DISQUS

Eddie · 9 months ago

That Powell c@cks^cker should be fired and sued together with the Dallas Police Department for hiring an incompetent, egomaniac, power-hungry racist idiot. But that's just how I feel....or better yet....

Cheri · 9 months ago

This is a dirty shame, and I'm sure that the officer wasn't banking on harassing someone who had the clout to put his misconduct on front street. Unfortunately the family will never get another chance to say goodbye to their loved one.

I really hope the officer is ultimately fired, but at least he's off the streets in the meantime... not that that helps much because you know there are lots more officers like that riding around in patrol cars as we speak.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

Cheri -- Well said. I am glad that there was a dash-cam that caught the whole thing and members of the hospital staff who approached the officer to corroborate the fact that this woman was on her deathbed. If the opposite had been the case, this would have never made the mainstream media. As I said, he doesn't deserve to be reassigned, he deserves to be suspended until the case is completed.

Cheri · 9 months ago

I agree that the officer involved deserves to be suspended, but we knew that wasn't gonna happen, didn't we?

SjP · 9 months ago

He may not have been stopped because he was Black - but the fact that the emergency lights were on as he ran the red light as well as the fact that they drove directly to the hospital parking lot should have been enough for this policeman to know that there was a problem at best. But, frankly, I'm not convinced that the officer didn't know that Moats was DWB.

anom · 9 months ago

Send complaints to. He'll get fired.

Internal Affairs Division, 1400 S. Lamar Street, Dallas, Texas 75215

Cheri · 9 months ago

Thanks for the info!

Kev · 9 months ago

9 times out of 10 I am going to back my police. This time I would like to see a pubilc flogging. As soon as he heard "my mother is dying" he should have been moving to get the family into the hospital.
Sorry for the loss.
God Bless you.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

Kev -- True. He also threatened Moat with jail for running a red light. Mind
you this guy had no outstanding warrants, no unpaid tickets, no violations,
nothing. That's just plain wrong and he deserves more than a reassignment of
duties. He should be fired. But we know the police union will try to make
the case that he was only doing his job.

I am very sorry for the loss of Jonetta Collinsworth to the family and
having to deal with not seeing her moments before she passed away. Simply
shameful.

The Truth · 9 months ago

Well, it's not racial profiling...I mean he wasn't stopped because he was black. He was talked to like a child because he was black, he was detained because he was black...but he wasn't stopped because he was black. He was stopped because he ran a red light. That cop should have to work the lunch line in pelican bay to keep his job.

Cheri · 9 months ago

Please stop making excuses...

The Truth · 9 months ago

I'm not making excuses, just stating facts. The officer was wrong and he should be fired, but that doesn't mean it's racial profile. You are a victim of racial profiling if you aren't doing anything wrong except looking out of place. A black man riding in a Mercedes is stopped...that's racial profiling. I hispanic man walking in a white neighborhood is stopped...that's racial profiling. Being stopped because you ran a light isn't racial profiling. That's all I'm saying.

Nicole · 9 months ago

what an a-hole. i hope he gets what he deserves in hell because behavior like that is uncalled for. i wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. they can never get those moments back and he shouldn't be able to be a public servant either. he should find a better profession like maybe janitorial work where he doesn't have the opportuntity to do that to anyone ever again. police are supposed to help the citizens of its city not threaten their safety. who else has he treated this way and for what little violation of running a red light!

NOTORIOUS PIG · 9 months ago

Here is The officer's myspace page....

http://www.myspace.com/powellrob2002

Read the Officer Blogs:

http://powellrob2002.xanga.com/

It was really wrong what he did so reach out to him and let him know how you feel.

NOTORIOUS PIG · 9 months ago

The officers myspace page....

http://www.myspace.com/powellrob2002

Read the Officer Blogs:

http://powellrob2002.xanga.com/

It was really wrong what he did so reach out to him and let him know how you feel.

Not surprised · 9 months ago

You need to look at this guy's first post on his blog. He says "after 18 more days I will be able to shoot people."

Nice. I am sure he was "joking", but you can see that his focus is on power and not protecting the people of Dallas.

