment. But this was clear: Police Chief William McManus is presiding over a nightmare.
On the one hand, many outside SAPD want him to treat Seaton like a civilian. If Seaton is guilty, book him.
On the other hand, the troops are angry one of their own might be prosecuted. Terminating Seaton's career is one thing. Sending him to prison is another.
“The guy is going to have to live with this the rest of his life,” said another officer who isn't permitted to comment. “It's not like he won't have any remorse.”
Officers are quick to help and protect their own, especially those in crisis. But the chief needs to protect the public's trust. If he sent nothing to the DA, imagine the outcry.
Like it or not, there are political and PR considerations here. Some officers understand that, but say there was no need to make a recommendation without talking to Seaton first.
Why rush?
There's that word again: why.
Police deny they rushed anything. They say the evidence supports the recommended charge. And besides, they can't make Seaton talk. He has the right to remain silent as well as the right to an attorney.
Unspoken but implied is something else. SAPD didn't need to interview Seaton. The evidence spoke for itself.
One officer close to the investigation says more details damaging to Seaton will emerge.
A department could become more divided. And Seaton?
Colleagues worry about him learning accidentally that he killed a friend he thinks is alive. That could send him to a place so dark, one officer fears, he might never return to the light.
San Antonio police want manslaughter charge for cop Houston Chronicle, United States - Dec 15, 2008 Officer Robert Davis, 26, died two weeks ago after being struck by a patrol car driven by Officer David Seaton, 46, and traffic investigators are now ...
Cop who hit, killed rookie faces charges San Antonio Express
Manslaughter charge recommended for San Antonio officer KXXV News Channel 25
Manslaughter charge recommended for officer Houston Chronicle
San Antonio Express
I say it all the time now: We are serfs. Society is structured so that some folks are more special than others. I bear the brunt of all this, because I'm just part of the masses. Ain't nothing special about me.
Damn straight.
On the other hand, the troops are angry one of their own might be prosecuted. Terminating Seaton's career is one thing. Sending him to prison is another.
"The guy is going to have to live with this the rest of his life,"” said another officer who isn't permitted to comment. "It's not like he won't have any remorse."
Oh, well, if he's really really sorry he killed someone with his recklessness, then that's all right then.... [/sarcasm]
On the other hand, the troops are angry one of their own might be prosecuted. Terminating Seaton’s career is one thing. Sending him to prison is another.
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Some animals are more equal than others..
Cop was hurrying home to attend on-line school and eat supper, IIRC--he got prison time.
What is he? A 10 year old who can’t take the truth of what he did and face the consequences? Life is tuff sometimes.
If it hadn’t been a cop he killed, they wouldn’t even be discussing prosecution at all.
What if he promises, cross his heart and hope to die to never, ever, ever do it again? Then can he have his dessert and watch Starsky and Hutch reruns on Nick at Night?
This is why I hate cops. They are nothing but law breaking ass covering thugs.
Officer Seaton should be told immediately that he killed another officer. Doing so will force him to recall the details of the accident. Then investigators will be able to review and consider all of the facts. If there are no extenuating circumstances such as a medical trauma (seizure, blackout, etc.) or mechanicle malfunction of the vehicle (brakes, electrical, etc.), then Officer Seaton should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Until you need one.
Then he should be told that ASAP
and I can't disagree with that
I absolutely hate this attitude among LEOs. And I used to be one.
There are plenty of cops who believe they are or should be above the law, rather than exemplary of it. Some are not that way, but plenty are.
He is very sorry and that should be the end of it.
Glad to see you hate cops. How many times have you been arrested? Why not share all your abstract experiences with us?
Nice. You've got the ACLU talking points down to an art.
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