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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Ok, so a lot of vets on here have said they have the placard and/or tags on their plates. What is the process to get one or both? I'm 70% TBI/PTS, 20% radiculopathy in all extremities, 20% for a meniscus tear in both knees, 20% for a protruded lower lumbar disc, and about 10 other 10% items (hearing loss, tinnitus, nerve damage, etc etc) for a grand spanking total of 90%. If you take out the TBI/PTS I'd still be 90% by VA math on just the "physical" aspects of my SCD.
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I was a homeless disabled veteran that used to panhandle to get by after the VA stopped my benefits... Riviera Beach Police were always nasty to me
... So we're Lantana and Boynton Beach..... They used to make up shit and apply false charges.. A news station even ran an exclusive on me in Boynton... Here's the worst part... the VA should have never even stopped my benefits... I've got them now... But they are taking their sweet time to come with my backpay appeal
... So we're Lantana and Boynton Beach..... They used to make up shit and apply false charges.. A news station even ran an exclusive on me in Boynton... Here's the worst part... the VA should have never even stopped my benefits... I've got them now... But they are taking their sweet time to come with my backpay appeal
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It was about 8 or 9 years ago but I got harassed like this by a local Police Officer once. He wanted to know why I had "those type of tags" (Disabled Veteran) on my truck because I didn't look disabled to him. I didn't lose my temper, just said that it was a personal matter and that I'd rather not discuss it. There was another Officer with him. He encouraged his partner to back off and address why I was pulled over in the first place, which was something minor. I was let off with a warning and sent on my way but not before the one Officer jabbed one more time saying, "I still don't think you have any business putting that type of plate on this truck."
I just replied that I wasn't his decision wished both of them a pleasant evening.
I just replied that I wasn't his decision wished both of them a pleasant evening.
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This police officer should have a placard of his own, because in his current shape he could NEVER chase down a suspect in his condition. It is disgusting that he is in the shape he is in and even worse he represents the citizens of his city....he needs to stay out of the doughnut shops and spend more time at the gym. SHAME on the police departments leadership for allowing their officers to be in this shape. About the only thing this guy would be good at is sitting at a desk answering the phone......he is USELESS out on patrol!
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I watched the same thing at Walmart the other day. An individual perfectly capable of walking from General parking unnecessarily parked in a handicapped parking spot, while an elderly woman with braces on both legs couldn't get out of her car. Apparently, they are either giving handicapped placards out to anybody these days, or people are taking advantage of a family member's disability. I'm a veteran too, but that doesn't make you automatically qualified. As a matter fact, a military member (or veteran) is supposed to possess a set of core values that should prevent him/her from abusing a system designed to help those people who truly need special provisions. All I saw in the video was someone antagonizing a police officer trying to do the right thing, whether it's policy of not.
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I believe the CSM's comment that James "kind of " played the victim here, but all in all he is spot on. People are disabled for many reasons, and they don't just hand out disabled placards like they are candy. You have to PROVE you are disabled. But it is still none of the police officers business whether he is or ISN'T....James had a valid placard and the police officer had NO business judging whether he was OR wasn't disabled. It is NOT his job to determine disabilities, so he was WAAAAY out of line and wrong here....he was just being a prick for no reason whatsoever!
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Is too far, The police officer is either having too much free time or no experience, I work as security and i seen military personnel with disable plaque and regular army plate, i still doesn't bother them.
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I am a Cop and a Disabled Veteran and have run into this situation before. The Cop is allowed to ask for license and registration, once its proven he is the registered owner of the car the Cop should simply say "thanks for your cooperation, have a nice day". I do enforce Handicap spots and you cannot always tell who is handicapped, sometimes people abuse another persons parking priveleges, but most times its legit. Definately could have been handled better. As for the Veterans response, how do we know he doesn't have anger issues from his service ? Hell, i do, and i do my best to hide it. A Disabled person, let alone a Disabled Veteran , deserves more understanding and respect, PERIOD.
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Bad on the Cop for picking that battle.. However, veterans shouldn't be acting like this either.
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