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
Responses: 250
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I have watched this video too many times at this point. Several things come to mind. First, in Florida, a disabled placard is issued to a person and may be used in any vehicle. The person to whom it is issued has their drivers license number printed on the month and year expiration sticker. Easy to check and verify. This officer did not do that until this had gone on way too long. As a career law enforcement officer in and out of the military I would say he allowed his personal feelings to over ride the law. He seemed as though he had an issue with Veterans in general with the "does that make you better than a citizen" rhetoric.
I am disabled and have a handicapped placard. I use it when I need to due to pain or mobility issues related to my disabilities. If questioned, I would be out raged, but would provide my FL DL and placard for examination and verification. If it went on beyond that to a berating, I would react adversely.
This is another in a string of recent incidents where my brother and sisters LEOs are allowing poor judgment to overshadow policy, procedure, authority, and common sense. At the very least the Veteran in this rant deserves an apology. Law enforcement officers enforce the law and once it was discovered that no law was violated this stop should have ended.
My motto always has been professionalism above all else, no matter what. However, the human factor always comes to play.
I am disabled and have a handicapped placard. I use it when I need to due to pain or mobility issues related to my disabilities. If questioned, I would be out raged, but would provide my FL DL and placard for examination and verification. If it went on beyond that to a berating, I would react adversely.
This is another in a string of recent incidents where my brother and sisters LEOs are allowing poor judgment to overshadow policy, procedure, authority, and common sense. At the very least the Veteran in this rant deserves an apology. Law enforcement officers enforce the law and once it was discovered that no law was violated this stop should have ended.
My motto always has been professionalism above all else, no matter what. However, the human factor always comes to play.
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MSG (Join to see)
I assume you are a LEO. Great philosophy, and thank you for your service. I pray that you make it home to your family every night.
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Race was no factor in this matter, overuse of authority was. I believe it was the officers over zealous approach to correct what he thought was wrong. He failed his character test for the day. He could have obtained the correct information without having all of the extra conversation with the veteran. Run the plates, check the driver's license, check the placard and keep it moving. The officer had too much back and forth with the veteran. Totally unnecessary, borderline unprofessional, power trip gone wrong!! Apologize and keep it moving. Done deal. No lawsuits and no YouTube uploads!
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Sgt Jeff Walsh
The sad reality is, if you took the exact same exchange and reversed the races involved, most discussions on this issue would be talking about the racial difference and racism with not a shred of additional information involved to prove it was about race. The reality is we cannot really conclude the officers actions were or were not influenced by racial differences (i.e., would he have acted the same if the veteran was a different race?), but most of us do not run to race as the first thing to point out. I think it is a testament to the military and how we live together there that the race factor really is not discussed much in the comments here... because it really should be irrelevant unless that officer had a known documented pattern of that being involved.
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The fact that the officer physically assaulted the Vet for filming him violating his freedom of expression and damaging his property, is unacceptable and infuriates me. I will admit that I'm am always certainly going to side with the Vet vs. Cop, or anyone 9 times out of 10.
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MSG (Join to see)
Civil liberties union, Americans with Disabilities Act, simple assault charge, replace cell phone. Time for a good lawyer and law suit. And if the vet wins, .25% of the $ to Wounded Warriors Program.
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Even on base I question myself when I see a guy hop out of his car while in the disabled parking and jog into the exchange. I see the placard but I have no idea as to what the disability is. I'm not sure if docs are just liberal with the application or if the guy can't carry 15 lbs for more than 10 feet. Unfortunately we live in a world of untrustworthy individuals and police have to question everything. I'm sure he saw this dude pull up in his slicked up Charger and roll out and got suspicious. Everyone that throws that "I'm a vet and saw combat or got shot, what about you" line can eat me. Professionals don't use their injuries or traumas as a crutch in society. It's like that guy trying to get a military discount at every store. Both guys handled this poorly, but the servicemember should've placed himself above the fray and been even more professional and de-escalated this. It's what we do, active, guard, reserve, separated or retired.
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PO1 Leo Avalos
Good comment, Vet is a good communicator. I think Veteran wants the City to pay for his broken phone. I think that is why he is elaborating. Cop should be fired because he is definitely not as smart as a he should be. May be a little too husky if you ask me. I am husky too but that is gross out of spec for a public worker. Cop needs a lot of work.
