If a cop threatened to shoot Laura Bush, HE WOULD NOT BE "assigned to administrative duties."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Just one more slap in the face for the Obamas.

Report: D.C. cop allegedly threatens to shoot Michelle Obama

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/07/report-dc-cop-allegedly-threatens-to-shoot-michelle-obama/1



A motorcycle escort for White House officials is being investigated for allegedly telling other officers he would shoot Michelle Obama, The Washington Post reports.

Citing "several police officials," the Post says the unidentified District of Columbia officer made the comments Wednesday morning while he and officers from the Special Operations Division discussed threats against the Obamas.

The officer allegedly said "he would shoot the First Lady and then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm he said he would use. It was not immediately clear what type of firearm was allegedly shown," the Post writes.

An officer who overheard the comment reported it to a supervisor, who notified superiors. The officer who made the alleged threat was reassigned immediately to administrative duties, police officials told the paper.

[bigtree]

1. I hope there's going to be an investigation beyond this officer

. . . one that includes his friends and work associates. Who knew what, when?

[randome]

2. Who cares what Republicans would do?

Was it a credible threat? Probably not, just some fool shooting his mouth off.

[LaurenG]

4. You better care what r's are doing They'll sneak up and turn your world

upside down if you're not careful. As far as this story, the cop, a man sworn to protect and uphold the law is threatening to kill the first lady. It's time people were held accountable for their words.

[azureblue]

35. they already are

from Bush's lies that begat the war on Iraq, to Cheney's treason by outing a CIA agent, to voter fraud all over the country, and now this - a cop threatening to shoot the first lady, and he is not in jail over it - you bet big time the Repubs are getting away with it. The question is how do we stop it and how to do we make our law enforcement and AG's actually enforce the law against these people, instead of soft pedaling the crime?

[Brigid]

5. I wouldn't count on that.

And even if it is, just making such threats is illegal in itself.

[robinlynne]

7. a motorcycleescort for the white house does not make threats against the first lady. some fool?

[randome]

9. He was shooting his mouth off to some other officers.

I wouldn't consider it a credible threat to show someone a picture of the gun I would use. That's just imbecilic behavior.

Assassins don't shoot their mouths off like that. This guy's career should be over, I'd be in favor of that. A police officer should know how to do his damned job.

[LaurenG]

10. That isn't the point

It might be just shooting one's mounth off if it were Joe Blow but this is a peace officer and they should be held to higher standards then those they get to arrest.

[randome]

11. Agree with you.

I'm just saying we don't know why he wasn't arrested and was, instead, given administrative duties. I think he should at least lose his job because he clearly isn't living up to those standards you mention.

[LaurenG]

12. Cool - nt

[azureblue]

36. Try "shooting your mouth off"

about the same thing, or joking about blowing up a plane at an airport and see where that gets you. Jail is where it will get you. Why is this cop getting the kid gloves?

[progressivebydesign]

24. and men don't snap and shoot up their offices and kill their co-workers, either, right?

And people don't kill their entire families, right? And guys don't show up at a grocery store and murder several people while trying to kill a Congresswoman, right? Usually people like that don't just "snap" actually, they give clues, and signs.

His comments, and showing a pic of the weapon to his colleagues.. well.. there's your sign.

You have to understand, this wasn't some yahoo throwing beer cans at the TV. that guy has complete access to the First Lady through his job. After all of the senseless murder suicides, and office masacres, you think that this is just some guy shooting his mouth off?

A police officer, well respected, in my area shot his in laws in front of his kids, then killed himself. Another shot his estranged wife in front of his kids, and then himself. I will never underestimate the chances of these things becoming real.

He should have been removed completely and forced to undergo extensive evaluations, and then charged with the threat. If the angry old men who mail threatening letters to politicians are charged, then he should be no different.

[randome]

26. Point taken.

[classof56]

30. Well said, and I agree. He does not deserve to remain in law enforcement.

Trouble is, he's probably now become a hero to far too many people.

[LaurenG]

3. I can't argue that. This was a creeptacular story. nt

[backtoblue]

8. He should've been fired, not reassigned.

At the least he should have been put on leave pending any investigation. How the hell are they supposed to protect the pres/first lady making treasonous comments like that?

[Lurks Often]

13. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Since the investigation has not even been completed, suspending him without pay would be wrong, so putting him on administrative duty while he is being investigated (which is pretty much standard procedure) keeps him off the streets, allows the department to get some use out of him and doesn't punish him, while they complete the investigation.


If he is found guilty he should be fired, lose all benefits and pensions and spend time in jail.

[Curtland1015]

15. Yeah, this.

If he indeed said anything like he's been accused of, fire his ass.

But they can't and shouldn't fire the guy until they know the facts.

[TheMadMonk]

34. Life in receivership and wages to an interest bearing account.

Pending investigation. He's guilty, he loses it. He's medicalled (psych) out, or simply a giant douche he gets his money and a golden handshake.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. To repeat what I said in the original post:

If this happened during Bush / Cheney, this guy would not have been placed on desk duty.

My post isn't about what's right or wrong.

