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/
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 250
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The police officer was wrong. The police do not decide on who is or is not handicap. The officer should be fired and charged for assault for hitting him. Yes, the veteran could have handled it a little better. HOWEVER, he was very upset over how the officer was treating him.
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PO1 Sojourner "Chancy" Phillips
Thanks for pointing out how upset the veteran was. He had every right to be upset. One of the many wounds that comes with surviving and explosion is PTSD. What the officer did is one of many things that trigger PTSD episodes that affect people long after the incident. I have seen it with several of my friend whose wounds don't show when someone dismisses their experiences and wounds. It is easy for people to dismiss why he handed it the way he did because they don't understand the mental part of it.
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Suspended Profile
BTW, not that I want to "kick a man when he's down" but looking at this officer, it is clear he is not a squared away officer...
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LCpl Jessica Chaney
I have this issue too, not with police but with civilians. People look at me like I'm taking advantage of my placard but they don't see the fused ankles and the back problems and other things that are wrong. Yes i would be mad if a police officer gave me this much crap but I think as service members we should be able to sit down and take it down a notch so things don't turn into a yelling match. I would have called dispatch and requested another officer because the first one was being an idiot.
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Cop probably wanted that spot for himself to help make it easier with that giant spare tire he is hauling around.
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Suspended Profile
He was late for the meeting at the donut shop?
SPC Timothy Frisby
Apparently, that department doesn't have physical fitness standards, he's one of those cops who'd be absolutely worthless in a fight but is always there to over regulate and harass law abiding citizens. Effing coward!
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MSG (Join to see)
CW4 John Karl T. - Truly. Then that donut would not be the only thing with a hole in it
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SSG (Join to see)
Sometimes you have to stand up in the face of tyranny. This cop has probably done worse throughout his carreer. If he is bullying the disabled who knows what else he does. Was the vet a little over the top, yes, but that led the cop to show his true colors.
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Can only assume what had transpired up to the point the camera began recording. I don't like the disposition of either party here. While I do agree that Sgt Wilson should consider loosing a few pounds, the vet could have been substantially less combative. A no-win situation that should have been avoided.
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SFC (Join to see)
The police officer should've never challenged a Veteran with handicapped placards. Police officers absolutely dont have the authority to tell a veteran to remove his placard. Police officers do not have the authority do decide who is handicapped and who is not based on a "visual" of what it looks like. That police officer is the only one in charge of his initial decision. He instigated this event and now he is famous.
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Capt Mark Strobl
SFC (Join to see), dang... and I get a "down" vote for this? I am questioning the behavior of BOTH parties.
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Capt Seid Waddell
Capt Mark Strobl, there are a couple of RPs on this thread that don't seem to understand the purpose of down votes; they seem to think it is simply to register disagreement.
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I think I am going to side with many here....The cop handled it wrong from the start. This being said, I don't think that the vet handled himself as well as he could have either.... Regardless, the Law Enforcement community does not have the right or obligation to determine who parks in handicapped parking when there is a legal handicap placard or license plate identifying it as authorized. I hope that the LEO receives discipline for his action...but I also hope that the vet handles things better if it should ever happen again.
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Cpl Thomas Yanity
I agree with some of your post, however you are incorrect on a LEO's right or obligation to check on a handicapped permit or license plate. A LEO can verify the person operating a vehicle with a handicapped plate or permit is the same person the handicapped license plate or permit is registered to. If the person operating the vehicle is the person the permit is registered to the encounter should be terminated. If the person operating the vehicle is not the person the handicapped plate or permit is registered to the person can be ordered to move the vehicle and/or issued a citation for illegally using a handicapped license plate or hang tag.
The officer should be disciplined and retrained to prevent a repeat of the situation.
The officer should be disciplined and retrained to prevent a repeat of the situation.
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Maj Chris Nelson
I agree that they can verify person and disability plaque. However, I think I was indicating that LEO does not have the ability to determine disability (like if the person should or should not have it, and if they should or should not park in the space (if name matches both the individual and the plaquard.). If the LEO has concerns, he can check it. If valid needs to accept it.
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Okay there is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. So side one says even though you have placards identifying yourself as disabled, you don't look disabled. Side two says he qualifies and has taken the necessary steps to obtain his disability credentials.....officer has the right to question the vet but once confirmed...back off! The vet should comply, prove his status, keep calm AND if it is an ongoing issue file a complaint or go to the news.
The officer tried to justify by implying the vet, although disabled, can walk where a person needing assistance cannot so why not park in a regular spot. Not cool officer....this is your personal opinion and is not the law!
Overall I think the officer was wrong and could have de-escalated the situation. One cant see nerve damage. I know because I have it and it hurts to walk, sit, stand etc. Hope this does not happen to another disabled vet. My opinion.
The officer tried to justify by implying the vet, although disabled, can walk where a person needing assistance cannot so why not park in a regular spot. Not cool officer....this is your personal opinion and is not the law!
Overall I think the officer was wrong and could have de-escalated the situation. One cant see nerve damage. I know because I have it and it hurts to walk, sit, stand etc. Hope this does not happen to another disabled vet. My opinion.
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Damn cop in my town did the same crap to me while I was hobbling across the parking lot on my cane. He even said I didn't look disabled and that I was walking just fine. I wanted to throw that prepubescent punk over my knee and spank the shit out of him. They don't get to decide who is disabled or not.
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