Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Paramedic Maurice White Jr. says Trooper Daniel Martin's badge and gun should be taken away. Watch the interview.
Click here and then scroll down for the latest fire and EMS news from STATter911.com
Watch CBS Morning Show interview with Maurice White Jr. and attorney Richard O'Carroll
Previous STATter911.com coverage: Trooper's lawyer says medic is danger to the community; Dash cam video released; Fox News interviews EMS crew & Trooper Martin; Trooper on administrative leave; No charges filed by DA; EMT-B Paul Franks speaks out; Read statements from Toopers Martin & Iker; Troopers identified; Statements from witnesses and the patient; Reaction from police officers; Statements from EMS crew.
A day after Trooper Daniel Martin's attorney said that Paramedic Maurice White was a "danger to the community", White calls for Martin's badge and gun. It came during an interview on CBS Morning News this morning:
White told Early Show co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez he got involved because the driver had an "emergency."
"But once confronted with the situation," White said, "there was no way with the patient and the unit, could I allow my driver to spend 20 minutes with the trooper discussing a possible ticket."
White told Rodriguez Martin was in "a state of rage from the beginning."
"And even after being informed that we had a patient," White said, "there was total disregard. So he started in a state of rage and simply escalated from that point."
White added he repeatedly told the trooper he had a patient in the ambulance, and the patient’s family members also joined in, saying that their relative needed to get to the hospital.
White said he would like to see the trooper fired. White told Rodriguez that based on statements, Martin and his superiors don’t think Martin did anything wrong.
"This trooper still doesn't understand he's not omnipotent," O'Carroll told CBS News. "He could no more tell Maurice to stop taking a woman to hospital than he could tell a pilot to run a jetliner into the ocean."
O'Carroll told CBS News they are awaiting the patrol chief's ruling before deciding whether to take legal action.
White said, "This gentleman needs to have his ability to carry a gun and a badge taken away so no other individual, and particularly a patient, has to go through this."
But Martin’s attorney said the trooper -- whom he described as a decorated sailor and a 15-year law enforcement veteran -- didn’t realize there was a patient in the ambulance until well after the situation had intensified. He either didn’t hear it or it didn’t register, he said.
Martin was trying to make a legitimate traffic stop, James said, when White became hostile, refused to comply with the patrolman’s orders and caused the situation to spiral out of control.
James said the law allows an officer to pull over an ambulance if its emergency lights and sirens aren’t running, as was the case in this incident.
But White said on The Early Show it was for the patient's benefit that the sirens weren’t on.
"It’s common practice," White told Rodriguez. " ... The patient actually had a fainting episode with chest pain. And it’s common practice not to run lights and sirens with those type patients. It really exacerbates their situation."
O’Carroll said the veteran paramedic was trying to protect his patient and that the trooper had no reason to stop the ambulance, let alone try and arrest White. The trooper’s arms were bruised when White resisted arrest, James said.
"If the guy was bruised, it didn’t make any difference," O’Carroll said. "He ought not to stop ambulance drivers for hurting his feelings."
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From his comments it appears that Martin's lawyer is among the very few who did not view the dash cam video. The medic did an admirable job of attempting to explain the situation to the cop. The cop acted like a spoiled little child who was seething with his perceived authority. It's clear that there is no room in law enforcement for someone with serious anger management issues coupled with complete inability to mitigate a situation using common sense and fairness.
If the police leadership don't get rid of this cop / hazard to the public, they too should be forced out of their jobs. There is no room for a "long blue line" when a cop clearly is dangerous.
If the police leadership don't get rid of this cop / hazard to the public, they too should be forced out of their jobs. There is no room for a "long blue line" when a cop clearly is dangerous.
# posted by 
: June 16, 2009 6:40 PM
: June 16, 2009 6:40 PM
Cops, Firefighters and Emergency personnel are basically on the same page to serve, to protect and to save lives. The trooper needs to resign because he can't compose his anger and he should not be carrying a gun at all. This was an EMT, now imagine what the trooper will do to a civilian? It's pretty pathetic and embarrasing for the police department.
