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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I think the approach by the was the police office was bad - Excuse me sir I'm not sure if your aware you park in a handicap parking space. Yes officer I did I'm a disabled vet here's my VA card. Hey thanks for sticking up for us disable folks. Do you want to run the placard officer? The officer came out swinging not thinking some vet would hold his ground. However I think the SM could have been a little more professional as well.
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Well although I agree with the vet it isn't the cops right to decide whether someone's disabled or not I don't agree with his behavior either. He was antagonistic and talking trash and although the cop was wrong to slap the phone it was a provoked response. As a vet you should have more respect towards authority. I know it is frustrating when the cops make assumptions about your disability but with all the people with fake tags and you appearing perfectly able you can't really get mad about it. He was trying to ensure that space was being used by people who really need it. You could have just shown him your Id and asked him to run the tag without all the drama. As an 80% disabled vet myself who most days appears fine I have had situations like this happen also. But to be honest on the days I feel capable I will park somewhere besides the handicap spot. And let someone who's having a worse day then me use it.
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MSG (Join to see)
Come on! He did all that. The cop just kept digging himself a bigger hole. Once the vet answered all his questions and provided everything the cop wanted, (although unless he was under arrest, he did not have to show the cop anything) The cop should have moved on. As far as the cell phone, that's simple assault on the vet and he should sue for harassment, and personal property damage. I'm sure the cop was basically a good guy, but he blew it and should be reprimanded.
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Handicap spots are meant for people that are not mobile. This vet seems pretty mobile. The handicap placard system has been being abused for years. Doctors give them out for tons of bs reasons. If you're able to throw down with a cop you should not have the right to park in a handicap spot, because I'm pretty sure you're able to walk extra 20 feet. Just like the working dog system, it's being abused! Everybody has a working dog and it's not because they need one. It's because they want to have their purse dog with them 24/7. So they pay a doctor to say the dog keeps them calm, and they need the dog with them. People ruin everything! By the way I'm also a disabled veteran.
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CSM Uhlig, of course you are right, they both were escalating the incident and both sides started losing credibility. I haven't had a chance to watch the video to its completion, but provoking the officer and adding fuel to the fire does not help make veterans look better. The police officer was wrong in his approach as well, as a result he is now on administrative leave. The Soldier should have not allowed this to affect his bearing, as PFC Jones points out. We should always remember that in and out of uniform we all represent our respective armed services, and we should never let our brothers in arms down. I join my brothers in arms in always remembering all those not lucky enough to make it back home.
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Sgt Harold Mccampbell
Sgt Harold Mccampbell less than a minute
I am a 100 percent disable veteran who also got question by the police for not having my cane at the time I left Walmart ! I left it in the cart and when I arrived to my car he pulls over and asked me for my id to verify my placard was legit! I have my handicap placard not for my knees but for my cancer! I gave anemia and I get tired ! Therefore dies the cane matter ? no ! Do I need a O2 tank No! I went thrum the hoops to get my placard! African American feel that police look for bullshit excuses to harasses Blacks ! Unfortunately we all know it true! I didn't argue with the cop being a ex officer my self I admit that I was trained in seeing blacks are more likely to committ a crime ! Yeah I said it! Bullshit ! But I left that job! Never less police need to have blinders when it comes to race., community policing is a must I feal! Live within your community your serving! Just glad no one was hurt !
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Sgt Harold Mccampbell
Sgt Harold Mccampbell less than a minute
I am a 100 percent disable veteran who also got question by the police for not having my cane at the time I left Walmart ! I left it in the cart and when I arrived to my car he pulls over and asked me for my id to verify my placard was legit! I have my handicap placard not for my knees but for my cancer! I gave anemia and I get tired ! Therefore dies the cane matter ? no ! Do I need a O2 tank No! I went thrum the hoops to get my placard! African American feel that police look for bullshit excuses to harasses Blacks ! Unfortunately we all know it true! I didn't argue with the cop being a ex officer my self I admit that I was trained in seeing blacks are more likely to committ a crime ! Yeah I said it! Bullshit ! But I left that job! Never less police need to have blinders when it comes to race., community policing is a must I feal! Live within your community your serving! Just glad no one was hurt !
