Officer delays family racing to see dying mom

[tlongII]

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090325_mo_detained.6f8a23c1.html

DALLAS — Racing to see his dying mother-in-law at a Plano hospital, an NFL player found himself delayed by a Dallas officer as her life ebbed away. It's a story that has sparked outrage across North Texas and generated interest around the country.

With his wife and another woman in the car, Ryan Moats — a running back for the Houston Texans — sped his car toward Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano in the early morning hours of March 17. But when the Moats arrived at emergency room parking lot, they were stopped by Officer Robert Powell, who drew his service revolver on the concerned family members.

Dashcam video from the Dallas officer's patrol car captured the incident.

"Get in there," Officer Powell yelled out to Tamishia Moats, Ryan's wife, as she exited the car. "Let me see your hands. Get in there. Put your hands on the car."

"Excuse me; my mom is dying," Tamisha Moats replied.

She and the other woman ignored Officer Powell's commands and rushed inside the hospital to her dying mother as Ryan Moats and Officer Powell went back-and-forth over insurance paperwork the NFL player was unable to locate.

MOATS: "I've got seconds before she's gone, man."

POWELL: "Listen: If I can't verify you have insurance..."

MOATS: "My mother-in-law is dying!"

POWELL: "Listen to me."

MOATS: "Right now, you're wasting my time."

POWELL: "If you can't verify you have insurance, I'm going to tow your car. So, you either find it or I am going to tow the car."

As they argued, the officer got irritated.

POWELL: "Shut your mouth. Shut your mouth. You can either settle down and cooperate, or I can just take you to jail for running a red light."


Dallas PD
The tape shows a nurse coming out of the hospital, pleading with Officer Powell to let Moats join his wife and her dying mother inside.. In a telephone interview, Moats said the clash with the officer was totally unexpected. "For him to not even be sympathetic at all, and basically we're dogs or something and we don't matter — it basically shocked me," he said.

No compassion was indicated in the police recording of the incident. "I can screw you over," Officer Powell said. "I would rather not do that. You obviously will dictate everything that happens; and right now, your attitude sucks."

The hospital twice sent nurses to try and get the officer to release Moats.

"We're blue-coding her for the third time," a nurse said on the police videotape.

A Plano police officer stopped to make a plea for the officer to let Moats go. "Hey, that's the nurse," the Plano officer said. "She says the mom is dying right now, and she wants to know if I can get him up there."

Finally, after a 20-minute delay, the officer ticketed Moats for running a red light.

By the time Moats made it up to the emergency room, his mother-in-law was dead.

"I went up after she passed and held her hand, but she was already gone," Moats said in a telephone interview.

Dallas police have apologized to the Moats family, dropped the ticket, and launched a review of the incident.

“When it came to our attention, we immediately called for an internal investigation to be done,” said police spokesman Lt. Andy Havey.

WFAA.com has received more than 400 comments about the incident since the story first aired on Channel 8 Wednesday night.

[IronMexican]

Read this earlier. What a damn shame on the Officer's part.

[Brutalis]

I would have ignored the cop and took off.

[SpursStalker]

That's just fucked up

[JudynTX]

:(

[Spur-Addict]

Ridiculous

[balli]

Cops are inhuman. Fuck em.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

wow what a jackass.

[Epic Fail Guy]

I'm sure the cop didn't expect his name to be associated with failure!

[JudynTX]

Trust me, you need those last few moments with a dying loved one.

[Kermit]

I'm sure said cop got reassigned. At least PETA won't send this one death threats.

[koriwhat]

fuck the police! nothing but crooks.

[Bigzax]

if it's his own mother, he tells the cop to go ahead and tow the motherfucker. i would.

[BlackSwordsMan]

dallas PD even had the balls to drop the ticket

[Extra Stout]

I heard the tape on a Houston radio station this morning. Officer Powell has a deeeeeeep backwoods East Texas accent.

The dithering for 20 minutes was Powell looking up everything he could on Moats and just generally trying to stall. I think he intentionally was trying to make it take as long as possible so Moats' mother-in-law would be dead by the time he let him go.

