Trooper Fights Paramedics With Patient Still In Ambulance (VIDEO)

Oklahoma's Tulsa World newspaper reports on a bizarre scuffle this past week after a highway patrol officer pulled over an ambulance that was carrying a patient headed for the hospital, but didn't have its siren on.

The patrolman apparently intended to issue a 'failure to yeild' citation to the ambulance driver, and was angered when he believed one of the paramedics gave him a middle finger.

Despite being told that the woman in the ambulance needed to get to the hospital, the trooper insisted that one of the paramedics be detained in his car. When he tried to handcuff a paramedic, a fight ensued, which was filmed by the husband of the patient.

Eventually the patrolman allowed the ambulance to go to the hospital. An investigation over the incident "has been turned over to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's Internal Affairs Unit and a county prosecutor," the Tulsa World reports.

Read the full story here, or watch video:

Comments

[GTFOOH]

Email Oklahoma Highway Patrol Chief Van Guillotte at dps.state.ok.usate.ok.us to express your opinion on this matter.

Great suggestion! Everybody should do it!

[ImaVeteran]

Red Bull should be prohibited from any cops diet.

[nubret2008]

lol 'cocaine in a can'

[ImaVeteran]

I agree that cops should be in horror at this type of behavior. Oh, leme see,
the blue line code hmmmm.
Obviously cops really don't care about their reputation, or they would speak on this fiasco.

[RedneckDem]

In this sue happy society, apologizing or any attempt at reconcilliation shows admittance of guilt in a court of law, so they keep their mouths shut and look even worse. Sad, but true...

[ImaVeteran]

A lot of cops have the attitude "I'm a cop how dare you question me."
This dude should have been shown the door minutes after this senseless altercation. Period.

[rwt1138]

"A lot of cops"???

Are you implying there are some that don't?

[UnbiasedinSWPA]

Just when you think you've seen it all. How will these cops justify their actions, especially when there was a patient in that ambulance who obviously needed some type of medical care, otherwise she wouldn't have been enroute to the hospital.

I am so glad somebody had the 'good sense' to get it on tape. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

And then they wonder why so many people don't trust or respect police. It only takes a few (although I suspect there are more than a few) to ruin it for the 'good ones'.

[fashiongirl26]

The incident happened in Paden not Tulsa. The report come from the Tulsa World newspaper.

[Glowcy]

.
Why did the policeman have his hands around the black man's throat as other officers surrounded the two of them?

.

[LITU]

Cops and robbers - who can tell the difference?

[BDAinVA]

The policeman should have been immediately fired. I doubt that will happen though. Usually, in these cases (and there have been a lot), a whole bunch of police apologists will jump out to defend the guy's actions and then it all gets swept under the rug.

[Propaghandi]

Post-racial America indeed!

[4real]

really.

[prfktstrngr527]

Wow...just­...Wow! If I didn't see it I would not have believed it. I seriously thought we had come further than this as a country. First the Caucasion EMT (Franks) was the driver that did not yeild (says so in the article). The officer was definitely on an EGO trip, he first radioed into the ambulance to make a snide comment. Seeing the driver through up his hand, or whaterver reason, after paasing them, he doubles back around because "I'll show you." What baffles me though is that in all of that anger her is seen explaining nice and calmlly what his beef was and then for SOME reason decides that he wants to arrest the black NON driving EMT (White). Anybody can say what they want but this iss clearly racism caught on film.

[1differentdrummer]

Tulsa, OK, the site of one of the worst race riots in our history. Check out how the entire black middle class was driven out by white mobs with killing and burning. An OK state patrolman manhandles a black paramedic? What would you expect in OK?

[Smurfaveli]

Was this when government military force was used to destroy "Black Wall Street"? I gotta go back and review that event.

[lynnn]

Oh and it was the worst race riot in our history btw.

[scottymac11]

Yes but the riot was conducted against the prosporous African American population.
Instead of municiple protection. the riot was participated in by all government levels up to federal troops and bombing runs.

[Jesse Lucious]

Read this Bullshit pulled from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Welcome to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was legislatively created in 1937 due to the growing problem of motor vehicle accidents, the expansion of a highway system, and the increase in criminal activities. Today, we are comprised of highly trained and motivated sworn troopers and civilian personnel who are dedicated to serve the citizens of Oklahoma.

