Posted on 10/15/2010 1:11:19 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando police say an officer, who broke an 84-year-old man's neck, did nothing wrong. Officer Travis Lamont was cleared by the department late Friday morning.
Orlando Police Chief Val Demings said Officer Lamont did not violate policy. He broke 84-year-old Daniel Daley's neck in September while arresting him.
Since the department has cleared Officer Lamont's use of force, there will be no internal affairs investigation into the officer's actions.
WFTV spoke with Daley's lawyer, Mark NeJame, Friday. NeJame told WFTV he is not surprised that the Orlando Police Department cleared the officer, but says it was wrong to do so.
The police report said Officer Lamont was justified in using what the department calls a hard takedown, and says he performed the technique by the book. Police pointed out in its report that Daley is six inches taller than the officer, even though they weigh about the same.
"Six inches, 60 years, um, there is a 60-year age difference. Come on, everybody knows, you got an 84-year-old person. Who cares how tall they are?" NeJame said.
Daley plans to sue Orlando police over the incident. Daley is now out of his medically-induced coma and is starting to speak again. He said he didn't know why he was in the hospital.
Yes. I’ve gained a newfound respect for authority.
An 84 year old can kill you just as easy as a 24 year old.
My grandfather at 84 could have still kicked some behind on younger men, he was still 6-3 and imposing. I’m not gonna assume this guy was wizened and using a walker.
Pig.
;-/
I would give the freeper credit if I knew his name but his tag line is (paraphrase) don’t fight with an old man, he’s too tired to fight and will just shoot you..
http://www.wftv.com/news/25075466/detail.html
Not everyone believes the officer did the right thing. Eyewitnesses said Daniel Daley might have stumbled into the officer, but they never saw him grab the officer around the neck, pull back his fist, or threaten to knock down the officer.
Daley was an Army intelligence officer during World War II and also served during Vietnam. Eyewitness Sean Hill said Daley did not draw back to punch the officer. He showed WFTV what happened before the officer threw him to the ground.
“He said, ‘I’m not done talking to this cop.’ Whether it was alcohol, he stumbled. He’s 84 years old; he needs a walker,” Hill said.
I’m 23 and not in bad shape but my 80 year old grandfather can still beat my ass without much trouble. Once we start pushing 90 then I’ll assume the cop was in the wrong. Hell old guys get tougher and meaner as they age.
According to the link I just posted he did in fact use a walker.
Thanks for the info, it sounds much worse with that, it at first glance appears the cop over-reacted.
It is cops like this one that I fear the most if SHTF in this country. Guys like this are the kind that like to see people suffer the consequences of their power. Power they love to yield. Call them what you will, bullies love being bullies.
I have probably 40-50 or so nights riding with friends that were cops, all retired now. Even they do not like the “new” cops on the street. Not one of my friends would have done this to an 84 year old man, drunk or not. The only 84 year old man I would be intimidated by would be one with a gun.
The “New” cops are dangerous.
'nuff said.
A lot of apoligists for the cop on here.
The “officer” sounds like he has the Napoleon Complex. What happened to the other officers that were disputing the tough-guy cop’s account from the beginning.
I’m *$&#ing sick of everyone taking every word a cop says at face value, even when somehting like this happens. They aren’t GODs people. I had a State Trooper that lived down the street in an area that was sort of rural. He loved to stand in the doorway naked whenever a woman walked down the street. My daughters, wife, all got a little show from that little punk as did the other women in the area. Yes, he was reported and no, nothing happened to him as he was “cleared.”
(I wonder what the truth is)
Daley left the Caboose Bar and headed to his car across the street Saturday night.
Witnesses say the 84-year-old was upset when he saw his car was about to be towed.
The Ivanhoe Grocery owner recently posted signs warning drivers because customers of other businesses were parking in their spots.
Several people, who didn’t want to go on camera, say it has led to plenty of arguments the past few weeks, but none with the potentially deadly consequences that happened Saturday.
The police were called and say Daley, who’d been drinking, put his hands on the officer.
Witnesses say he put his hands on the officer three times and the cop warned him to stop each time.
Police say Daley made a fist and said ‘I’m not leaving until I knock this cop out.’
Another witness says the officer then violently hip checked him and took him to the ground.
Daley ended up in Florida Hospital with a broken neck.
And that changes things back in the cop’s favor, IMO. Not only that, but if the guy was drunk enough to threaten a cop, he sure as heck shouldn’t have been getting in his car and drive off as he was apprently planning to do.
Another one of the 99.999% giving the remaining .001% a black-eye...
Check out post 16 and get back to us. I am willing to keep an open mind here, unlike some folks who show up and automatically assume the cop was wrong.
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