Whenever I've been stopped, the officer always asks me if there is some emergency. When Moats protests, he gets a "shut your mouth" from the officer. Then the officer starts threatening Moats.

Most reasonable explanation is "racist East Texas cracker abusing his power in order to screw with black people." He'll be fired from the Dallas Police Department and get hired in Jasper or Palestine or somewhere like that, and be a local hero.

[baseline bum]

Fucking cops are assholes.

[peewee's lovechild]

That cop is a real bastard.

[TheMACHINE]

damn took so long to give a ticket...i watched the whole video...cant beleive that shit

http://www.dallasnews.com/video/index.html?nvid=345818

[mrsmaalox]

CNN will be showing the videotape shortly

[TheMACHINE]

CNN will be showing the videotape shortly

the 17 min tape is on my link above

[baseline bum]

Fucking sucks the way Moats has to start sucking up to that stupid fuck.

[baseline bum]

I would have ignored the cop and took off.

You'd probably be dead.

[CubanMustGo]

I support the police about 99.8% of the time ...

but in cases like this you can see how a select few have earned the right to be called pigs.

[TheMACHINE]

I support the police about 99.8% of the time ...

but in cases like this you can see how a select few have earned the right to be called pigs.

same here..im usually one to say just to follow the cops and things would be ok...but in this case...he should have used better judgement....decide if there is a threat and use some discretion.

[Viva Las Espuelas]

damn. and the dude even had his hazards on. why didn't the cop take that into consideration.

[FromWayDowntown]

This story -- like the Tolan story in Houston -- enrages me.

I think the vast majority of police officers and law enforcement personnel take their jobs very seriously and do those jobs well. It's unfortunate to those great people that guys like this come along and, seemingly, get a power trip out of wearing the badge. There was absolutely no need for that type of harassment -- a 20 minute stop -- for an offense like running a red light. There's no way that stop should have exceeded a few minutes. That's particularly true when, not once, but twice, third parties come along to advise the officer that the driver's story is correct.

As a weird aside, I flew to Indianapolis while the NFL combine was going on in 2005 and sat next to Ryan Moats on the flight from Memphis into Indy. Had a very brief conversation with him and found him to be a nice guy. In light of that experience, I'm particularly incensed by this whole story.

[SA210]

Asshole!Asshole!Asshole! Fire his ass and sue him. :pctoss

[jack sommerset]

What a dick head. If I read this right the football players wife and another women from the SUV ran into the hospital. At this point if he thought there was a high risk back up would have been called.The nurses came out and said this was really happening and he said he is almost done. On the local radio here they said the Plano cop ask the Dallas cop to let it go.

The cop has the car,has the licsense,and most important we our talking about a TRAFFIC VIOLATION!. What the fuck is this guy being dick over a traffic violation. Fuck, the SUV is parked out side a emergency room for crying out loud, which the asshole cop pointing out was now parked illegal. Are you kidding.

That dude needs to be fired. No excuses. I don't want to hear how tough the job is. My brother in law is a cop in Dallas. I have not talked to him and I am sure he will have a different view, there little brotherhood they have but he needs to be canned. The cop is only 25 years old. Stop this shit now.

[Kermit]

Don't worry. The police union will make sure that nothing happens to this guy. Nothing to see here.

[SA210]

I hope there is a way to criminally charge this officer. He saw the hazards on, that tells you right off the bat that something is wrong, then he sees that he's pulling into a HOSPITAL! Another sign. WTF! He did this crap on purpose.

I hope thay can charge him with something, along with being fired and sued.

[CubanMustGo]

OMG - the story has been updated. Check this shit out:

"My understanding is that Officer Powell — even after he saw the videotape — believed he had not acted inappropriately," Chief Kunkle said, a view that was underscored by Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson, who reviewed the tape with Officer Powell on Wednesday.

You have got to fucking be kidding me. Get this asshole off the force NOW Kunkle.

"The essence of being a police officer is common sense and discretion," Chief Kunkle added. "I can't imagine a worse circumstance."

