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MineralMan

(146,116 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 03:28 PM Jun 2014

Officer saves driver in fiery gas station crash

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/13/officer-saves-driver-in-fiery-gas-station-crash/10409303/

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- John Vescio's training and experience took over.

Vescio, a senior state police investigator, had been pumping gasoline into his unmarked police car at 11 a.m. June 3 at the gas station along the Hutchinson River Parkway in White Plains when a Toyota came barreling out of control into the parking lot, hit a car and then a gas pump, and set off a ball of fire.

"It happened so quick," Vescio told The Journal News on Tuesday in his first public comments since the incident. "It was hard to think. I pretty much just reacted."


Video at link...
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uppityperson

(115,674 posts)
1. The problem is not those who act well, but that it is too easy to act wrongly. And that those who
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 03:38 PM
Jun 2014

do act wrongly have such power that it causes really bad effects and their actions affect many people.

It took 1 asshole cop harassing me to make me realize that even my privileged status wasn't enough to counter his assholery. And now? Except for the ones I know personally, I am suspicious of them all as there have been too many acting inappropriately.

MineralMan

(146,116 posts)
2. And yet, for every story about a bad cop, there are many
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 03:40 PM
Jun 2014

where they do courageous things that save lives. Should those not get equal space on GD?

If I have time, I'm going to counter every bad cop story with at least one that shows the other side. Would that be OK with you?

uppityperson

(115,674 posts)
4. Sure, that is a good thing to do. I noticed you posting a bunch, why I replied.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 03:56 PM
Jun 2014

There are lots of good cops, but when they go bad, the power they have gives them the ability to be very very bad.

But yes, posting nice stories about cops acting appropriately or even heroically is a good thing to do.

Response to uppityperson (Reply #1)

Response to uppityperson (Reply #8)

Orrex

(63,057 posts)
10. I blame your attitude at DU and Discussionist
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:21 PM
Jun 2014

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uppityperson

(115,674 posts)
11. Good gad, I can barely keep up with DU. Discussionist was fun at first but meh, too much bleh for
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:24 PM
Jun 2014

the time so I don't bother. Checking in on DU to see the lastest Drama then off again. It is summer, nice outside.

intaglio

(8,170 posts)
3. The good ones exist and are almost certainly the great majority
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 03:55 PM
Jun 2014

but the problem is that there are bad cops and they get away with criminal behaviour - even where there is prima facie evidence of their guilt. This is down to politicians.

tkmorris

(11,138 posts)
12. The position you are taking is of interest
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:31 PM
Jun 2014

When I think about the state of my local police force, and indeed when I observe the state of police forces across the country, what I come away with isn't "they are getting a bad rap on DU, and possibly elsewhere, and I should do my utmost to counter that". I am concerned about the massive volume of abuses of power which occur, starting with my local sheriff Rick B*******'s department and extending nationwide. To me that is the more pressing issue, far more important than any perceived loss of law enforcement reputation.

Perhaps if more of us attempted to rectify the systemic issues which create the conditions that allow these "cop doing bad thing" stories that concern you so much there would be less need for you to try to find examples of them doing their job to counter them with.

MineralMan

(146,116 posts)
13. Cops do bad things. Cops do good things.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:42 PM
Jun 2014

You have a bad sheriff? Unelect him. Fight the bad cops. Thank the good ones.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
15. Good to see his training paying off.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 05:19 PM
Jun 2014

That must have been scary watching that car barreling out of control toward a gas station!

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