# posted by : June 16, 2009 7:46 PM
: June 16, 2009 7:46 PM
I remain puzzled by the choke hold utized by the trooper. It is totally inconsistant with anny technique tought to officers to handle persons resisting arrest. The choke hold itself has fallen out of recommenadtion because it has led to death and/or permanent brain damage in people. That technique and the front chocke technique (if you could call it technical) was very dangerous. The rage demonstrated by this officer shows a lack of proer restraint in a law enforcement officer. Police carryy several options for retraint this was more like a bar brawl. Temporary insanity? The medic used tremendous restraint while being choked. Why hasn't anyone noted this improper use of force?
# posted by : June 16, 2009 7:46 PM
: June 16, 2009 7:46 PM
Trooper Martin was told numerous times there was a patient in the back of the ambulance, but he was in such a fit of rage that he never heard that or it didn't register??? Well, there is no excuse for him not to hear that and have it register.
# posted by : June 16, 2009 7:50 PM
: June 16, 2009 7:50 PM
The irony is that the trooper is fighting with someone that will eventually come to the rescue if he ever gets injured in an accident or shooting. Now they are stating he's stressed out becuase he just came from Iraq? Well, then that's a good reason to remove his weapon.
# posted by : June 16, 2009 8:15 PM
: June 16, 2009 8:15 PM
This is the most absoletly ridiculus thing i have ever seen a trooper do. First off, if the squad is going to the hospital, he has no authority to pull over that ambulance in the first place. The Medic did a great job being an advocate for his patient, and I also think this Trooper should get canned because it is total abuse of power and authority that he to that Medic. Worse of he didn't even listen to the patient's family who also was trying to tell him they're mother was in the back of the squad. Completely shocked at seeing something like this happen.
# posted by : June 16, 2009 8:20 PM
: June 16, 2009 8:20 PM
I as a National Registry Emergency Medical Tech Basic would not have put up with this trooper because of his lack of due regard for the patient in the back of the ambulance. It is our duty as EMT's and Paramedics to be out patients advocate and that to me is exactly what Mr. White was doing. Also in Mr. Whites comments to the trooper of being in charge I would have to agree with that because he is the Medic working on the patient and the medic that is working on the patient in the back is in charge of that Ambulance and the patient. I feel the same way as Paramedic White that the troopers badge and certification as a Police Officer should be removed. The trooper was VERY unprofessional and could have dealt with the matter in a more professional way such as following the ambulance to the hospital and waiting for the patients care to be transfered to the Emergency Department Staff.
NREMT-Basic+
NREMT-Basic+
# posted by : June 16, 2009 8:47 PM
: June 16, 2009 8:47 PM
Obviously there are many navy personnel involved in dangerous combat ops on the ground in Iraq, but its far less likely that as a sailor he would be subject to the types of experiences that would cause PTSD.
If he's going to claim stress from Iraq made him act this way, maybe they should check on the conditions of his deployment? Maybe he was a medic in Baghdad, maybe he was eating cheetos on a frigate in the gulf.
Not fair to all those who suffer from PTSD if someone is using it to escape trouble.
If he's going to claim stress from Iraq made him act this way, maybe they should check on the conditions of his deployment? Maybe he was a medic in Baghdad, maybe he was eating cheetos on a frigate in the gulf.
Not fair to all those who suffer from PTSD if someone is using it to escape trouble.
# posted by : June 16, 2009 8:53 PM
: June 16, 2009 8:53 PM
Having worked in Fire/EMS for over 20 yrs I have read multiple articles, seen the videos and have come to the conclusion that there is fault on both sides. First Paramedic White abandoned his "cardiac" patient when he jumped out of the vehicle, the incident was just between the EMT and the Trooper at that time. Paramedic White said he jumped out when the trooper pulled him over because he thought that someone else was ill. So abandon your patient and try to save the world by yourself. Last time I checked team had no "I" in it. His partner should have determined what the problem was first then take it from there.The trooper made the incident worse when the yelling started and it should have stopped and continued at the hospital. Don't tell someone that their under arrest and then not follow through with it. This incident needs to be put to rest starting with Paramedic White. Evidently everyone else has.