[Extra Stout]

"My understanding is that Officer Powell — even after he saw the videotape — believed he had not acted inappropriately," Chief Kunkle said, a view that was underscored by Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson, who reviewed the tape with Officer Powell on Wednesday.
Well, if he figured it was his job as a Proud White Aryan to harass black people...

[Spurminator]

He's stubborn to a fault and insists on being the one in control.

[peewee's lovechild]

That fucker has to go.

[Shelly]

Unbelievable.

[SA210]

He stalled on purpose OMG this is just so sad and pisses me off so much it's ridiculous.

[Homeland Security]

I want to hire that guy. He's perfect for what we do.

[TDMVPDPOY]

dropping the ticket wont bring that person back

[balli]

This dude shouldn't get fired, he should get 187'd.

[TheMACHINE]

This dude shouldn't get fired, he should get 187'd.

screaming one eight seven on a mother-fucking cop

[The Franchise]

He's the type of cop that causes good cops to get killed.

[ploto]

77Q49VztpLI

lzjg2EhNLY0

[ploto]

This cop is a total asshole. All because he ran a red light by a hospital with his flashers on, and he repeatedly told them his mother-in-law is dying. And no, I would not stop if I was trying to get my wife to the hospital before her mom dies of breast cancer. Claiming he is going to take the guy to jail and threatening that he can screw him over. The nurse even comes out TWICE and says that they have to have him and still he does not let him go in. This guy thinks he can get away with it because he assumes this guy is just any African American man in Dallas and has no clue that he is an NFL running back. And then the guy tries to lecture him. You know how many people run a red light or a stop sign near a hospital. Listen to the conversation between the two cops at the end- the one guy even laughing.

[peewee's lovechild]

This is a case of racial profiling, that's all there is to it.

The cop is a fucking bigot and he needed to make himself feel superior in that situation. I hope he gets his ass fired.

I'm proud that Moats kept as much cool as he did. Knowing myself, I would've been jailed or shot.

[tp2021]

Kill this one. The world would be a better place.

[Das Texan]

what a total piece of fucking shit cop.


this has been all over the news outlets in dfw since yesterday.

[Vinnie_Johnson]

That bastard cop what a prick.

[LockBeard]

This dude shouldn't get fired, he should get 187'd.

Did you have a good time at your Oakland protests against the Officers killed?

[baseline bum]

Did you have a good time watching that BART cop shoot the guy in the back?

[Homeland Security]

Typical. He thinks that just because his "mother-in-law" is "dying," he can run red lights, and doesn't have to stop for the police until he gets to the hospital parking lot. Such a sense of entitlement. I applaud the officer's restraint. If it had been me, he would have gotten at the very least a taser shot to his balls.

[PM5K]

You can't argue that what the officer did was wrong, his own supervisors including the Chief of Police said he acted inappropriately.

I guess the real question is: What punishment should he receive?

I'd have a hard time firing him because he's only 25, and he hasn't been a police officer very long.

I would however make sure he winds up doing some type of cancer related community service, maybe he needs to see first hand someone watching their loved ones die right in front of them.

And I guess the biggest question has to be, was this guy a racist or just an asshole?

[SA210]

And I guess the biggest question has to be, was this guy a racist or just an asshole?

I'm gonna go with a racist asshole.

[MannyIsGod]

I'm gonna go with a racist asshole.

Fire him. The biggest problem with positions of authority like the police force is they attract assholes who love to abuse it. The sooner you get that type of ass hat out the better.

And yeah, as sad as this story is it has NOTHING on the BA/Tolan shooting.

[timvp]

If there was no dashboard cam, the headline of this story would be "Heroic cop kills crack dealer". Moats should be thankful for that cam.

But yeah, I don't think he should get fired. Suspend him and give him a clear warning. He has the personality to make a good cop. He'd be much more dangerous if he got fired. Add bitterness to that guy's ego and that'd be a scary combo.

[florige]

If there was no dashboard cam, the headline of this story would be "Heroic cop kills crack dealer". Moats should be thankful for that cam.


