There has been a lot of commentary of late about police brutality and the lack of consequences for officers that behave badly. First I want to stipulate that there empirically are more good cops than bad because otherwise there would be a much greater number of police brutality victims. Second, I think it's a good idea to point out that police shouldn't be painted with the broad brush of stereotype. That being said, is it any wonder people no longer trust the police? Today we just found out that a San Antonio police officer accused of holding his wife and children at gunpoint has been allowed to enter a plea deal which will allow him to keep his law enforcement license!
Follow me below that thingy that could be orange gun smoke for more.
A San Antonio police officer accused of holding his wife and children at gunpoint will keep his peace officer's license, as part of a plea deal signed in court last month.
Get that? He pointed his service weapon at his own family and wouldn't let them leave! And that's not all. He also used the gun as a cudgel to his wife's head. According to District Attorney Woodrow Halstead his family "changed their stories" so he reduced the charges. I'm sure that in the intervening year and a half, he hasn't bullied any of them into changing their stories. Cause that never happens. And let's not forget that he
has been punished, if not to the "fullest extent of the law" then close, right? Not quite.
Lopez was given one day of probation and a $100 fine after pleading "no contest" to a Class C misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, according to his plea deal.
Poor guy might have to use the money he's been saving to buy a newspaper with in order to pay
that fine. But that's what the fine is I guess for "making an obscene gesture". On the other hand Police Chief McManus wants us all to know that he's concerned .... for the abusive cop.
"There are deeper issues here than someone going off like that,"
So, watch out, Boerne and New Braunfels and China Grove and Medina County. There is a new cop possibly coming to a force near you! He won't even have to move in order to "protect and serve" your area. But it's all good. I'm sure he's learned his lesson!
I've said it before and I'll say it again: To all judges, lawyers, District Attorneys and cops who don't friggin pull guns on their own families while beating their spouses: IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE TARRED WITH THE NAME OF "PIG", IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR ALL COPS TO BE FEARED, IF YOU REGRET THE LACK OF PUBLIC TRUST, S
TOP DEFENDING THESE BRUTAL ASSHOLES! YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING! STOP REFLEXIVELY CLOSING RANKS AROUND BULLIES AND THUGS WHEN THEY ACT LIKE THIS.
Or maybe even just treat them in the same manner that you would treat a civilian who does the same thing. People aren't stupid and that goes for police too. If there are no consequences for bad behavior, there will never be any incentive for them to change.