Cops who fled Katrina fight punishment

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=12350255b190185d&cat=a1e025da3c02ca7c



NEW ORLEANS, LA, United States (UPI) -- Civil service hearings are expected to be held through May in New Orleans for police officers punished for leaving their posts during Hurricane Katrina.

Of the 236 officers who were fired, suspended or demoted, 118 are fighting their punishment, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Sunday.

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In the chaos how can they condemn these people... Where was Bush??? in his nice office airconditioned partying...

But I ask myselfs why tried to get hired back ???

[paul_fromatlanta]

1. Well, I can see not putting them in prison..but letting them be cops again

No way.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Do you know that not a single firefighter walked away from his or her duty

If the firefighters could stay and do their job AND MORE, why the hell couldn't the cops?

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[951-Riverside]

4. How do you know that McCall?

Links or documents would do nicely

[951-Riverside]

3. They deserve their jobs back

Nagin, Blanco & the rest were worried about LOOTING not saving lives I wouldnt work under those conditions either also if the preppie white kids at FEMA couldnt help what the hell could these officers do?

DROWN???

Whoever fired them is an asshole.

[Mandate My Ass]

16. They could have evacuated prisoners

before they drowned. Hundreds were left in holding cells to drown and those who didn't were left there without food or water for 4-5 days. They were chest deep in sewage as the toilets backed up. The ones who got out and captured were kept on a bridge for days without food or water and had to remain seated and urinate and defecate on themselves. Then they were rounded up and kept in an open field where food was thrown over a fence at them.

http://www.alternet.org/katrina/26073/

[bluestateguy]

5. They should have to have a very good reason for deserting their posts

Like a family member was in a life-threatening situation. Otherwise, they should be heave-hoed. Let them do private security for shopping malls for a few years.

[pitohui]

6. don't forget to k and r on your way out

if you feel the topic deserves more visibility, kick and recommend

[Old Vet]

7. Yes, Firemen did flee also-

I deployed 3 times for the red cross to new orleans, I was fed in establishments where only cops and firemen were allowed. And being a father of three, I would of ran to hell and back to save my family. These people had to make decisions I would never want to make, Leaving dying and helpless people to save there own families. Many didnt make it, The saddest and most humbling time of my life.

[Igel]

8. They were hired knowing they could be called upon

to risk their lives. They should have sent their families away and stayed; then as the legally obligated first responders in a crisis they could have tried to rescue people, keep order in the Superdome, etc.

Or, they should say that they value their families or selves over their obligations, and resign. As it is, they want both: They want rights without the obligation they voluntarily agreed to. Loss of the job may well hurt their families: an unintended consequence, but then again, they're playing it by ear. While they may be able to claim weakness, but then they can take responsibility for their actions. They can reclaim at least a little of their dignity that way.

Perhaps their replacements will consider what their employment obligations are before agreeing to them.

[jarab]

9. In total agreement ....

The worst case scenario would have been to secure their families away from harm ... and then return to their jobs.
...O...

[lovuian]

17. Legally obligated first responders???

thats a new term

where does that come from???

And firemen at 9/11 were first responders and died unnecessarily...

When these people run away do we shoot them for desertion???

[Marie26]

10. They let their city down

& they shouldn't be cops again if they fled when so many people needed them.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

11. I'd wonder what everyone one here would

do if they were in the shoes of these officers? I mean I know what I would do if I like had a family and I had young kids that are scared shitless over what is going on in New Orleans, I'd just quit my positiion as an officer and take care of my family. Afterwards I wouldn't go asking for my job back and expecting to have one be taken back.

[Bushies gotta go]

13. Since you are wondering...

I'll tell you what I would have done.

First, the storm was no surprise. Especially for emergency service workers like police and fire. While the average citizen may have had apathy for the approaching storm, city workers were probably well aware of the risks. So cops (firemen, etc) would typically be bright enough and have the information needed to decide that it would be best to secure their families prior to the storm and then fulfill their work schedule.

Sending your family out of town prior to going to work the approaching storm does not require you escort them. You send them on their way and go do what you are paid to do. That is the life of a first responder (cop, fireman, etc.) and they know it.

So, as a retired cop, here's what I would have done. The same thing I did throughout my career: be prepared to lay down my life for the citizen. That is what I got paid to do and that is what I understood the job to be about. I would never have left.

[Bushies gotta go]

12. Each case needs to be judged on its own merits

There may be good reasons for desertion. I've heard many were off duty, not in the city or on duty and were actually forced to evacuate with their families. I've heard some attempted to return and were unable to get into the city.

I've also heard some were on duty and stole police cars to flee. Houston PD ended uo with a storage yard full of NOPD police cars that were simply driven out by officers leaving their posts.

I know of at least one that showed up on an evacuee bus in Dallas and was caught by police there, disarmed and de-badged (on orders from NOPD).

So each case is different and needs to be judged. Bottom line, though, these guys are paid to be the first responders, the rescuers, the ones to help those in trouble. In my opinion, you do not desert your post. And if you do so in order to save your life, you turn around and return to where you work as soon as the immediate peril is over. You don't get caught on a bus 700 miles away trying to get into a homeless shelter 6 days after the storm has passed.

[Kailassa]

14. I'm more interested in seeing those who acted as heros

being rewarded. Not so much for their own sakes, but to show society how some people manage to give so much and take risks to help others.

As for any that left their posts, I don't believe anyone who was not actually there should even think about passing judgment on the people involved.

[DUHandle]

15. I’m more interested in seeing those nice white people

Who blocked people trying to cross a bridge into their all-white community get …..