But yeah, I don't think he should get fired. Suspend him and give him a clear warning. He has the personality to make a good cop. He'd be much more dangerous if he got fired. Add bitterness to that guy's ego and that'd be a scary combo.




:lmao I would had let him be once I saw the nurses coming out. He was just a dick. I work with plenty of them here in Baltimore too.

[50Bestspurever]

Fuck giving this asshole a second chance. His ass needs to be fired!! This idiot is a 3 year veteran. If this idiot cannot use discretion in a situation like this, fuck him. For god sakes they were in a hospital parking lot. A trained medical professional relayed information to this asshole that the mans mother in law has coded twice. Another police officer, who should have been more forcefull, tried to give him a fucking clue and numbnuts couldn't get it. He tells the other cop a couple more minutes. Then to top it off he holds him up at the end and tells him what do the next time this situation happen's. Hey dumbass, how many times do you think his mother-in-law will die. Huge fuck up on this dumbass cop again. Second chance for him? Fuck no.

[PixelPusher]

Whenever I hear someone speak offscreen or on the radio, I try to imagine what he/she looks like, and I always get it wrong when I find out.

well, almost always...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/03-09/0327robertpowell.jpg
Officer Robert Powell

[Cry Havoc]

If there was no dashboard cam, the headline of this story would be "Heroic cop kills crack dealer". Moats should be thankful for that cam.

But yeah, I don't think he should get fired. Suspend him and give him a clear warning. He has the personality to make a good cop. He'd be much more dangerous if he got fired. Add bitterness to that guy's ego and that'd be a scary combo.

If he can't use good judgment in an obvious situation like that, where it should be a very simple call on the officer's part, how could you possibly trust him in a morally ambiguous one? The officer (though I use that term loosely) was obviously acting on his own self-bias and completely power tripping -- that's the opposite of a guy you want on the force. You want to keep him around because of how dangerous he'd be if you turned him loose? Does that sound like a guy who should be a cop to you?

[Indazone]

Used to be when there was an emergency the cop would say "follow me", turn on his siren and lights and give you an escort to the hospital. Whatever happened to common decency.

[SA210]

Used to be when there was an emergency the cop would say "follow me", turn on his siren and lights and give you an escort to the hospital. Whatever happened to common decency.

There's not much of it these days. :depressed

[CubanMustGo]

Here's the dude's "apology":

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032809dnmetmoatsfolo.3d3c3e8.html

Dallas police Officer Robert Powell released an apology Friday through his attorneys:

"I wish to publicly and sincerely apologize to the Moats family, my colleagues in the Dallas Police Department, and to all those who have been rightfully angered by my actions on March 18, 2009. After stopping Mr. Moats' vehicle, I showed poor judgment and insensitivity to Mr. Moats and his family by my words and actions. With great remorse I accept my responsibility for adding to their grief in an already difficult time.

"I have attempted to reach Mr. Moats to express my personal condolences directly to his family and my regret about my actions. While these efforts have been unsuccessful so far, I hope we can talk soon.

"Again, I am very sorry for what I did and ask for the forgiveness of all those touched by these unfortunate events."

The attorney, Bob Gorsky, works with the Dallas Police Association (e.g. the union). He said that despite news reports to the contrary, the officer is remorseful.

The day before, police commanders said Powell told them he saw nothing wrong with his behavior even after reviewing video of the episode.

[PM5K]

The day before, police commanders said Powell told them he saw nothing wrong with his behavior even after reviewing video of the episode.

Yup, which means that his apology is pointless, nobody with half a brain would believe it.

[SA210]

Yup, which means that his apology is pointless, nobody with half a brain would believe it.

[mFFL03]

are cop cams required by law to be turned on ALL the time?

[timvp]

If he can't use good judgment in an obvious situation like that, where it should be a very simple call on the officer's part, how could you possibly trust him in a morally ambiguous one?I'm sure he knew what to do. He obviously thought he was invincible and his ego got too big. This reality check should solve that issue.