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MSG (Join to see)
So if the cop questions him (or us) about already substantiated authenticity, what's are we supposed to do. Show more credentials? VA card, retiree ID, drivers license, which in my state has "veteran printed on the bottom? And will the cop go ballistic if he see's my pistol permit? Congress has now approved a veterans ID card. I don't know what it will look like or whether it will annotate "Disabled" or Non Disabled. Or will we all be in a state of high alert so a cop can just stop you on the street and say "show me your papers" If that happens, maybe we should come up with a new definition of Freedom. One more thing. We all took an oath to defend the constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. Is it our duty to question authority when it used improperly? If we don't we are violating our own oath. Isn't that how the dick head with the mustache took over Germany and start the take over of Europe??
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Wow this officer is deciding if this man is a disabled veteran and he could not run around the block to chase anyone
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SFC (Join to see)
maybe the officer is disabled and was angry the veteran took his handi-cap stall!!!
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And here we go again. This situation got out of hand from the start. Does the officer have the right to tell the Veteran to move his car if the Veteran has all the right credentials to park there? Heck no. Did the Veteran act appropriately throughout the exchange? Oh no.
One thing that we as Veterans need to remember is we are living through some horrible things only because of the advancement in combat medical reaction. Medics and Corp men are able to better treat us at the point of impact. Yet, the nation, generally speaking still expects to see a "Wounded Veteran" as one that is missing body parts or strapped to a wheel chair. My heart truly goes out to my brothers and sisters that find themselves in that manner. Yet, legally, the Veteran did nothing wrong. But I do agree with the officer that the Veteran should have considered that while injuried, he is lucky enough to walk. However, he could have very limited mobility and those few short steps could have been hell to take; again we don't know his full medical history.
I still say though that both men hold some of the blame together and this could have been handled in a different manner.
One thing that we as Veterans need to remember is we are living through some horrible things only because of the advancement in combat medical reaction. Medics and Corp men are able to better treat us at the point of impact. Yet, the nation, generally speaking still expects to see a "Wounded Veteran" as one that is missing body parts or strapped to a wheel chair. My heart truly goes out to my brothers and sisters that find themselves in that manner. Yet, legally, the Veteran did nothing wrong. But I do agree with the officer that the Veteran should have considered that while injuried, he is lucky enough to walk. However, he could have very limited mobility and those few short steps could have been hell to take; again we don't know his full medical history.
I still say though that both men hold some of the blame together and this could have been handled in a different manner.
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SFC (Join to see)
MSG Oles... I do not mean to be combative... but isn't the entire post, for or against the parties in question, "Monday morning quarterbacking.."
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SGT Ben Keen
MSG (Join to see) - I'm not 100% sure where your comments are coming from. Everyone here is a Monday Morning Quarterback. I said in my comments that both men hold some blame for the outcome of what happened. The officer obviously doesn't understand the direct impact injuries like a TBI have on a person. but at the same time, the Veteran should have done his best to hold it together to explain the situation rather than flying off the handle. Is it hard? Heck yeah it is. Does the Veteran have the right to get upset? Sure does. But we must remember that our actions speak for the collective community and while I can't say that I would have behaved any differently, I will say that both men hold blame for how the situation unfolded.
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SGT Ben Keen
SFC (Join to see) - I fully agree with you. Forums are a place to share your thoughts and ideas around a situation or story. In a way, we all do some "Monday morning quarterbacking".
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT Ben Keen - That's what I was saying. This entire post is Monday Morning Quarterbacking, none were actually there. I think your point is as valid as MSG Oles' is.
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Does he have the right to park there? Yes. Should he? Don't know him. But personally, even if I was disabled, I would still park normally if there's nothing that would inhibit me from walking further distances.
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Capt Seid Waddell
Sgt Richard Buckner, that was the perfect, professional way to act in this situation. Thank you for sharing your experience on how these things should be handled.
A cool head and calm words don't flash back and make a bad problem worse.
A cool head and calm words don't flash back and make a bad problem worse.
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My buddy gets some weird looks for having disabled vet (ie handicap) plates on his Harley Street Glide.
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Sgt John Couch
So do I. But ya know what. Like I tell handicap people who can drive and not walk well or even walk. I can ride all day. But just because I ride does not mean I can walk well or very far. I am a early medical retired Marine 17 1/2 years. Screws and rods through my spine and knee replacements. But does that mean I should stop living? Or not ride. Shit it is my last act of freedom without blowing someone's head off. Get over it and worry about your government not my handicap plate.
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