Tenn. policeman suspended after Wal-Mart assault (greeter asked to see his sales receipt)

[The Straight Story]

Tenn. policeman suspended after Wal-Mart assault

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A Chattanooga detective accused of assaulting an elderly Wal-Mart greeter who asked to see his sales receipt has been suspended from duty.

Police Chief Freeman Cooper told the Chattanooga Times Free Press that following a disciplinary hearing officer Kenneth Freeman was suspended 28 days without pay for conduct unbecoming an officer, improper procedure and excessive use of force.

The chief said Freeman must also be retrained in the department's use of force policy and take an anger management course.

Freeman was accused of pushing the 71-year-old Wal-Mart greeter in December. The greeter had touched the off-duty officer's arm while asking if he could see Freeman's receipt as he left the store. The greeter fell and received a scratch on his right elbow.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28912577/

[Radical Activist]

1. wtf

no charges filed. why the hell not?

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I can beat that

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4960631

[Squatch]

3. A little excessive on the policeman's part, but getting asked for a receipt while leaving

the store pisses me off to no end. In most cases, the greeter actually sees you walking from the register where you just bought the goods. It makes me feel like a crook, and it's not just Wally World...Costco, Best Buy, etc do the same.

I simply refuse to show my receipt and leave the store, usually much to the displeasure of the greeter and store management.

[The Straight Story]

4. Start asking to see all their licenses to do business when they do

ought to keep em busy for a spell :)

[Muttocracy]

7. I hate that at Best Buy

They don't greet you, they look you up and down on the way in and scream "hello" at you trying to get you to turn toward them (is there a camera behind them or something?)

On a very slow night there, the person at the door watched me wait in the regular line, have to go to the customer service desk, and then head out the store. Grabbed my receipt and scribbled all over it (a pain because it was a purchase for work so I need to submit the receipt). She saw me pay for the damn item - and it was big enough I couldn't shoplift anything while carrying it!

Sigh.

[MadBadger]

8. A little excessive?

Would stabbing the old man be considered then plain old excessive in your book?

[Squatch]

9. Cool your jets, hero

Whether you think it was very or a little excessive, the cop's actions were excessive.

So, you can take your attempt at flaming me elsewhere.

[BlooInBloo]

5. One less domestic terrorist on our streets.

[Oregone]

6. What people don't understand about some Wal-Mart greeters...

They don't need money, and its a social thing. My grandfather did it. But they are also treated like shit, and charged, literally, with the task of stopping shoplifting (though they are not trained and physically able to do so). They are just old people trying to fill a void in their lives who are being misused tools of some stupid larger corporation. You know, if they fail to check or intervene they will be reprimanded and verbally abused.

[Beaverhausen]

10. not true in all cases. My boyfriend's father did it because it was the only job he could find

he was 75 and had no retirement and very little SS money coming in. And yes, he was treated like shit...worked overtime for no pay, etc.