Posted on Aug 13, 2015
Florida police officer investigated after challenging US veteran over use of disabled parking space
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Cop Harasses Disabled Veteran for No Reason!
Officer Wilson is going to have some explaining to do.
[Warning: Video has explicit language!]
From: Fox News
A Florida police officer is under investigation after he allegedly ordered an Army veteran to remove his car from a handicapped-accessible parking spot despite the veteran’s vehicle displaying a disabled placard.
According to WPBF-TV, Riviera Beach Police Sgt. Gary Wilson is now on paid administrative leave while he is being investigated by internal affairs following an incident Sunday involving Isiah James, a U.S. Army combat veteran who served nearly 10 years.
The incident, caught on James’ cellphone video, shows an angry exchange between James and Wilson after the officer allegedly asked the veteran to move his Dodge Magnum out of the disabled parking spot outside a Walgreens because he did not look disabled.
Wilson is seen on the video challenging James, 29, saying the veteran is “in the wrong” because he “can walk.”
“What I’m saying is there are people in wheelchairs who can’t get out and you just get out of the car and float right into the store,” Wilson says to James.
“You are not the arbitrator of my disability; you don’t get to decide if I’m disabled or not,” says James, who reveals during the exchange that he served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. James also explains that he has screws in his leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Wilson, who asks for James’ license and calls in the plate number to check for outstanding warrants, also appears to knock James’ cellphone out of his hand as the veteran records the exchange.
“Move the camera out of my face,” Wilson says.
“You can’t do that, officer,” James says. “You broke my phone.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkkOMMmQIg
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/12/florida-cop-investigated-after-challenging-veteran-over-use-disabled-parking/
From: Fox News
A Florida police officer is under investigation after he allegedly ordered an Army veteran to remove his car from a handicapped-accessible parking spot despite the veteran’s vehicle displaying a disabled placard.
According to WPBF-TV, Riviera Beach Police Sgt. Gary Wilson is now on paid administrative leave while he is being investigated by internal affairs following an incident Sunday involving Isiah James, a U.S. Army combat veteran who served nearly 10 years.
The incident, caught on James’ cellphone video, shows an angry exchange between James and Wilson after the officer allegedly asked the veteran to move his Dodge Magnum out of the disabled parking spot outside a Walgreens because he did not look disabled.
Wilson is seen on the video challenging James, 29, saying the veteran is “in the wrong” because he “can walk.”
“What I’m saying is there are people in wheelchairs who can’t get out and you just get out of the car and float right into the store,” Wilson says to James.
“You are not the arbitrator of my disability; you don’t get to decide if I’m disabled or not,” says James, who reveals during the exchange that he served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. James also explains that he has screws in his leg and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Wilson, who asks for James’ license and calls in the plate number to check for outstanding warrants, also appears to knock James’ cellphone out of his hand as the veteran records the exchange.
“Move the camera out of my face,” Wilson says.
“You can’t do that, officer,” James says. “You broke my phone.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkkOMMmQIg
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/12/florida-cop-investigated-after-challenging-veteran-over-use-disabled-parking/
Police
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Posted >1 y ago
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Boils down to Officer Wilson let his personal bias interfere with his duties as a Police Officer and crossed the line of professionalism with a Disabled Veteran that was legally parked.
And.....................This Veteran is incredibly lucky having survived BEING BLOWN UP EIGHT TIMES, and still has all finger and toes......he is extremely lucky, many do not survive the first explosion. I can't help but feel he was looking for an opportunity to play the victim here.
And.....................This Veteran is incredibly lucky having survived BEING BLOWN UP EIGHT TIMES, and still has all finger and toes......he is extremely lucky, many do not survive the first explosion. I can't help but feel he was looking for an opportunity to play the victim here.
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PFC Mike Jones
SPC Bryan Kovar - I did go to the sandbox. I'm not saying that the DV was wrong, I'm just saying that he could have handled it a bit more tactfully.
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CPL Timothy Lane
TSgt (Join to see) - he was standing up for his rights. He had enough of authority figure pushing him. I saw life experience and higher education kick in. Kudos
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SGT Roger Childs
It's a good thing he played it up and got attention. Incident could have easily been forgotten LE shouldn't judge. If the paperwork and or sticker is in place then it meets the requirement. Should be a photo ID that matches. If there's a doubt simply check the ID and move out!
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SSG Glendale Williams
This is a rebuttal to what the CSM said about him trying to play the victim. what in the hell are you talking about? This veteran survived explosions after explosions by the grace of God and you have the audacity to say that he was playing the victim. It is obvious that you need to get out of the service and get into another line of work. It is a shame that you attain the rank of CSM and would say something like that.
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Cops don't decide who's disabled. Period. In order to get that placard, this vet (and anyone else in the country wanting one) had to get his doctor to sign off on a DMV form. If his doctor did, and the placard is legit, this cop has ZERO standing.
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SPC DV Gio Lozano
SN Greg Wright - at least in the state of Texas that is the case. I'm not exactly sure what the disability rating has to be but I believe it's 60% or more
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CPL Earl Kochis
One you don’t need a doctors form just the rating letter from the VA to get a disability plate! My Opinion is they should do away with the placards and issue plates only! That would end the question of legality. The cop wouldn’t even need to approach to check the plate.SN Greg Wright
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I see a lot of people saying that the vet could have handled himself differently.
Firstly, we don't know if he was having a bad day to begin with, and Officer Dough Boy made it worse by harassing and assaulting him.
Secondly, wouldn't you get upset if a cop who is obviously out of shape tells you that "you don't look handicapped enough" and possibly lose your cool?
The cop had absolutely no authority to make that determination, and was completely unprofessional and also ASSAULTED the veteran. He should not be suspended or retrained, he should be FIRED.
Firstly, we don't know if he was having a bad day to begin with, and Officer Dough Boy made it worse by harassing and assaulting him.
Secondly, wouldn't you get upset if a cop who is obviously out of shape tells you that "you don't look handicapped enough" and possibly lose your cool?
The cop had absolutely no authority to make that determination, and was completely unprofessional and also ASSAULTED the veteran. He should not be suspended or retrained, he should be FIRED.
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SSG (Join to see)
Once you been diagnosed with PTSD are TBI the little things could set you off and you really do not know daytoday how you're going to react that's one reason then add other injuries he sustained it in the military that's why he was approved for having a disability tags. Once confronted in that situation could have started his reaction but really once he showed his disability tags the officer should have just left.
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CW4 John Karl T.
I wish I had been there. I would have invited to officer to get back in his cruser and do something useful or call his shift supervisor to the scene.
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CW4 John Karl T.
Now if he wants to take off that badge, gun and uniform and join me in a boxing ring, I've got money that says this 74 year old retiree can take him. I have no worry because bullies won't show up for a real fight.
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