Human Being · 9 months ago

What in the world was that jack@ss thinking? I hope he burns in hell for this. Geez the man's frickin' mom was dying. If this pig still has his job, what the f*ck does it take to get fired!!

NOTORIOUS PIG · 9 months ago

The officers myspace page....

http://www.myspace.com/powellrob2002

Read the Officer Blogs:

http://powellrob2002.xanga.com/

It was really wrong what he did so reach out to him and let him know how you feel.

Joe · 9 months ago

This police officer is mean and creepy. I wonder what other abuses he has conducted. On the video he sounds like he is crazy and irrational. He is an A1 asshole like most police are. I am not surprised that more police are getting exterminated and assasinated - they are hated.

Sweet Tea · 9 months ago

It is outrageous and Powell needs to be FIRED!!! Yes he had the right to stop him for running the light but once it became clear on why he should have escorted Moats to the emergency room entrance confirmed his circumstance and allowed him to see his passing mother-in-law. Maybe after he could have gave a strong warning but offer his condolences,compassion and understanding.

Sweet Tea · 9 months ago

Just to add one more comment, this officer from reviewing the tape deliberately held Moats. He was informed on 3 different occasions that the mother-in-law was dying. After the third time He says"I'm almost-done" get's out the police car and proceeds to lecture Moats even more on his attitude. An attitude that is concerned about seeing his DYING mother-in-law...If this officer is not fired it only shows the integrity of the Dallas Police Force and I fear for anyone who comes into contact with this officer. I would look into his past arrest and believe that this is not his first offense by far!!!

Steve · 9 months ago

I actually hope it was racial profiling. As sickening as that is, it at least provides some rationality for what happened.

The really scary part is that he still doesn’t see anything wrong with his actions. He knew it was on dash cam and there were witnesses and he still proceeded for 17 min. What would he be like off camera?

No second chances for this guy, he needs to go!

lisa · 9 months ago

On behalf of all decent human beings in this world, I am disgusted at the "person" who did this. He does not deserve to be a member of any police force, and in my opinion does not deserve to be a part of the human race. Whether racially motivated or not, though it likely was to some extent, the loss of his job is not enough. Unfortunately that is the best we can hope for. I hope he lives the rest of his days in complete shame and deep regret for his cruel, evil behavior. Very unfortunately he will likely receive a slap on the wrist and counseling. We must not forget this and the people around this man, and in his community must not forget it in dealing with him.

David · 9 months ago

As a resident of Dallas, I am appalled by the officer's behavior. I've watched the video, I've written about this in my blog (http://freedom-writing.blogspot.com/2009/03/not...) and, as one who has been through the trauma of losing a close family member, I sympathize with Moats and his family.

But I can see no justification for dismissing this as a case of racial profiling. Unless the officer's eyesight is much better than my own, I cannot see from the video how he could have determined, at the time that he stopped the vehicle, what the race of the occupants happened to be. Does everything have to be about race these days?

Even so, the officer should have been able to put 2 and 2 together fairly quickly once the vehicle came to a stop. The occupants told him what was going on, the video clearly shows a vehicle with its emergency lights flashing, and the vehicle was stopped in the parking lot of the hospital.

Whether the people in the vehicle were on their way to see a dying relative or they were bringing an expectant mother to give birth, the officer should have been smart enough to realize that a medical emergency was occurring. A police officer is sworn to both serve and protect the people, and helping people in a medical emergency is one of the ways policemen serve their community.

I'm not convinced the officer is a racist. But I am convinced that he is stupid.

Janet Shan · 9 months ago

David -- The definition of racial profiling is is the inclusion of
racial<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(classification_of_human_beings)>or
ethnic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicity> characteristics in
determining whether a person is considered likely to commit a particular
type of crime or an illegal act or to behave in a "predictable" manner
(Wikipedia). As is the case with Muslims, they are more likely to be
searched at the airport than anyone else because of their religious beliefs.
That is profiling.

The cop may not have known he was pulling over a black man for running a red
light, but his actions thereafter are a clear indication of his poor
attitude towards the Moats. Had that been a white person, I am positive the
result would have been far different. His police record is worth a second
look. I am sure this is not the first time he has exhibited such
callousness.