The officer (though I use that term loosely) was obviously acting on his own self-bias and completely power tripping -- that's the opposite of a guy you want on the force. To be a good cop, you have to have a bit of power tripping in your personality. Power tripping, when reined in properly, is what makes a good cop a good cop. I've never met a good cop without power tripping qualities. Power tripping is probably the A1 reason someone decides to become a cop in the first place.


You want to keep him around because of how dangerous he'd be if you turned him loose? Does that sound like a guy who should be a cop to you?There's a thin line between someone with the personality to make a good cop and someone with a dangerous personality. Someone meek with a low self esteem wouldn't make a good cop or a good criminal. The cop crossed the line in this situation but to me it appears to be a guy who needs to be reined in rather than a guy who needs to be fired.

[RandomGuy]

I'm sure he knew what to do. He obviously thought he was invincible and his ego got too big. This reality check should solve that issue.

To be a good cop, you have to have a bit of power tripping in your personality. Power tripping, when reined in properly, is what makes a good cop a good cop. I've never met a good cop without power tripping qualities. Power tripping is probably the A1 reason someone decides to become a cop in the first place.

There's a thin line between someone with the personality to make a good cop and someone with a dangerous personality. Someone meek with a low self esteem wouldn't make a good cop or a good criminal. The cop crossed the line in this situation but to me it appears to be a guy who needs to be reined in rather than a guy who needs to be fired.

I would tend to agree.

This wasn't a Rodney King style beat-down, he didn't shoot an unarmed prostrate guy in the back, it was just... stupid.

Personally, I would have simply told the cop that I was going inside to see her, and if he really wanted to shoot me, then to go ahead.

At some level, you have to remember that police, although they can fuck with you, don't determine guilt or innocence, or even whether or not an offense will be prosecuted.

[ZStomp]

What an asshole...

[ZStomp]

I support the police about 99.8% of the time ...

but in cases like this you can see how a select few have earned the right to be called pigs.

Bingo.

[Bigzax]

i expected the video to be worse considering the outrage.

moats should have had his insurance good to go and he should have told the officer to go ahead and tow the vehicle if not, and walked away.

of course the cop was insensitive and should have given the guy a break considering the circumstances...he should get reprimanded and suspended for not using better judgment. fired is overboard.

but a cop would have to kill me to keep me from my dying mother.

apparently, you only had to threaten to tow the vehicle to keep moats from his dying mother IN LAW.

May she R.I.P. though.

[ploto]

The worst problem I have is at the end when he is OBVIOUSLY taking as long as he can to write the stupid ticket, even after a nurse comes out twice. It does not take ten minutes AFTER he has the insurance to write a ticket for running a red light. He was screwing him over ON PURPOSE by then, fully aware of what the situation was inside the hospital.

Moats stayed outside with the officer because he was the driver of the vehicle who was being detained by the police. The guy was even threatening to take him to jail all over a red light. You know what would have happened if he had tried to go inside himself. He might have been shot.

[The Franchise]

i expected the video to be worse considering the outrage.

moats should have had his insurance good to go and he should have told the officer to go ahead and tow the vehicle if not, and walked away.

of course the cop was insensitive and should have given the guy a break considering the circumstances...he should get reprimanded and suspended for not using better judgment. fired is overboard.

but a cop would have to kill me to keep me from my dying mother.

apparently, you only had to threaten to tow the vehicle to keep moats from his dying mother IN LAW.

May she R.I.P. though.
Well he did pull his gun.

[SA210]

The worst problem I have is at the end when he is OBVIOUSLY taking as long as he can to write the stupid ticket, even after a nurse comes out twice. It does not take ten minutes AFTER he has the insurance to write a ticket for running a red light. He was screwing him over ON PURPOSE by then, fully aware of what the situation was inside the hospital.

Moats stayed outside with the officer because he was the driver of the vehicle who was being detained by the police. The guy was even threatening to take him to jail all over a red light. You know what would have happened if he had tried to go inside himself. He might have been shot.

[balli]

lol at arguing whether this unscrupulous fuck should be fired or not. Can't believe that's even up for debate.