I'm saying that if this cop made these remarks about Laura Bush under Bush / Cheney, he wouldn't have been assigned to desk duty.

I have no problem with your challenging that assertion...it's my opinion, and I'm not seeking agreement.

I didn't even speculate regarding his guilt or innocence. I didn't call for his termination.

I'm saying that if this cop made these remarks about Laura Bush under Bush / Cheney, he wouldn't have been assigned to desk duty.

So if you want to challenge that specific remark, go right ahead. But what I'm getting from your post is a response to comments I did not make.

Of course, if you can find the place in my original post where I DID call for him to be fired, or where I DID say that he is "guilty," please...for my edification as well as anyone else reading this...copy and paste my exact remarks and I will stand corrected.

[Lurks Often]

23. Fair enough

I read your post in a way that you did not intend.

I also disagree, I think the PD and the Secret Service would be doing exactly the same thing: The PD places the officer on administrative duty while the investigation proceeds.

[heaven05]

21. yeah right

if it had been the wife of ANY other president, that cop would be finished as of yesterday. give me a break.

[n2doc]

27. any other REPUBLICAN president

I'm sure threats to Hillary (and maybe Mrs. Carter) would get the same response as this one.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

32. Under Bush / Cheney, this guy would have been treated like the underwear bomber

EVERYONE in the United States during Bush / Cheney was a "terror suspect" EXCEPT for members of the Bush & Cheney families.

This guy would have gotten the bum's rush / fast track to the unemployment line.

And you're right. If it were the Clintons, it would be the same story as the Obamas.

[azureblue]

37. and the guy's house torn apart

They would tear apart the guy's house, confiscate all his vehicles for evidence, haul in every member of his family, from the baby to the grandparents, hauled off and questioned, bank accounts frozen, Cell phone records studied, every person who he talked to in the past three years located and questioned and the cop thrown into solitary and charged with everything from threats to treason to littering..

It it happened to a Repub President. But for President Obama? Desk duty? This is beyond sick, this is unbelievable that the law enforcement and AG's are letting this guy get away with it. Remember when people were beaten and jailed for wearing a T shirt to a Bush event?

[Lurks Often]

44. Without an investigation?

When they investigate the officer and if they find the allegations to be true, then I am all in favor of the officer being fired, losing ALL of his benefits and spending time in jail.

[90-percent]

43. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Uh, 9-11 changed everything.

We can't allow antiquated and obsolete concepts like habeus corpus to get in the way of protecting Americans from terrorists.

Relax. Our authorities are all wise enough to know who should be taken out for their future potential to commit crimes. Our new doctrine of pre-emption is worth tossing a few more of our Constitutional Rights to keep us safe from evil-doers.

Hopefully evil doers such as this one bad apple will get a face full of U.S. government piloted drone strikes right in the kisser. I demand my government obliterate all potential evil doers lurking on American soil! I pay taxes to keep us safe, goddammit!

-90% Jimmy

[Orrex]

14. If an officer had threatened Laura Bush, she'd have run him over with her car

[kimbutgar]

16. ohhhh

[truebrit71]

19. Bazinga!!

[GoCubsGo]

25. Or, he would have "committed suicide".

[caseymoz]

18. Believe me, he won't get away with it.

Right now, I think the supervisors are in shock and wondering how heavy the punishment will be and if the union will go along with punishment. I know the union should be out of the loop, but that's not how the supervisors might think. They'll also be talking with the federal prosecutor.

They'll drag their feet, but this guy will likely lose his job and be indicted.

[sammytko]

28. Isn't this a good way to keep on eye on him also?

For the time being of course.

[rurallib]

20. this is so sad and

there is no doubt a large corner of this country that will be cheering for him.

[NOLALady]

22. I find it amazing

that he felt comfortable discussing this with other officers. Possibly, this wasn't the first such discussion.

[magical thyme]

29. pending investigation. would you like to be fired if a nasty co-worker made up a story about you?

Not saying that's what happened here, but re-assignment pending investigation is normal. You don't automatically fire somebody based on somebody else's claim.

You investigate, you try to find out what really happened.

And then the head(s) roll.

And from what I read, there were multiple people involved in the alleged conversation. Only one of them was overheard. Who else was part of the conversation? And why did they not report him as a group? What made him think he could say such a thing to a group of people and get away with it?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

31. I'm not typing this a second time

Jesus H FUCK, PLEASE read my original post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=941190

[emilyg]

33. Let's hang the cop - before

investigation is complete.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

38. I'm not responding to this horseshit any more.

Show me where the fuck I said "Let's hang the cop - before investigation is complete."

Go back to my original fucking post and copy and paste it.

I'm WAITING.

[emilyg]

40. This was not

directed at you - so keep waiting.

[librechik]

39. unbelevable--he should be suspended at the very least

if not jailed for death threats. How much more backward can we bend to accommodate the tender feelings of the right?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

42. You're probably right

And by the same token, many people hear would be screaming to the rooftops about due process and how wrong it is to punish someone without an investigation.

Hypocrisy abounds on both sides of the aisle.