# posted by : June 16, 2009 10:57 PM
: June 16, 2009 10:57 PM
take the cops gun send his nutty ass back to the gulf.
the cop probably couldnt handle the stress off being a emt or medic.
wonder if hes ever had a gun pulled on him
the cop probably couldnt handle the stress off being a emt or medic.
wonder if hes ever had a gun pulled on him
# posted by : June 16, 2009 11:04 PM
: June 16, 2009 11:04 PM
A Real Police Officer is there to Serve and Protect not to scream at another emergency vehicle driver or paramedics, I believe this was a very rude way of treating this peaceful persons and the department should really consider testing this Officer for the use of drugs or steroids, Who knows if this person it's under the influence himself.
Think about it!!!!!...
Think about it!!!!!...
# posted by : June 17, 2009 12:25 AM
: June 17, 2009 12:25 AM
this is a rough draft of what i wanted to send to the department and the email to the department. choffice@dps.state.ok.us
I’m a military veteran and think your department F. up. I think your state trooper over stepped his boundaries by having a nice power trip. I’m glad the medic stood up for him self and think more people should do it. You should be embarrassed and get a better education with more diversity on your force. And just think I used to want to be a state trooper. The department web site pictures llok like all good old white boys.
I’m a military veteran and think your department F. up. I think your state trooper over stepped his boundaries by having a nice power trip. I’m glad the medic stood up for him self and think more people should do it. You should be embarrassed and get a better education with more diversity on your force. And just think I used to want to be a state trooper. The department web site pictures llok like all good old white boys.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 1:43 AM
: June 17, 2009 1:43 AM
Mr Arrington, PLEASE get educated in what abandonement is. As a entire group we need to stop believing the urban legends. The simple act of getting out of the ambulance to handle this situation is NOT abandonment.
http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/columns/Maggiore/Patient_Abandonment.html
has a very good tutorial on the subject.
http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/columns/Maggiore/Patient_Abandonment.html
has a very good tutorial on the subject.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 11:50 AM
: June 17, 2009 11:50 AM
I'm thinking (and that can be dangerous) that maybe we should get EMS and Fire together and protest at the OHP headquarters in OKC. Call for Trooper Martins dismissal.
I would have to travel about 300 miles to do so, but would do so willingly.
I would have to travel about 300 miles to do so, but would do so willingly.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 11:56 AM
: June 17, 2009 11:56 AM
James said Martin returned in April after serving in the Mideast for Operation Enduring Freedom.
The attorney said the trooper served with a Navy anti-terrorist force providing security for cargo-laden ships entering the war zone.
No disrespect to our fine sailors, but what are the chances the trooper suffers from PTSD after that assignment? Can't rule anything out, but its not as if he was a medic corpsman or a seal...
The attorney said the trooper served with a Navy anti-terrorist force providing security for cargo-laden ships entering the war zone.
No disrespect to our fine sailors, but what are the chances the trooper suffers from PTSD after that assignment? Can't rule anything out, but its not as if he was a medic corpsman or a seal...
