'I’m a cop, I can do whatever I want ' off-duty policeman shouts before 'executing guy in bar'

Daily Mail ^ | Dec 25, 2011 | Daily Mail Reporter

[bkopto]

An off-duty police officer has been charged with executing a man in a sports bar - after an argument over a game of darts.

Riverside County sheriff's deputy Dayle Long, 42, allegedly shot Samuel Vanettes, 36, three times, leaving him to die on the floor of the bar in Murrieta, California.

SNIP

An altercation allegedly broke out after the police officer told one of the friends 'I’m better at darts than you are', Chris Hull, 39, told Patch.com.

'My buddy says, "Aw, you suck at darts". (The man) says, "That’s why I’m a cop, I can do whatever I want to do".'

Hull tsaid his friend asked; 'Really, you can do anything?'

The police officer then pulled out his gun, Hull claimed and after the group repeatedly asked him to put it away he 'pops three rounds into my friend Sam'.

The ten-year department veteran appeared at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley in a red prison uniform, on Friday charged with murder.

[ßuddaßudd]

Metal darts or those crappy plastic ones?

[Yo-Yo]

What we really need is an unarmed constabulary, like in the UK.

And an unarmed citizenry to go with it? No thanks.

[The Working Man]

Is anyone even moderately surprised by this story?

---

Yes and no. Yes, I am surprised it was reported. Many Cops do think they are above the law.

No, I am not surprised at the story itself. He, the off-duty officer, let the alcohol get to him and his ‘true’ self and feelings of superiority came out of the closet in public.

The only real cure to these things is the constant drumming into them that they ARE Public Servants and not masters. Also an intensive grounding in ethics should have been a part of their training and background.

But that’s just wishing on a star. The rest of us need to live in the real world where we need to be on guard against the gangs that roam around us. Both the ones from the Government and the ones who aren’t.

[Roccus]

I nominate you for the first unarmed officer to enter “The Hood”.

Big deal!

I was not a cop, but I've been there and done that.
As a white, middle-aged man I spent the 90's working days/nights (un-armed) in the streets, basements, back yards and roof tops of Harlem, Washington Heights and the South Bronx. I worked alone in places that armed cops wouldn't go without a partner and drawn weapons.

[saleman]

“Every single one of them love their families, are honest and god-fearing. Each would bravely died in the line of duty to protect anyone here.”

Boy. Talking about painting with a broad brush.

Except maybe those that were at Columbine and bravely waited outside until, how many? were dead. And don’t forget Virginia Tech..etc.

[Oceander]

I am surprised. My major in college was Criminal Justice and I grew to know and respect many, many police officers, probation officers and correctional officers... even a couple of detectives who leap out of the back of vans to sneak up on drug dealers. Every single one of them love their families, are honest and god-fearing. Each would bravely died in the line of duty to protect anyone here.

I am not so much surprised by the fact that there are a few nuts out there, including some who manage to find their way into law enforcement as I am by the apparent willingness on this thread to believe that this sort of mentality is widespread amongst police officers in general.

That there are plenty of police officers who do have an entitlement mentality about things - traffic lights being strictly optional being the one I've seen most frequently - most of them never rise to this level of insanity and, as you put it, most police officers are good people who are more than willing to put themselves at risk to help others.

[Roklok]

“Many, many, many, cops have the same attitude.”

I haven’t met a cop in many many years that I repected. I looked up to Policemen when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s, but todays cops are a bunch of thugs.

[Ernie Kaputnik]

“Evil cops seek each other out and form little covens.”

As do politicians, pedophiles, and homosexuals.

[bearkat]

I’m not talking about them. I answered a question, yes I’m surprised. I was referencing the officers that I know PERSONALLY. Duh.

Just because some are bad, you should not condemn them all.

Kind of like religious nuts... some are nuts, some are not. Kind of like the democrats bad-mouthing ALL conservatives because some are extreme. Kind of like condemning all gun owners because a few break the law...

[RichInOC]

Yeahhh. So how’s that working out for you right now, Lizard King?

[CodeToad]

I was going to post something funny, but this isn’t funny anymore. “Law enforcement” is out of control and thinks itself higher than it is. Time to reel it in.

[saleman]

I did not “condemn them all”.

Just a large percentage of the ones that I know “PERSONALLY”.

And the ones at Waco, Ruby Ridge, Columbine etc. Oh, and the guy in the article here. Granted, I’m sure there are conflicting stories. Let’s see how this one plays out. Maybe it’ll turn out like the ex-Marine that was shot, what, 26 times in his home. Just following “procedure”.

[RockinRight]

He kinda looks like John C. McGinley.

[zeugma]

Even if completely true, it demonstrates that unstable men given guns and power tend to prove the old adage about power corrupting.

Actually, I think history has shown that it's not the power itself that corrupts. It's power without accountability that is corrupting.

Accountability is key.

[Molon Labbie]

Booze, Broads, and Bills ping. What a DA.

[Alas Babylon!]

Part of it may have to do with our media considering themselves harbingers of “social justice” instead of just reporters.

When a story doesn't promote liberals and denigrate conservatives, then it's not fit to print.

I can't tell you how many times I found stories posted here on Free Republic that came from Britain that were simply not covered in our own media. I didn’t know why in some cases. Maybe I'm wrong about the bias above. Maybe they're just too lazy to get out and cover stories. Who knows?

[brityank]

"But he was armed!

"He had three darts.

"He cudda put my eye out!!"

-- Dayle Long

</sarcasm>

[Track9]

That was my first thought too. Good job posting the pics.

[papertyger]

Actually, it is a pretty good idea.

When you consider the ROEs (as it were) the modern police officer works under, he’s GOT to be a lying, cheating, sociopath to even want the job.

I’d rather arm the teenage girls....

[woofie]

God can do better than that