[PM5K]

It gets worse:


Another allegation has surfaced against the officer who prevented Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats from entering a hospital to see his dying mother-in-law last week.

The Dallas Morning News reports that Maritza Thomas, wife of former Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas, was handcuffed and spent approximately three hours in jail after Dallas officer Robert Powell pulled her over for an illegal U-turn in July 2008.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4024877

[PM5K]

His wife apparently is Hispanic, so this doesn't necessarily show he isn't a racist, just that if he is he doesn't like either race.

She got five tickets for the one offense she was pulled over for, and went to jail for a Class C misdemeanor, which according to her attorney you wouldn't normally be arrested for. Four of them were dropped.

Sounds like he wanted to "screw her over" as well.

[ploto]

Apparently, he was at training camp so I guess they had just gotten there. He gave her a ticket for having the wrong address on her driver's license!

This other incident does shed light on a tendency on his part to take people to jail for traffic violations- like he threatened to do to Moats and did do to her. Yes, they can arrest you but that never happens unless you have an outstanding warrant.

[MannyIsGod]

Fuck this dude.

[The Franchise]

Fuck this dude.

But you know they will stick him on paid leave for about 2 months and then he'll be right back to the same shit.

[Summers]

Used to be when there was an emergency the cop would say "follow me", turn on his siren and lights and give you an escort to the hospital. Whatever happened to common decency.

That's exactly what I thought. Isn't that why cops always ask why you're going so fast? To give you the benefit of the doubt? I guess it's not official procedure, but it seems like common sense.

[Summers]

are cop cams required by law to be turned on ALL the time?

I believe they're required to be on anytime the officer makes a stop. I think they might come on automatically when the sirens come on. I can't remember.

[ploto]

I believe they're required to be on anytime the officer makes a stop. I think they might come on automatically when the sirens come on. I can't remember.

Ironically at the beginning of the video, the cop makes Moats move over so he can be seen by the camera. Then, the camera reveals more about him than about Moats.

[Extra Stout]

With the additional reports coming out about Powell, at this point it takes outright obscurantism not to understand the kind of racist power-tripping thug we're dealing with here.

However, from what I understand about the Dallas police union, Powell could have shot Moats, urinated on him as he died, carved a swastika on his forehead, and then gone into the hospital to shoot his mother-in-law if she weren't already dead, and it still might not be enough to keep him fired.

So he'll be free to keep on pulling his weapon on blacks and Hispanics for going 47 in a 45.

Regarding the guy's picture... wow, sometimes the family tree in East Texas is all trunk and no branches, seriously.

[Bigzax]

i would like to see some tapes of him pulling over whitey so we have something to baseline his asshole meter.

if he's mr. nice guy with white folk, then yeah, fire his racist ass.

but if he's the same prick, then just call an asshole an asshole and put the race card down.

[PM5K]

i would like to see some tapes of him pulling over whitey so we have something to baseline his asshole meter.

if he's mr. nice guy with white folk, then yeah, fire his racist ass.

but if he's the same prick, then just call an asshole an asshole and put the race card down.

Yeah I bet he gives escorts to the white people, with lights and sirens....

[jack sommerset]

Here's the dude's "apology":

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032809dnmetmoatsfolo.3d3c3e8.html

Dallas police Officer Robert Powell released an apology Friday through his attorneys:

"I wish to publicly and sincerely apologize to the Moats family, my colleagues in the Dallas Police Department, and to all those who have been rightfully angered by my actions on March 18, 2009. After stopping Mr. Moats' vehicle, I showed poor judgment and insensitivity to Mr. Moats and his family by my words and actions. With great remorse I accept my responsibility for adding to their grief in an already difficult time.

"I have attempted to reach Mr. Moats to express my personal condolences directly to his family and my regret about my actions. While these efforts have been unsuccessful so far, I hope we can talk soon.

"Again, I am very sorry for what I did and ask for the forgiveness of all those touched by these unfortunate events."

The attorney, Bob Gorsky, works with the Dallas Police Association (e.g. the union). He said that despite news reports to the contrary, the officer is remorseful.