# posted by : June 17, 2009 11:57 AM
: June 17, 2009 11:57 AM
I see everybody commenting on the fact that the paramedic abandoned the patient. What does that really have to do with the fact that this so called "officer" pulled an ambulance over? First off the cruiser is traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. Once the first officer went "97" he could have reduced his speed and continued lights and siren, second, the ambulance driver moved to the left to leave a safe distance between the vehicle on the shoulder and his ambulance, if you listen to the trooper's radio traffic, he is still calm cool and collective, If it was the finger gesture that set him off, we most likely would have heard it in his tone of voice. Thirdly, proving that he was driving way too fast, you can hear the anti-lock brakes working from the time the trooper begins to stop until he pulls into the lot. Disregard for public safety here. Fourth, he leaves the scene of this "stolen car", and the other officers to chase the ambulance for "failure to yield", failing to yield at a stop sign, and cutting off the car that is turning right as you can see in the video. Again without due regard to public safety, he guns the cruiser to catch the ambulance. Last I remember, the officer was supposed to approach the vehicle to speak with the driver, not "Here! Now!" The paramedic did not abandon the patient, and in his defense was providing for scene safety, and being the patient's advocate. The use of foul language by the trooper is very unprofessional, and unneeded, as well as the later use of physical force. The paramedic advises the trooper he has a patient on board at least 6 times, not to mention the others. If he had not heard this or not registered it, he must be declared deaf or mentally handicapped. The paramedic even goes as far as to advise the trooper of the fine and jail time involved with interfering with patient transport. The use of no lights and siren for a cardiac patient is recommended for transport, further backing the paramedic's side of the story. The paramedic also remains calm and collective, speaking in a normal voice, unlike the trooper. I can't really see how that could be used in the trooper's defense for his escalation. All in all the paramedic did leave his patient unattended, NOT ABANDONED!, but the trooper acted unlawfully, unrespectively, and clearly without regard to the family and patient involved. This trooper is a disgrace to the OHP and to Oklahoma itself. He should be terminated at the least, if not charged in a lawsuit.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 12:32 PM
: June 17, 2009 12:32 PM
ENOUGH...the Chief of OHP should have quieted everyone down weeks ago
# posted by : June 17, 2009 1:10 PM
: June 17, 2009 1:10 PM
Outrageous! His superiors should also be fired if they don't fire him! I can't imagine the horror of the poor patient and her family members who had to look on helplessly while this thug with a badge tried to show is manly man power. This is a no brainer. He was clearly told about the patient early on in the conversation. He could have told them to go on and if he wanted to issue a ticket, he could have followed them to the hospital and issued it there. No excuse for his unprofessional and unethical behavior.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 1:12 PM
: June 17, 2009 1:12 PM
Paramedic White showed much restraint when dealing with this situation. I will have to admit I do not know if I would have showed the same restraint. The incompetence and lack of care for the patient from the State Trooper can be seen by anyone. He needs his badge pulled and a full appology needs to be made to the patient, her family, and the poor EMS crew on that run.
Submitted by Ohio EMT-P
Submitted by Ohio EMT-P
# posted by : June 17, 2009 1:27 PM
: June 17, 2009 1:27 PM
If you support Paramedic Maurice White & All Paramedics in general & find the actions of Oklahoma Trooper Daniel Martin appalling - Let's get this ego-driven maniac & dangerous peace officer off our public highways!
Send your comments/complaints to the Oklahoma Dept of Public Safety:
http://www.dps.state.ok.us/contact.html
Send your comments/complaints to the Oklahoma Dept of Public Safety:
http://www.dps.state.ok.us/contact.html
Firstly, where are the superiors of each person involved? The police are hush hush, the ambulance dept. is hush hush, why aren't THEY saying anything?
Those two departments MUST get along for future emergencies, so it would seem that sorting things out now SHOULD be a priority.
The trooper is an idiot. He was wrong, he knew he was wrong when the whole thing started. He created a situation, and then couldn't let it go.
I would BET either arm, that if everyone in the ambulance had been another color, this whole thing would have been dramatically different.
I'm not playing the racist card (I'm Caucasian AND African American) but I have seen this too many times.
As far as I'm concerned he's damned lucky that the person in the ambulance didn't suffer any additional troubles or worse die. Because you can bet, he'd be named in wrongful death.
By the way, didn't something very similar happen in Atlanta not too long ago...?
Those two departments MUST get along for future emergencies, so it would seem that sorting things out now SHOULD be a priority.
The trooper is an idiot. He was wrong, he knew he was wrong when the whole thing started. He created a situation, and then couldn't let it go.
I would BET either arm, that if everyone in the ambulance had been another color, this whole thing would have been dramatically different.
I'm not playing the racist card (I'm Caucasian AND African American) but I have seen this too many times.
As far as I'm concerned he's damned lucky that the person in the ambulance didn't suffer any additional troubles or worse die. Because you can bet, he'd be named in wrongful death.
By the way, didn't something very similar happen in Atlanta not too long ago...?
