KTUV News - California police detective faces discipline re anti-open carry

[Mike]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/24334872/detail.html

SNIP

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. -- The Police Chief of East Palo Alto Tuesday night issued a statement saying that one of his detectives engaged in inappropriate behavior when the officer criticized people who legally carry unloaded weapons in public.

Members of a group supporting the right to openly carry weapons turned up at the East Palo Alto City Hall to protest an investigation they said was taking too long.

. . .

The situation was defused when Police Chief Ronald L. Davis announced the results of the internal investigation concluding Detective Rod Tuason's conduct was "unbecoming a police officer."

Detective Tuason came under fire for a Facebook comment in which he suggested police officers should detain or even shoot open-carry advocates legally holding weapons in public.

"Being a police officer that you're responsible for things you do on duty and off duty," said police spokesman Captain Carl Estelle. "Those comments have been found to... violate departmental policy."

The chief has not indicated what the penalty will be, but Detective Tuason could receive a letter of reprimand or even be suspended for a time. However, he will not be fired.

"I'm ecstatic about the decision," said Adnan Shahab, a member of the Open Carry advocacy group Responsible Citizens of California.

. . .

 

[kwikrnu]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/24334872/detail.html

SNIP

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. -- The Police Chief of East Palo Alto Tuesday night issued a statement saying that one of his detectives engaged in inappropriate behavior when the officer criticized people who legally carry unloaded weapons in public.

Members of a group supporting the right to openly carry weapons turned up at the East Palo Alto City Hall to protest an investigation they said was taking too long.

. . .

The situation was defused when Police Chief Ronald L. Davis announced the results of the internal investigation concluding Detective Rod Tuason's conduct was "unbecoming a police officer."

Detective Tuason came under fire for a Facebook comment in which he suggested police officers should detain or even shoot open-carry advocates legally holding weapons in public.

"Being a police officer that you're responsible for things you do on duty and off duty," said police spokesman Captain Carl Estelle. "Those comments have been found to... violate departmental policy."

The chief has not indicated what the penalty will be, but Detective Tuason could receive a letter of reprimand or even be suspended for a time. However, he will not be fired.

"I'm ecstatic about the decision," said Adnan Shahab, a member of the Open Carry advocacy group Responsible Citizens of California.

. . .

That is surprising. Does he get a suspension or any type of punishment?

 

[bad_ace]

Higher quality video: http://www.opencarryradio.com/videos/KTVU_July_20_2010_UOC.mov

 

[Gundude]

Any PD with any integrity would have done the same. Good on the chief.

 

[wewd]

Public employees in general, and police officers in particular, are not held to the same standard as the rest of us. If I made a statement in connection with my job that it would be permissible to harm or kill another human being without any sort of justification, I would absolutely be fired. There is no reason why Officer Tuason should be given any special consideration because of his position. If anything, he should be held to an even higher standard. That is, after all, the image that police departments like to project onto the public. But when it comes down to it, the thin blue line always protects its own, and that is unacceptable. You cannot have a free and equal society when some of the members of that society are more equal than others.

 

[MudCamper]

"'open carry law' prohibits guns with 1000 feet of government buildings"

No, it's in government buildings, or within 1000 feet of a school. Oh well, you can't expect TV reporters to get their facts straight.

 

[PincheOgro1]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/24334872/detail.html

snip

east palo alto, calif. -- the police chief of east palo alto tuesday night issued a statement saying that one of his detectives engaged in inappropriate behavior when the officer criticized people who legally carry unloaded weapons in public.

Members of a group supporting the right to openly carry weapons turned up at the east palo alto city hall to protest an investigation they said was taking too long.

. . .

The situation was defused when police chief ronald l. Davis announced the results of the internal investigation concluding detective rod tuason's conduct was "unbecoming a police officer."

detective tuason came under fire for a facebook comment in which he suggested police officers should detain or even shoot open-carry advocates legally holding weapons in public.

"being a police officer that you're responsible for things you do on duty and off duty," said police spokesman captain carl estelle. "those comments have been found to... Violate departmental policy."

the chief has not indicated what the penalty will be, but detective tuason could receive a letter of reprimand or even be suspended for a time. However, he will not be fired.

"i'm ecstatic about the decision," said adnan shahab, a member of the open carry advocacy group responsible citizens of california.

. . .

g o o d !!!

 

[Gunslinger]

He advocates murder of honest citizens and he may get a "reprimand"? **** him and his chief. The pos should be fired.

 

[Rich Keagy]

Time to forgive

Yes, he made a big mistake. Very big. But, no one was hurt.
He's had this hanging over his head for more than half a year. Fellow officers probably don't like the bad light cast on their department. It's in his personnel file. He'll be under a microscope for ten years, minimum.
If anything he does in the future is questionable, this bit of history will be dug up and thrust into his face.
If his perspective changes, he could be an ally, perhaps spreading word through police communities that the Open Carry folks are on the side of the Police.
Anyone hear of old-fashioned Christian forgiveness?

-a sinner

 

[jt59]

Well, it seems like the words repentance is usually associated with forgiven in the same sentence.


....and we are saved through grace by faith....

He still needs to say he's sorry and he'll never, ever,ever, ever,ever do it again....and promise too....and take another assignment (like a desk), where is interaction with the public is limited to animal complaints.

Yes, he made a big mistake. Very big. But, no one was hurt.
He's had this hanging over his head for more than half a year. Fellow officers probably don't like the bad light cast on their department. It's in his personnel file. He'll be under a microscope for ten years, minimum.
If anything he does in the future is questionable, this bit of history will be dug up and thrust into his face.
If his perspective changes, he could be an ally, perhaps spreading word through police communities that the Open Carry folks are on the side of the Police.
Anyone hear of old-fashioned Christian forgiveness?

-a sinner

 

[Gundude]

I'm sure he got a...."WTF were you thinking...Our dept doesn't need this" from his boss. I suspect he is on the straight and narrow now.

 

[coolusername2007]

A public apology from a public servant would work. But I doubt that'll ever happen, too many chiefs, union bosses, and lawyers.

 

[OPS MARINE]

Good for the Chief and the Department.