Janet

Bill · 9 months ago

Living my life in the skin of a Caucasian I have to say that at times I am blind to what goes on in the world. If a racist act takes place I seem to think that we need to give each person some benefit of the doubt. What this incident has proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt is that not only am I ignorant, but that the Dallas Police department is treating the citizens as if they were animals in the street. How could anyone look at this and wonder if it would have turned out differently if the Moats were white. If they were white it never would have happened. This is racial profiling no doubt in my mind.

The DPD should act quickly and remove Officer Powell from duty permanently.

Irene · 9 months ago

This officer needs sensitivity training, as well as a suspension WITHOUT pay!!! Mr. Moats ran a red light with NO oncoming traffic in sight. He put NO ONE in harms way.
I hope and pray that the officer lives with guilt for the rest of his life for preventing Mr. Moats from saying his final goodbye.

Kelli-Cincinnati · 9 months ago

Robert Powell does not deserve to wear a badge. Where is his compassion? I am outraged that this happened to the Moats' family. I hope the Dallas police are l ittle more choosy when hiring if this is serve and protect, I'll pass

matt · 9 months ago

This is why police departments need to monitor their officer sclosely. I see it as a power trip. When an officer gets to this point , he shouldn't be an working in any job of service or authority.

waremax · 9 months ago

The Officer's action was within the law. He did nothing wrong. However, there is such a thing as common sense. If you lack common sense, thats the same as not having any sense at all. The officer should have use the tools he was taught to have. The tool all officers have: Investigation. He should have walked inside the hospital to verify. He should not be fired, but he should be given time off without pay and a written letter for lack of common sense. All officers are required to have common sense.

nina · 8 months ago

Maybe God can return the favor by having the cop lose a love and not be able to say good bye for some stupid reason. Hopefully, he'll have a flat tire or something on the way to the hospital to see his wife or mother while they are on their death bed. Maybe then he'll understand what he did was WRONG!

Eva Wakefield · 8 months ago

I am white. I don't know if race was really a motivation for Powell. I have been treated very poorly by white police officers myself.

Any person with a lick of sense would have immediately understood flashing hazard lights on a truck pulling into a dead end at a hospital emergency entrance. If that was too subtle, the urgent proclamations of impending death should have registered in a caring, intelligent, responsible police officer. Robert Powell is an arrogant, power crazed, bully, thug who abused every bit of authority that he had. It is a very common problem. The police close ranks whenever a citizen complains so it is nearly impossible to rectify. This may be the higher reason for this happening in a high profile circumstance if there is any consolation to be found in this mess.

The reason why police officers have wide "discretion" is for situations exactly like this. The police officer was told over and over "my mother is dying". He explained how unimportant or irrelevent this pending death was!

The Moats family is remarkably gracious in the wake of this incident. Powell was unconcerned for them and intoxicated with his power. He is contrite now because his abusive behavior has been exposed and he has been justly vilified. Powell is like a cockroach fleeing from the light. His behavior was bold, rude and abusive in the dark. In the light of day, he is contrite. I don't buy it. A punk is a punk. Powell is a punk. I am glad he "resigned". He should have been FIRED! The police showed that they won't fire a cop even when he simply cannot handle the responsibility of the position. SHAME ON THE POLICE WHO PERPETRATE THIS! Police are hired and paid for by the taxpayers to "protect and serve us". How do you think Powell did? I am so very angry.

Ryan Moats and his wife deserve great admiration for the way they handled this situation. I am sorry for their loss and the increased heartache that this "police officer" put upon them.

octane · 8 months ago

You know, can we prove that he did anything racist? So why is that always the first route to look at. Can't we just see the obvious fact that officer Powell, is an absolute worthless person who didn't take the job to "Protect and Serve", but took it because he likes being an A**hole to people. There's nothing good about the guy, is there a possibility that the stop was racially motivated? Sure, it could have. But we can't always assume that racism is the motivation behind everything that happens. Sometime it's just a bad person being a dick.

Jonny Tepin · 8 months ago

This is nothing more than racial profiling and I hope when the DAs look into this case, as they're doing now, they will be able to find the proof they need as this is NOT the first time this Powell joker has done this. Not only good riddance to him for resigning, but surely there are some civil and/or criminal charges that penalize for this behavior.

By the while. I'm White.