# posted by : June 17, 2009 4:28 PM
: June 17, 2009 4:28 PM
Cop is a wack job. Needs to leave, and fast. And at the end of the traffic stop everybody just goes their separate ways? Comical.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 6:26 PM
: June 17, 2009 6:26 PM
I thimk the Trooper and Medic need to lose their jobs and ability to work in their chosen professions period. The driver(whatever his certification is) should be suspended. In order of event occurence first off if these guys have radio communications between them, then why didn't the officer try to find out if they had a patient onboard and then follow them to the ER. Or how about the Driver, why didn't he radio the officer when he realized he was being pulled over, and advise him that he had a patient onboard and the need to get to the ER. The officers action of actually pulling over the vehicle in the middle of transport, should warrent a suspension. Once stopped the driver and trooper should have both noted the patient and continued to the ER. Then once pulled over, the Paramedic NEVER should have gotten out of his rig. Let me say that again, the Paramedic NEVER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF HIS RIG. Contrary to the previous post, this is the UTMOST form of abandonment. The Medic left his patient to confornt a separate situation that had NOTHING to do with his patient. If I was that patients family, I would be suing the daylights out of the Medic, the Driver, the Trooper, and the Ambulance company, just to name a few. Then the Medic gets back in his ambulance, and gets out again. Again this is abandoning his patient. Remember there is NO ONE medically trained, not to mention trained to the same level or higheras the Medic, in the back of the ambulance. Again this is abandoment. Now the reasonn the trooper needs to lose his job is for the reason everyone else states, His obvious uncontrolled rage from the start of the incident. the troopers lawyer states he never heard or identified the fact that anyone said anything about a patient immediately. It's obvious that both the Medic and driver did by the Troopers dash cam / mic. This is probably because the Trooper only saw rage at the driver for what was allegedly a "F*** you" to him by the Driver. That kind of rage is unacceptable. And as I stated, the Medic should lose his job for the obvious abandoment of his patient.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 7:52 PM
: June 17, 2009 7:52 PM
As to what ffemt7677@yahoo.com wrote I have previously stated and is what I stand on that the patient should have never been left alone unless the scene was unsafe for the medic and it was not. But hopefully this has opened many eyes and all parties should cease and desist and learn from it. It would be nice to see people stand behind their names when posting.
# posted by : June 17, 2009 10:40 PM
: June 17, 2009 10:40 PM
In response to a prevoius comment: That's the radio you hear, not the ABS.
# posted by : June 18, 2009 11:10 AM
: June 18, 2009 11:10 AM
To the person who thinks that copying a JEMS article makes them informed on the subject of abandonment, then they should stop playing internet lawyer and go back to driving ambulances.
This Paramedic did commit abandonment. The scene was NOT unsafe, there was no reason for that PM to remove himself from the vehicle. If anything, he should've called for another ambulance to continue their transport or simply go out and tell the driver to take this up at the hospital.
There is nothing requiring the medic to stand there and argue like an idiot for several minutes. If this woman had syncope follow by chest pains, the standard of care would to have her on a cardiac monitor, at the very least. Seeing no other Advanced Life Support trained personnel in that ambulance when he left, he abandoned her. There was nobody to continue that standard of care.
Next time you want to trash somebody on here and act like a know-it-all, make sure you know what you're talking about.
This Paramedic did commit abandonment. The scene was NOT unsafe, there was no reason for that PM to remove himself from the vehicle. If anything, he should've called for another ambulance to continue their transport or simply go out and tell the driver to take this up at the hospital.
There is nothing requiring the medic to stand there and argue like an idiot for several minutes. If this woman had syncope follow by chest pains, the standard of care would to have her on a cardiac monitor, at the very least. Seeing no other Advanced Life Support trained personnel in that ambulance when he left, he abandoned her. There was nobody to continue that standard of care.
Next time you want to trash somebody on here and act like a know-it-all, make sure you know what you're talking about.
# posted by : June 18, 2009 11:43 AM
: June 18, 2009 11:43 AM
OK -Please POST/REPOST
PRESSURE the OK Governor for apologies and retraining for the trooper AND his wife.
“Until Trooper Martin is disciplined/retrained and apologies issued from the Oklahoma Governor’s office to White, the patient and her family, I continue to support Georgia Paramedic Hayden Barnes’s BOYCOTT of QuikTrips, ConocoPhillips, and Alamo and National Car Rental companies for us out of towners while we are
NOT driving through Oklahoma watching out for OHP and their wives running ambulances off the road on the way to 20 second stolen car reports (picking up his wife?) and returning to illegally assault EMP.”
