The latest in the saga that is the DPD’s reputation nightmare involves Officer Powell’s televised apology on local television station CBS 11. Some will say that he has finally accepted responsibility for his actions and should be forgiven. Others will say it’s too little too late, and possibly even scripted.
Let’s review what we know and discuss possible resolutions.
NFL running back Ryan Moats and his family were rushing through the Dallas streets at night, en route to the hospital where his wife’s dying mother only had moments left to live. Moats ran a red light in his haste and was pulled over by Officer Powell, just outside the hospital. His wife and other family members left the car and proceeded to the hospital.
Ryan Moats endured a lot of insulting talk from Officer Powell. He was told repeatedly to shut his mouth, while Office Powell recounted all the different ways he could ruin Moats’ evening.
Here’s the video taken from the police officer’s squad car:
This serves as another example of what happens when authority is abused… when a person in a position of authority enjoys his/her authority too much and flaunts over another individual. It’s a dangerous game he played.
On top of that reputation nightmare, wife of former Dallas Cowboy Zach Thomas has recognized the officer involved and made public her undesirable incident involving Officer Powell. This is a PR nightmare for the DPD. If these allegations are true, we may be dealing with an officer who has a history of abusing power, which would take this to a whole other level of seriousness. But that angle isn’t getting as much play, for some reason. Perhaps Mrs. Thomas provoked the officer after her illegal U-turn. She claims she was handcuffed and taken to the police station after receiving five tickets.
At present, Officer Powell is on paid leave, which has only enflamed certain parties even more. One Dallas City Council member is calling for Powell to be fired. The police chief, David Kunkle, has a real crisis on his hands. Technically, his officer did not violate the law or put a citizen in danger. He did, however, fail to exercise good judgment and made a public spectacle of his mistake.
Let’s take a look at some of the issues at play here:
1. Within 24 hours of the incident, Officer Powell should have issued an apology. Instead of acting quickly, Powell’s issued a public apology AFTER it stirred up the nation and everyone was turned against him.
2. Powell’s apology sounded scripted and coached. You can tell when a person sticks to one statement over and over again, despite the question, that he has been coached to stick to what is safe when he doesn’t know what the appropriate response should be. His training in returning to the same statement over and over again proves he was coached and he is just following instructions.
3. Powell plays the publicity victim card. Office Powell had no reason to share how he’s concerned about death threats received and the safety of his children. If people are making threats against his family, they are in the wrong and should be held accountable. But a man’s responsibility to publicly own up for his mistake should not be watered down by diverting the public’s attention to negative repercussions suffered for his own actions.
4. Powell’s public mistake has stripped him of authority. This point was made on the air this morning on 105.3FM The Fan. If Powell IS reinstated as a police officer, what’s to stop anyone he pulls over from playing the guilt card or feigning a medical emergency? And what is he to do in that instance? Any one of his routine traffic stops could be a real medical emergency. But now everyone knows he’s suffered for his error in judgment, and could use that against him. And even if they don’t, who isn’t going to be nervous when they see the vilified Officer Powell walking toward their car? You can’t expect people to trust him for a long time.
5. Americans are a forgiving people, if contrition is shown and then some time passes. We want to be a forgiving people, because we innately recognize that we’re each flawed human beings, and we want to know that there is forgiveness and restoration available for the moments when we have made mistakes. Everyone wants to be redeemed. No one (or almost no one) wants to believe that their mistakes exempt them from living a respected normal life.
6. Many people use the same excuse that Ryan Moats was telling him. If you imagine 150-300 traffic stops over the period of any given month, you start to comprehend how an officer could be calloused and not necessarily believe every excuse he is told. Just watch the nightly news or C.O.P.S. and you’ll see plenty of examples of human stupidity that police officers have to routinely deal with.
7. Officer Powell had several opportunities to let Ryan Moats go to see his mother-in-law. It is sad to hear the nurse confirming to Powell that his relative is indeed about to die any moment, and the officer’s response as he’s writing a ticket is, “I’m almost done.” That is inexcusable. Ultimately, you might be able to excuse several behavioral question marks over the span of the video, but disregarding a verified emergency is without just cause.
8. Officer Powell could live a very respectable life as a police officer going forward if given the chance. Not passing judgment one way or the other here. I’m just presenting what I see to be the facts. Powell could be a very good police officer, especially now that he’s hopefully learned a very valuable lesson about authority. He could not function as a regular patrolling officer immediately, but given time he could definitely earn back the trust and respect that has been lost.
9. The DPD chief has to make a very important and difficult decision. This won’t be easy. You can fire the man, because he made poor decisions that cost another man an irreplaceable moment in his life. You can fire him because the overwhelming majority of the public demand it. Or you can devise some sort of punishment/correction that enables the officer an opportunity to win back the public trust and respect.
That wraps up my thoughts for the moment. Now let’s hear from you:
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