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Canton Roid rage cop fired. no criminal charges
sohigh1
Member Posts: 862 ✭✭✭✭
The city law department asked the Massillon prosecutor's office to determine whether Harless' actions warranted criminal charges. John Simpson, chief prosecutor for the city of Massillon, said that he reviewed state law for menacing, aggravated menacing and assault, but there was insufficient evidence to support any charges.
http://www.indeonline.com/news/x638339306/Daniel-Harless-fired-from-Canton-police-force
This part blows my mind:
"I'm not condoning anything the officer did, because (it's) totally inappropriate," he said.
Simpson said he examined the question of whether "a threat (is) being made when you say, `I should have' or `I should do this,' but (Harless does not) fulfill any of those."
When considering the criminal charges, Simpson said, the prosecutor's office determined Harless did not attempt to cause physical harm by touching or assaulting Bartlett.
http://www.indeonline.com/news/x638339306/Daniel-Harless-fired-from-Canton-police-force
This part blows my mind:
"I'm not condoning anything the officer did, because (it's) totally inappropriate," he said.
Simpson said he examined the question of whether "a threat (is) being made when you say, `I should have' or `I should do this,' but (Harless does not) fulfill any of those."
When considering the criminal charges, Simpson said, the prosecutor's office determined Harless did not attempt to cause physical harm by touching or assaulting Bartlett.
Comments
Not the only time this cop caught on video doing this. How many times was he not observed? Should be allowed to have any authority. Mental case, IMO.
Too old to live...too young to die...
I have to agree with the haters on this one. Average citizen makes those statements and we get charged.
Not the only time this cop caught on video doing this. How many times was he not observed? Should be allowed to have any authority. Mental case, IMO.
Haters?? Where did that come from?
Harless was placed on medical leave and other officers donated their sick days to him when his paid sick-leave time ran out.
The union had asked for an extension for the disciplinary hearing due to Harless' being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Obviously, it's an unfortunate set of circumstances that transpired," Adams said. "We feel that due to the fact that (Harless) has PTSD, that nobody realized it for eight-plus years, for it to come to light the way it did ... this is not a way we wanted this to play out. PTSD is obviously a disease."
Adams said that the incident that sparked the illness occurred in 2003 when a suspect nearly bit off Harless' finger while trying to get the officer's gun.
"Here's a guy who was in a life-and-death situation," Adams said, adding that since the June incident came to light, Harless has been diagnosed several times with PTSD.
"Most people that have a bad day on their job can go home, put their legs up and relax," Adams said. "We can go home from our jobs in a body bag or with a serious physical injury from the hospital."
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
In the ruling, Ream referenced PTSD, noting that at the recent disciplinary hearing, attorney Michael Piotrowski, of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, said that Harless had filed for a disability pension with the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund.
"The diagnosis was not sought until after the incidents had occurred, however, and was initially the result of the city ordering him to undergo an examination due to these incidents," Ream wrote. "(Patrolman) Harless did not seek any help or treatment on his own during the lengthy period encompassed by these incidents."
"After a very thorough review of the internal affairs cases ... this hearing officer (Ream) certainly feels that mental health issues played a role in the actions of (Patrolman) Harless," Ream added. "I encourage him to continue to seek assistance with these issues from both local and state resources."
Piotrowski did not return a phone message and email seeking comment on Wednesday.
Adams noted the recent incident in which Officer Tim Marks was brutally attacked by a suspect.
"It affects people in different ways. Unfortunately, (Harless) had PTSD, and it wasn't realized for eight years. Unfortunately, he was fired, and we will address that situation at a later time
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
quote:Originally posted by CS8161
quote:Originally posted by Doc
I have to agree with the haters on this one. Average citizen makes those statements and we get charged.
Not the only time this cop caught on video doing this. How many times was he not observed? Should be allowed to have any authority. Mental case, IMO.
Haters?? Where did that come from?
Too old to live...too young to die...
Adams said that the incident that sparked the illness occurred in 2003 when a suspect nearly bit off Harless' finger while trying to get the officer's gun.
Clearly, the guy has problems with people who:
are capable of retaining their weapons have teeth
CS8161- C'mon, you know there are some folks here who dislike cops and never miss a chance to jump on the bandwagon and fetch a rope.
I don't think its cops they dislike, I think its bullies with badges that they don't like. Most police officers are just out there trying to make a living and go home every night, but the few that harass and abuse the public are the ones that get the ink and air time.
I have to disagree with you, Doc. I investigate plenty of Terroristic Threat, and Assault by Threat complaints, and I know pretty much what the prosecutor will take and what he won't.
He will take a specific threat. He will not take a conditional threat or an implied threat.
There is a world of difference between, "I am going to..." and, "I ought to..." Maybe not to the alleged victim, but it is a big difference when it comes to a successful prosecution.
this is not rumor but fact
I'm going to suggest to our PD chief that he aggressively persue the employment of Harless, in keeping with the tradition of hiring the discarded dregs from other PDs.
It happens, far too frequently.
Kind of a 'band of brothers' so to speak.
quote:Originally posted by Wyatt Earp
I'm going to suggest to our PD chief that he aggressively persue the employment of Harless, in keeping with the tradition of hiring the discarded dregs from other PDs.
It happens, far too frequently.
Kind of a 'band of brothers' so to speak.
Yep.
In fairness, this small town PD has some great "peace" officers. I've hired 5 of them over the years, including the former chief. Solid guys, most of them. Actually, all but 2 of them in the 8 years I've been here have been really good.
That said, 2 bad apples out of only about 12 cops in all those years...that leaves you chances of exposure to a bad cop fairly high.
local cop here {i knew personally and was a pr!ck since high school}, got caught with child porn on his cruiser computer, got a slap on the hand, early retirement, and is a police officer in a small town upstate now, he should have been charged and put in prison
this is not rumor but fact
UPDATE 12-09-12
there was a thread in relationship to my statement above that i was called a liar in, i was called out by a mod and again called a liar because no department would ever do such a cover up, however through an exhausting search i could not find that thread, this was as close as i could
here is the officer i have referred to on this very forum for almost a decade
http://www.bnd.com/2012/12/07/2419980/former-metro-east-police-officer.html#storylink=cpy
Former metro-east police officer charged with exposing himself online
A former law enforcement officer who worked for the Pontoon Beach and St. Jacob police departments has been charged with felony sexual misconduct.
Richard L. Hays, 47, of the 6100 block of Illinois 162 in Maryville, was charged in St. Charles County for allegedly exposing himself over the Internet to a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl.
The recipient, however, was really an officer with the St. Charles County cyber crimes unit.
According to police reports, on Oct. 2. Hays, using the screen name "Supercop069," initiated a conversation with the detective posing as a child and then sent several photos of his genitals.
Bond was set at $25,000.
GO AHEAD AND DEFEND HIM NOW !
The city law department asked the Massillon prosecutor's office to determine whether Harless' actions warranted criminal charges. John Simpson, chief prosecutor for the city of Massillon, said that he reviewed state law for menacing, aggravated menacing and assault, but there was insufficient evidence to support any charges.
If it would have been a civilian, they would have made some up.