PRESSURE the OK Governor for apologies and retraining for the trooper AND his wife.
“Until Trooper Martin is disciplined/retrained and apologies issued from the Oklahoma Governor’s office to White, the patient and her family, I continue to support Georgia Paramedic Hayden Barnes’s BOYCOTT of QuikTrips, ConocoPhillips, and Alamo and National Car Rental companies for us out of towners while we are
NOT driving through Oklahoma watching out for OHP and their wives running ambulances off the road on the way to 20 second stolen car reports (picking up his wife?) and returning to illegally assault EMP.”
# posted by : June 18, 2009 3:56 PM
: June 18, 2009 3:56 PM
Conduct Unbecoming an Officer (a police officer) --- egregiously. Trooper Martin is either too sick or too stupid to serve the public weal. I shudder to think of the humiliation that Martin's passenger is suffering.
Maurice White? Show me a citizen who repeatedly refuses to "turn around" so an enraged, unfit cop can cuff him & I'll show you a man who knows he's in the right --- and strong of limb.
Failure to yield? The dashcam dashes that alleged dastardly deed.
Iker yanks his cam? Perhaps to avoid additional embarassment to Martin's passenger.
It appears that the Governor should step in on this matter, unless this is the image of Oklahoma public servants that he wants shown around the world. Troopers have been dismissed for far less misconduct. And, sadly, there may be many more of this woeful caliber. I'm happy to say I've met a lot of admirable ones.
Maurice White? Show me a citizen who repeatedly refuses to "turn around" so an enraged, unfit cop can cuff him & I'll show you a man who knows he's in the right --- and strong of limb.
Failure to yield? The dashcam dashes that alleged dastardly deed.
Iker yanks his cam? Perhaps to avoid additional embarassment to Martin's passenger.
It appears that the Governor should step in on this matter, unless this is the image of Oklahoma public servants that he wants shown around the world. Troopers have been dismissed for far less misconduct. And, sadly, there may be many more of this woeful caliber. I'm happy to say I've met a lot of admirable ones.
# posted by : June 18, 2009 6:35 PM
: June 18, 2009 6:35 PM
After watching both the troopers dash cam and the cell video it is obvious that Trooper Daniel Martin has serious anger and authority issues. He should not be allowed to remain in law enforcement. Clearly he lacks the judgment that a LEO needs to perform their jobs. I am appalled at his behavior.
The mission statement of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol:
Working to provide a safe, secure environment for the public through courteous, quality and professional services.
How in the world can the display caught on video in any way be construed to match that mission statement.
Also, how can one even begin to think that what was witnessed can be even remotely linked to the following core values like respect or self discipline.
The OHP is committed to the following core values as the foundation of our pledge to public safety and service:
LOYALTY
HONESTY
RESPECT
INTEGRITY
PROFESSIONALISM
SELF-DISCIPLINE
Trooper Daniel Martin should be fired, immediately.
The mission statement of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol:
Working to provide a safe, secure environment for the public through courteous, quality and professional services.
How in the world can the display caught on video in any way be construed to match that mission statement.
Also, how can one even begin to think that what was witnessed can be even remotely linked to the following core values like respect or self discipline.
The OHP is committed to the following core values as the foundation of our pledge to public safety and service:
LOYALTY
HONESTY
RESPECT
INTEGRITY
PROFESSIONALISM
SELF-DISCIPLINE
Trooper Daniel Martin should be fired, immediately.
# posted by : June 18, 2009 6:45 PM
: June 18, 2009 6:45 PM
I'm a retired medic with almost 20 years of EMS.
I agree that the trooper was totally out of control.
It has always been my understanding that you never leave your patient with someone who has less medical licensure than you do. It's called abandement. Perhaps if the medic had adhered to this rule, the situation may not have gotten so far out of hand.
In the end, both parties could wind up losing their jobs.
Sad times for police, fire, and EMS. Especially since we have been more readily accepted and praised since 9-11.