The day before, police commanders said Powell told them he saw nothing wrong with his behavior even after reviewing video of the episode.

Isn't funny how the cops get all bent out of shape when a suspect ask for a attorney but no one says anything when the cops uses one!

[2Blonde]

Here's the latest on Officer Robert Powell...
http://www.the33tv.com/pages/content_landing_page/?Shoot-people-posting-gets-police-attenti=1&blockID=253662&feedID=460
...He's done! At least it shows he's an equal opportunity jerk since he wants to shoot anyone.:lol

(Hey Florige & Z-Stomp, better go back and sanitize everything you've ever written.) :rollin

[Viva Las Espuelas]

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―

Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell, who delayed NFL player Ryan Moats and his wife from the hospital bedside of a dying relative, has resigned.

Powell handed in his resignation Wednesday morning.

Powell's attorney released a statement from the officer. It says:

"With a heavy heart and great sadness, I resigned from the Dallas Police Department this morning. I made this decision in the hope that my resignation will allow the Dallas Police Department, my fellow officers, and the citizens of Dallas to better reflect on this experience, learn from the mistakes made, and move forward. I still hope to speak with the Moats family to personally express my deep regret, sympathy, and to apologize for my poor judgment and unprofessional conduct. I also want to apologize to my fellow officers. I have sincere respect and admiration for the men and women of the Dallas Police Department and the work they perform daily, and I wish them well."

Powell stopped Moats' car in the parking lot of a Plano hosptial. Moats had run a red light as he was trying to get to the bedside of his mother-in-law, who was near death.

Powell gave Moats a ticket for running the red light. He also threatened Moats. Despite Moats' pleas to Powell to release him, his mother-in-law died while Powell detained him.

Powell and the Dallas Police Department have come under fire for his actions during the stop.

[Hank Hill]

DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―

Dallas Police Officer Robert Powell, who delayed NFL player Ryan Moats and his wife from the hospital bedside of a dying relative, has resigned.

Powell handed in his resignation Wednesday morning.

Powell's attorney released a statement from the officer. It says:

"With a heavy heart and great sadness, I resigned from the Dallas Police Department this morning. I made this decision in the hope that my resignation will allow the Dallas Police Department, my fellow officers, and the citizens of Dallas to better reflect on this experience, learn from the mistakes made, and move forward. I still hope to speak with the Moats family to personally express my deep regret, sympathy, and to apologize for my poor judgment and unprofessional conduct. I also want to apologize to my fellow officers. I have sincere respect and admiration for the men and women of the Dallas Police Department and the work they perform daily, and I wish them well."

Powell stopped Moats' car in the parking lot of a Plano hosptial. Moats had run a red light as he was trying to get to the bedside of his mother-in-law, who was near death.

Powell gave Moats a ticket for running the red light. He also threatened Moats. Despite Moats' pleas to Powell to release him, his mother-in-law died while Powell detained him.

Powell and the Dallas Police Department have come under fire for his actions during the stop.

That there cop ain't right :ihit

[BacktoBasics]

Seems logical to resign rather than get fired. A lot easier to get another job somewhere else when you haven't been canned.

[CosmicCowboy]

Look, I didn't like how it ended. but I think the cop actually showed a lot of restraint at the beginning and then got pissed off.

First, he pulls up behind them with lights/sirens and they don't stop. Then, when they finally stop he tells them to stay inside and they jump out. At that point he was well within his rights to cuff or taze them all...they were still "suspects" and having a 3 on 1 situation with them all out yelling and moving is enough to put any cop into adrenaline overload. Then, the women break and run to the hospital...For all he knew at the time there could have been drugs in the car and this whole thing was just a diversion to dump them....

sooo...I'll defend his actions for the first two or three minutes, but agree that it was pretty inexcusable after that...

[MannyIsGod]

Look, I didn't like how it ended. but I think the cop actually showed a lot of restraint at the beginning and then got pissed off.