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I myself am rated 90% for spinal injury and nerve damage. I can still walk (albeit limping) I do so every day in pain. I smile and nod and carry on. I know there are worse off than myself every day and don't let my disabilities own my body.
If he hadn't been so enraged and disgruntled over the initial reason of contact I would assume this would have gone smoother. Had he given the phone to his father to record the officer would probably have felt more at ease with the situation as well. I believe both could have dealt with their actions much differently here.
If he hadn't been so enraged and disgruntled over the initial reason of contact I would assume this would have gone smoother. Had he given the phone to his father to record the officer would probably have felt more at ease with the situation as well. I believe both could have dealt with their actions much differently here.
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MSG (Join to see)
It's not a matter of the disability, it's the matter of the law. If your entitled to a disability sticker, it's up to you to use it or not. Either way it's governmentally approved. The police officer, who is a government employee made his own definition of the law...Wrong. . Once the credentials were legitimized, his job was done. He's a cop, not a doctor and he went above and beyond his authority
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Suspended Profile
If you're disabled, you get to use handicapped spots. That said, if you can walk just fine, don't be a dick. Park somewhere else and let less mobile people have the closer parking spot.
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So much drama why couldn't the vet just move his CAR he walks with a limp , I don't understand the yelling and disrespecting and drawing attention not professional .
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PO3 Anthony Williams
I'm saying the vet could have been a little more professional if he had the disabled tags , the vet was right but the yelling and screaming c'mon who wants to hear it .
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MSG (Join to see)
Move his car when legally parked....PAAleeezze...Unless the place was on fire and the fire tucks needed space.
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PO3 Anthony Williams
Would you move it if another vet with no legs pulled behind you and needed the space? Or are you one of those guys with selective sight
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I can see both sides of the argument. My mother had a disabled placard for her car and would only park in such spaces if she was having a bad day (limited mobility requiring a cane to walk). She almost never opted to use a motorized cart found in Walmart because she always believed there was someone else who needed it more. Interestingly enough, the one time she used one when I was with her, she hit me with damn thing. But, I digress. We would joke about taking my mom out to dinner, movies and such to get the great parking. Despite knowing we were joking, she didn't seem amused that we were discussing exploiting her disability.
It's that reason there that this cop's argument has some validation. His perception is that the veteran is able to exit his vehicle and move fairly well despite having a disability. As veterans, we know there are some issues we can't see on the surface. I think this officer (or perhaps this particular area) has been dealing with non-disabled people taking advantage of those with handicap placards. It's wrong, but it happens.
I think that the veteran should have complied and dealt with the situation later at the police station. Had he been cited, he could have presented his case in court and most likely won.
It's that reason there that this cop's argument has some validation. His perception is that the veteran is able to exit his vehicle and move fairly well despite having a disability. As veterans, we know there are some issues we can't see on the surface. I think this officer (or perhaps this particular area) has been dealing with non-disabled people taking advantage of those with handicap placards. It's wrong, but it happens.
I think that the veteran should have complied and dealt with the situation later at the police station. Had he been cited, he could have presented his case in court and most likely won.
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PO1 John Miller
SSgt Charles Edwards, the cop's argument has ZERO validation. He is not a doctor and does not provide any medical care to the veteran, so he has absolutely no authority in making the determination that he "doesn't look handicapped enough."
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MSG (Join to see)
Kind of got a point. But if he takes it to court, the city pays for the cops lawyer...Who pays for the vet's?
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We don't know this particular Vets malady, we know that he was blown up 8 times, a miracle that he was not killed all its own, apparently, he also had the correct placard. That is enough for me. Bottom line, however, is that the Officer stepped outside of his lane, and the Vet could have acted differently to stop this argument from happening in the first place.
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