I agree that the trooper was totally out of control.
It has always been my understanding that you never leave your patient with someone who has less medical licensure than you do. It's called abandement. Perhaps if the medic had adhered to this rule, the situation may not have gotten so far out of hand.
In the end, both parties could wind up losing their jobs.
Sad times for police, fire, and EMS. Especially since we have been more readily accepted and praised since 9-11.
# posted by : June 18, 2009 8:20 PM
: June 18, 2009 8:20 PM
Officer Martin is an embarrassment to the great state of Oklahoma, and certainly does not exhibit the standard of performance I expect of a Public Safety Officer. He needlessly escalated a situation to the point where another officer had to interfere to defuse the situation, albeit after administering a choke hold on the EMT. This reminded me of the Rodney King videos that were so inflammatory.
The EMT, Mr White did not act unprofessionally from what I could see. In fact he remained in control of himself and the situation as best he could, despite being intimidated, bullied, and choked. Abandonment of the patient? No, I don't think so. Call it situational awareness and implementing situational control. His interest was in getting the patient to the hospital in the most expedient manner, not avoiding a traffic ticket.
Mr. White exhibited the behavior that I expect in a Public Safety Officer. Officer Martin looked like an angry unreasonable bully, and in my opinion his behavior bordered on the criminal.
The EMT, Mr White did not act unprofessionally from what I could see. In fact he remained in control of himself and the situation as best he could, despite being intimidated, bullied, and choked. Abandonment of the patient? No, I don't think so. Call it situational awareness and implementing situational control. His interest was in getting the patient to the hospital in the most expedient manner, not avoiding a traffic ticket.
Mr. White exhibited the behavior that I expect in a Public Safety Officer. Officer Martin looked like an angry unreasonable bully, and in my opinion his behavior bordered on the criminal.
"Trooper Daniel Martin should be fired, immediately." I Concur 100%!
# posted by : June 19, 2009 3:57 PM
: June 19, 2009 3:57 PM
I can tell that most of ya'll that have been posting comments stating the Paramedic was in the wrong has never worked in a real Fire/EMS department. I work in VA as a Firefighter and an Vol. Fire Officer in VA and if you don't know your laws, please don't comment and make yourself look bad. I don't know anything about the Navy and their jobs in protecting us with Iraq. What I do know is Fire/EMS jobs, the medic crew did nothing wrong as some many of ya'll have stated. If you watch the video, they are coming to the top of a blind hill, and with the car thats already getting off to the side of road, the medic could not safely get over until they made it pass that car, and I'm sure the medic driver noted the hill, and did not want the trooper to pass him on the oncoming lane. My dept SOP states we are not suppose to go into oncoming lane unless we can clearly see in front of us, and we all should know how low police cars sit to the ground, Trooper did not have a clear view, that the medic did. Second we are not suppose to get off the main road traveling at the speed they were going. If you have ever driven or rode in a medic, you know how hard they are to see anything behind them, for as far as we know, the sun could have been in his mirrors. Someone stated the Trooper was running 97 mph? I think thats fast enough to outrun a siren. Besides how safe is it to go 42 mph over the posted speed limit? Assuming it was a 55mph zone. In my volunteer department, we work with State Police, but we do have them in our radio system. We would have to go through our dispatch to their dispatch, that takes time. We all heard the brakes locking up when he was pulling on scene of his first call. Then clears from it, runs the stop sign cutting the other pov off, and then you hear him turn his lights on again as he pulls behind the medic. The paramedic says the reason he open the back door at first is he saw a person not in uniform in the front seat of the trooper car and wanted to make sure they didn't have another pt. The driver could have been CPR only, I know many departments with some of their older members that were grandfather in and did not have to get EMS certs after the Fire dept took over the EMS side. So please if your going to comment please know what you are talking about!
# posted by : June 20, 2009 11:58 AM
: June 20, 2009 11:58 AM
If the trooper gets off this one, we know something is wrong with the society.