As the principal statewide law enforcement agency in Oklahoma, the State Patrol is dedicated to providing quality policing directed at achieving safer roadways and reducing crime through pro-active investigations, education and patrol services and by providing leadership and resources during natural disasters, civil disorders and critical incidents.

I hope you will take the time and review the professional services and opportunities we provide to the citizens of the Great State of Oklahoma. If the Oklahoma Highway Patrol can ever be of service to you, please let me know.

Colonel Van M. Guillotte

Chief of the Patrol



MISSION STATEMENT AND CORE VALUES

The mission statement of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol:

Working to provide a safe, secure environment for the public through courteous, quality and professional services.

To accomplish our mission and provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of Oklahoma, and to assist governmental agencies during emergencies when requested, 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

[BBC9nch]

Cops should be the most outspoken against this behavior, unfortunately it's a stain on the entire profession when this happens. Even Oklahoma is taking some hard hits on this one. Most cops are professionals but there are a few who cross the line and those are the ones who get the attention not the guy who puts his life on the line every day for below average pay.

[LITU]

I beg to differ with one aspect of your comment. These "professionals" CHOOSE the occupation. They put their life on the line, so to speak, because it suits their personality type, knowing full well the ramifications.

[BBC9nch]

I get your point, but you sound like you dislike cops in general. Remember without police we would have total anarchy. I'm not sure what you mean by it suits their personality type. Some people become police officers because they need a job, period!

[lynnn]

Very true.

[pragmaticdallasite]

"below average pay"???? What average? Unfortunately because private industry middle class wages have remained stagnant for 30 years, teachers and police and fire now make above average salaries. I'm tired of hearing this myth about teacher and police pay. As a recent college grad in finance with many friends fresh to the job market (last 2yrs), believe me when I tell you this.

[jimthefireman]

There is a context to this story. As I understand it, the Police officers were responding to assist other officers and felt that the Ambulance driver (who apparently didn't see the Police car behind) failed to "check his mirrors" or pull over. It seems common ground that there was a female civilian in the Police car and the cop may have felt his machismo was threatened. A radio message was sent to the Ambulance and the (white) driver says he "threw up his hands in surprise" with the officer maintaining the driver gave the officer the finger as the car passed the Ambulance.
The Police car apparently found out it was not needed at the other call and came back to find the Ambulance, pull it over and threaten the (black) Paramedic who emerged from where he was caring for the patient in the rear. Regardless of the before and after some things are a given. Ambulances responding to emergencies or taking patients to hospital should not be stopped by police unless there is immediate threat to life. Police Officers should calm situations not escalate them. A Police department displayed on video around the world behaving badly should have the good sense to suspend the Officers pending an investigation unless they want a PR disaster! Videos speak for themselves and this one said nothing good about OK DPS.

[Glowcy]

.
Context, jimthefireman? The police could have followed the ambulance to the hospital drop-off, let the EMTs make their report AND then interview the EMTs for whatever law they broke enroute to the hospital.

Context, yeah, right.
.

[jimthefireman]

Glowcy I am pleased you seem to be as upset about this as I am. I hope your obvious anger spurs you to write to the Governor (as I did) to complain that the officers involved have not been suspended while this is investigated.
It appears the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Department of Public Safety websites have been disabled, but you might try writing or phoning them to complain also.
Finally there is nothing wrong with knowing exactly what happened. What was the woman doing in the Police car and was the cop simply showing off to her?
It makes a difference in my mind at least that it appears it was the (white) driver of the ambulance that the police had the initial beef with, and it is to their credit that they finally realised that the Ambulance should continue to the hospital.
Having read the formal statement made by both EMTs I believe that the Officers concerned should be charged with delaying the Ambulance, assaulting the EMT and dangerous driving for approaching to within three feet of the ambulance without their siren on in the action which sparked the initial complaint.
Sadly the Oklahoma DPS show no sign of seeing anything wrong with this Keystone Cops performance. If the public see it otherwise, they need to tell the man in charge!