St. Louis police say they'll discipline officer who wore 'Wilson' name tag at City Hall protest

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | December 12, 2014 | Denise Hollinshed

[2ndDivisionVet]

ST. LOUIS • A city police officer stationed at City Hall when protesters showed up Friday to protest police brutality drew the attention of demonstrators because the officer wore a “Wilson” name tag on his sleeve in a show of solidarity with former Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson.

Now that officer also has his department’s attention.

In an interview Friday, Chief Sam Dotson said the “officer clearly violated our policies and will be disciplined.”

“I couldn’t be more disappointed,” Dotson said. “We spend a lot of time working on professionalism and building a bridge in the community.”

The department’s policy on uniforms allows only department-approved pins, insignia and awards, a spokeswoman said. Officials did not name the officer, but another name tag, on the breast of his vest, read “Coats.”

Dotson said police officers have the same First Amendment rights as others when they are off duty, but that this “clearly violated our rules.” He said he thinks the officer will get “some days off for his actions.”(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

If you push hard enough, you'll get push-back.

[FlingWingFlyer]

He should get a month suspension with pay.

[G Larry]

Hey Dotson!

Get your head OUT!!

There is NOTHING to be “disciplined” for!!!!

Wilson is INNOCENT, and there is NOTHING WRONG WITH PRONOUNCING HIS INNOCENCE!

[madprof98]

. . . building a bridge in the community

Build a bridge in that community, and somebody will be burning it down real soon.

[Fishing-guy]

The police’s every act is now under microscope (or cell phone camera). A good thing actually.

[rktman]

Guess we need some t-shirts printed up “WE ARE WILSON!”

[PhiloBedo]

Kinda like the Ram’s players first amendment rights when they are “on duty”?

[Logical me]

Hey Dotson, you want to discipline for what while you let the city burn down? Ars hat!

[Bon mots]

Where's the push-back? I don't see any.

[FunkyZero]

Current events aside... police are not asked, they are expected to remain neutral and never display their personal views in public. You can and should get into a lot of trouble for political speech or taking sides publicly on controversial issues. this isn't a new concept or rule, it was a point that was stressed even 25 years ago what I participated in this line of work. There are public spokesmen and elected officials who are the only ones tasked with this stuff. It doesn't matter which side you are on, this is an important rule and it's there to keep public perception neutral. No matter what side of an issue you take, you will always agitate half of the people so you can never come out clean.... right or wrong. I can remember the hiring process and they actually preferred people who weren't even registered to vote. They take this pretty seriously.

Take this instance as an example.. even though I might agree with the officer and for him showing support for his colleagues, look at the outcome. It's inflaming the idiots and stirring up even more trouble. Again, right or wrong, you just aren't supposed to do this stuff as a LEO.

[SkyDancer]

Yes there is when it’s a pandering chief that’s involved.

[smokingfrog]

Time for a blue flu epidemic.

[Iron Munro]

What He Said:

“We spend a lot of time working on professionalism and building a bridge in the community.”

What He Meant:

“We spend a lot of time pandering to the moochers, looters and arsonists and throwing our own officers under the bus."

[AlaskaErik]

“I couldn’t be more disappointed,” Dotson said. “We spend a lot of time working on professionalism and building a bridge in the community.”

How about building a bridge in your own department, chief.

[high info voter]

The only one in the room with both balls and honesty?

[mountn man]

I agree completely.

If the issue was some how reversed, where WE would be outraged, we would still expect neutrality from the police.

I thought the Rams were a$$#oles and I think this cop is one too.

I disagree with the Rams view on the issue, but agree with the cop.

[mountn man]

So, because of what the ON DUTY cop did, he had balls?
I guess that means that the Rams players, in a stadium with 30,000 fans had more balls?

[Dr. Sivana]

Does this mean that Tom Hanks is also a police sympathizer?

[Flick Lives]

... adding "Wilson" to the ever growing list of racist dog whistle words. Guess that means all reruns of Home Improvement will have to be taken off the air. "Hey, Wilson!"