# posted by : June 21, 2009 1:36 PM
: June 21, 2009 1:36 PM
coming from a fellow law enforcement officer, i can say what the trooper did was not the way any officer should do. he acted with complete disregard for the well being one of the citizens he has swarn to protect. and by "attempting" to arrest the emts (who he will most likely take care of him if he were to get injured) he brought the whole department down to a level of a mentaly handicapped individual. i hope that the trooper does get punished for the incident. but to take his badge away, in my mind, is pushing the limit. if he gets fired the emt needs to get fired for not pulling over for the trooper. all in all i say both parties played a part in the incident.
# posted by : June 21, 2009 11:30 PM
: June 21, 2009 11:30 PM
THAT could be YOU or a loved one in that ambulance pulled over by an Enraged Trooper Martin and his wife next time."
OK -Please POST/REPOST
PRESSURE the OK Governor for apologies and retraining for the trooper AND his wife.
“Until Trooper Martin is disciplined/retrained and apologies issued from the Oklahoma Governor’s office to White, the patient and her family, I continue to support Georgia Paramedic Hayden Barnes’s BOYCOTT of QuikTrips, ConocoPhillips, and Alamo and National Car Rental companies for us out of towners while we are
NOT driving through Oklahoma watching out for OHP and their wives running ambulances off the road on the way to <20 second stolen car reports (picking up his wife?) and returning to illegally assault EMP.
OK -Please POST/REPOST
PRESSURE the OK Governor for apologies and retraining for the trooper AND his wife.
“Until Trooper Martin is disciplined/retrained and apologies issued from the Oklahoma Governor’s office to White, the patient and her family, I continue to support Georgia Paramedic Hayden Barnes’s BOYCOTT of QuikTrips, ConocoPhillips, and Alamo and National Car Rental companies for us out of towners while we are
NOT driving through Oklahoma watching out for OHP and their wives running ambulances off the road on the way to <20 second stolen car reports (picking up his wife?) and returning to illegally assault EMP.
# posted by : June 22, 2009 12:36 PM
: June 22, 2009 12:36 PM
absolutely pathetic. This trooper acted in the most unprofessional way possible.
He (the trooper) was in full rage because he got flipped off.
Big deal! We all get flipped at one time in our lives, but does this mean we should engage in road rage? Of course not.
If this cop was in my employ, he'd be gone.
Why should the troppers boss's be worried about the next time he does someting like this?
He (the trooper) was in full rage because he got flipped off.
Big deal! We all get flipped at one time in our lives, but does this mean we should engage in road rage? Of course not.
If this cop was in my employ, he'd be gone.
Why should the troppers boss's be worried about the next time he does someting like this?
# posted by : July 1, 2009 10:20 AM
: July 1, 2009 10:20 AM
There is something wrong with you people. The cop was wrong to pull over the ambulance. The driver should have accepted the ticket and been on his way to the hospital. Contact your dispatcher and have them contact the officers supervisors. This incident could have been over in 5 minutes. Its not 100 percent the cops fault. And for all of you who claim you hate the police, i would like to see you survive in a world where they weren't around to serve and protect. They go through just as much stress as we do.
# posted by : July 7, 2009 11:09 PM
: July 7, 2009 11:09 PM
I believe that Mr. White did explain the situation and that he was looking out for the patient and furthermore if the patient died who would that have been on and who would have been charged with the death of the patient. If the officer came back from the war why didn't he undergo a mental health evaluation. I know someone who was injured over there and he does not suffer from post dramatic stress disorder.. To many people blame this disorder to get away with everything. If the officer loses his job and he does suffer from this disorder then they should make him get counseling so he does not do anything stupid as for the family i hope they do go after the police dept. i think every cop should go through a monthly mental health eval they handle a lot of things and that goes for the ems and fire department and no officer should pull over an ems vehicle if the ems does something wrong follow them to the hospital so the patient has a chance to survive
# posted by : July 9, 2009 6:34 PM
: July 9, 2009 6:34 PM
I hope that "cop" lost his badge and gun, and I hope he is doing time for obstructing transport of a medical patient... he could have atleast followed the ambulance to their destination, then handled whatever that was he had to get out of his system.
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# posted by : July 10, 2009 6:48 PM
: July 10, 2009 6:48 PM Links to this post:
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