After Elderly Woman Dies - Deputy's Actions Investigated

[Dion]

So when a Shelby County Sheriff's deputy stopped him for an expired tag, he thought the officer would let him get his mother to Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, less than a mile away. He even suggested the deputy follow him and write the ticket there.

The deputy, whom the department has not identified, declined, according to Ables, and began checking Ables' license and insurance while calling an ambulance to take Vernice Ables from the scene.

The Sheriff's Office is investigating.

"If I could have taken my mom when I first told him, I could have gotten her to the hospital. She would not have had the indignity of screaming and begging to breathe in the back seat of my car," he said.

Ables knows his mother probably would have died that night. Doctors at the hospital told him that.

Still, he thinks the encounter with the deputy could have been handled with more compassion.

When the ambulance finally came and his mother was on her way to the hospital, where she would be pronounced dead, the deputy let Ables go without writing a ticket for the expired tag.

The deputy's last words, according to Ables, were "Don't speed."

"And he wasn't nice about that," Ables said. "No compassion at all. Not a bit of compassion."

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...hort-man-says/

[Jayems]

For one, if I was that close to the hospital and I had someone in the car in that dire straits, I'd probably just keep going and explain myself there. but then again, you'd think the cop would understand and just let you go. But, on the other other other hand, the cop has probably heard every trick in the book, and at least he called an ambulance, but the gasping for air should have been a pretty good indicator something was in fact wrong.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Jayems

For one, if I was that close to the hospital and I had someone in the car in that dire straits, I'd probably just keep going and explain myself there. but then again, you'd think the cop would understand and just let you go. But, on the other other other hand, the cop has probably heard every trick in the book, and at least he called an ambulance, but the gasping for air should have been a pretty good indicator something was in fact wrong.

I would speed and run red lights (safely) to get someone to the hospital and if the cops came after me I would keep going until I got there and deal with it once the person I was trying to take to the hospital was safely in the hands of the doctors.

[nickerjones]

this sounds like the story about the guy who played NFL football , last week the cop pulled him over for floating a stop sign right outside the hosipital .... the police was a jerk off even though the guy explained that his mother in law was about to pass and he wanted to see her one last time ...... the cop told him i can put you in cuffs right now and take you to jail yada yada.... the Nfl player was very respectful but in the end he got into the hospital it was already to late

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I would speed and run red lights (safely) to get someone to the hospital and if the cops came after me I would keep going until I got there and deal with it once the person I was trying to take to the hospital was safely in the hands of the doctors.

That's my thinking as well.

[kipperiggy]

Originally Posted by Jayems

For one, if I was that close to the hospital and I had someone in the car in that dire straits, I'd probably just keep going and explain myself there. but then again, you'd think the cop would understand and just let you go. But, on the other other other hand, the cop has probably heard every trick in the book, and at least he called an ambulance, but the gasping for air should have been a pretty good indicator something was in fact wrong.

Exactly this. Even if the cop thought it was a ploy to get out of the situation, if there's someone in the back seat gasping for air, why wouldn't you just let them get to the hospital? How would he feel if the situation was reversed and he couldn't get his mother to the hospital?

[valo403]

These stories are all too common. I assume it's just a matter of access to international media, but hardly a week goes by without a story about despicable behavior by a police officer.

Unless the numerous good apples in the police forces start ostracizing these arrogant tools these stories will continue to come up. Unfortunately this behavior seems fairly acceptable to far too many, it's almost as if this is a part of some forces culture.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by valo403

Unless the numerous good apples in the police forces start ostracizing these arrogant tools these stories will continue to come up. Unfortunately this behavior seems fairly acceptable to far too many, it's almost as if this is a part of some forces culture.

The thing is the media doesn't report the hundreds of thousands of good things the police do everyday in all communities and countries.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by jar_e

The thing is the media doesn't report the hundreds of thousands of good things the police do everyday in all communities and countries.

I agree, I just wonder how these guys who pull crap like this get treated by their fellow officers. I hope the guys who are doing all the good things are stepping up in the 'locker room' and making it known that this behavior won't be tolerated.

[flip]

Originally Posted by jar_e

The thing is the media doesn't report the hundreds of thousands of good things the police do everyday in all communities and countries.

Nor do they cover the hundreds of thousands of ######y, but minor things, that cops do everyday.

Anything that can be sensationalized will make the news.

[metallicat]

Well, we have one side of the story here. Not saying it isn't true, but you aren't hearing police reports of what happened. Of course, those reports will be largely ignored by the general public.

Originally Posted by flip

Nor do they cover the hundreds of thousands of ######y, but minor things, that cops do everyday.

Anything that can be sensationalized will make the news.

Examples please.

Why, if someone is in such dire straights, gasping for her last breath as the guy indicated, is he driving her to the hospital. At that point, wouldn't one think, "Jeez, my mother is dying, I could speed like a madman to the hospital, putting EVERYONE on the road in danger, or I could call an ambulance and let them do it."

I think there is a lot more to this story. Don't you think police hear this stuff everyday. Hell, don't you think people lie to police, even "play-act". The only thing I can see he did wrong was not offering any sort of comfort-at least a kind word- once he got to the hospital. Or maybe, he didn't know how bad this guys mom really was?

Or you could take the story at face value and continue post sensational anti-cop stories to what end, I have no idea......


I'll say it first, just to get it out of the way... cops can do no wrong.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Just when I thought my respect for the police couldn't get any lower.......