First, he pulls up behind them with lights/sirens and they don't stop. Then, when they finally stop he tells them to stay inside and they jump out. At that point he was well within his rights to cuff or taze them all...they were still "suspects" and having a 3 on 1 situation with them all out yelling and moving is enough to put any cop into adrenaline overload. Then, the women break and run to the hospital...For all he knew at the time there could have been drugs in the car and this whole thing was just a diversion to dump them....

sooo...I'll defend his actions for the first two or three minutes, but agree that it was pretty inexcusable after that...

Really? I mean REALLY?

[MannyIsGod]

Dude CC just mind fucked me. I mean a car with its hazards on comes to a red light, slows to to make sure no one is coming, then runs hte red light and proceeds to a hospital and CC reaction is to think this might be a drug drop? THEN, the women jump out and say their mother is dying after stopping for a second and CC thinks this is merely a diversion.

Honestly?

[MannyIsGod]

And even if that shit is defensible - you have to go out of your fucking way to do it - and it all becomes IRRELEVANT as fuck when the nurse comes out and tells him whats up - when the cop tells him whats up - oh and when the nurse comes out again and tells him whats up.

[CosmicCowboy]

:lol

http://www.petakids.com/page/fish_main.jpg

[MannyIsGod]

Well played sir, Well played..

[PM5K]

The thing is, sometimes you have to let other people's concerns and feelings be more important than yours.

I think this Officer was so caught up in how he felt, and how pissed he was to see this guy run a red light, refuse to pull over immediately, and then proceed to park illegally.

He was annoyed and it's understandable, but once you realize what's going on with the person you pulled over, you have to realize that their feelings and their situation is bigger and more important than yours, and you have to swallow that anger because some things are bigger and more important than how YOU feel.

My .02

[TheMACHINE]

The thing is, sometimes you have to let other people's concerns and feelings be more important than yours.

I think this Officer was so caught up in how he felt, and how pissed he was to see this guy run a red light, refuse to pull over immediately, and then proceed to park illegally.

He was annoyed and it's understandable, but once you realize what's going on with the person you pulled over, you have to realize that their feelings and their situation is bigger and more important than yours, and you have to swallow that anger because some things are bigger and more important than how YOU feel.

My .02

Conclusion: Have some fucking discretion and common sense.

[desflood]

Conclusion: Have some fucking discretion.
Says the man with the huge nipples in his sig.

:lol

[jack sommerset]

Used to be when there was an emergency the cop would say "follow me", turn on his siren and lights and give you an escort to the hospital. Whatever happened to common decency.

Best post in this thread!

[TheMACHINE]

Says the man with the huge nipples in his sig.

:lol

i like nipples

[Blake]

Look, I didn't like how it ended. but I think the cop actually showed a lot of restraint at the beginning and then got pissed off.

First, he pulls up behind them with lights/sirens and they don't stop. Then, when they finally stop he tells them to stay inside and they jump out. At that point he was well within his rights to cuff or taze them all...they were still "suspects" and having a 3 on 1 situation with them all out yelling and moving is enough to put any cop into adrenaline overload. Then, the women break and run to the hospital...For all he knew at the time there could have been drugs in the car and this whole thing was just a diversion to dump them....

sooo...I'll defend his actions for the first two or three minutes, but agree that it was pretty inexcusable after that...

so are hospital nurses usually in on these diversions?

[The Franchise]

Dude CC just mind fucked me. I mean a car with its hazards on comes to a red light, slows to to make sure no one is coming, then runs hte red light and proceeds to a hospital and CC reaction is to think this might be a drug drop? THEN, the women jump out and say their mother is dying after stopping for a second and CC thinks this is merely a diversion.

Honestly?

Yes honestly. Sadly the world is a very stupid place.

[Cane]

Wow.

For shit like this, police officers should serve a lengthy jail sentence.

[SA210]

Wow.

For shit like this, police officers should serve a lengthy jail sentence.

[PM5K]

so are hospital nurses usually in on these diversions?

Not only that but there was also another DPD officer there that asked him to let Moats go.

There really is just no excuse, remember that even after all of this he still gave Moats a ticket.