So I'm reading this story of a cop who was going 70mph in a 40mph with no lights and sirens and he hits a kid on a bike and kills him. The cop got a whopping one day suspension and no grand jury indictment for killing the kid. How is that even possible? If a civilian had hit the child there would be massive charges, suspension or revocation of license, and massive fines.
Quote:
Here's another appalling story of how the police get treated one way and civilians quite another. Dallas cop does 70 in a 40 mph zone without his lights or sirens on, hits a kid on a bike and kills him. His punishment: A day off from work. Without pay, I'm sure.
A Dallas police officer who fatally struck a child last October received a one-day suspension during a disciplinary hearing this afternoon.
Senior Cpl. Michael Vaughn appeared before Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson, who oversees the city's seven patrol stations.
The punishment was for "for violating the emergency vehicle operations policy when he drove over the speed limit without activating the lights and sirens," police officials said.
If a civilian had done the same thing, it would almost certainly be vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter and would result in, at the very least, a serious fine and some time in jail. Here are the details:
On October 17, Vaughn was racing from one call to another when his squad car fatally struck 10-year-old Cole Berardi, who was riding his bicycle on a darkened portion of Belt Line Road in southeast Dallas...
Cpl. Vaughn's lights and siren were not activated as required.
The police accident report released lists speed as a contributing factor in the accident. It states that the speed of Cpl. Vaughn's vehicle ranged from 69 mph to 72 mph at the time of impact. The speed limit on that stretch of road is 40 mph.
Vaughn was later cleared by a grand jury of any criminal culpability. But internal investigators have since concluded that he failed to the follow the department's established procedures.
It's amazing what having that badge can do for you.
|
Kill a Kid? Take the Day Off : Dispatches from the Culture Wars
CRIME Blog | The Dallas Morning News
I'm really just baffled on how a 1 day suspension seems like enough "punishment" for this guy. I'm sure the cop is upset and all that, but what about the child's family? Does DPD think a nice check is going to console them that their son is dead thanks to a cop not following procedure?? He should have at least had to stand trial for Involuntary Manslaughter..
I just can't wrap my head around this one..