At this point, you have probably seen the disturbing video of Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats being delayed from seeing his dying relative. At first, it seemed like everyone was shocked about Dallas police officer Robert Powell's behavior, except the officer himself. Initial media reports indicated that Powell told his supervisors that he did nothing wrong during his traffic stop of Moats and his family outside of a Dallas emergency room. Powell's lawyer claims that those reports aren't true, and Powell has issued an apology (in part).
After stopping Mr. Moats' vehicle, I showed poor judgment and insensitivity to Mr. Moats and his family by my words and actions. With great remorse I accept my responsibility for adding to their grief in an already difficult time.So I guess everyone agrees that Powell showed poor judgment that night, including Powell. It's good to see his apology, because one of the more disturbing parts of this story were the reports of the officer's defense of his actions.
The report says that this situation was so controversial that the neighboring Plano Police Department issued a statement absolving themselves of blame, saying the incident involved the Dallas PD and not them.
Someone sharing the same name as the officer even had to put a note on his Facebook page explaining that he was not same Robert Powell. I've been told, however, that this is the officer's real MySpace page. If this is his page, I'd advise him to take down that picture of the arm with the police shield tattoo, because it is a little unseemly and embarrassing. If you are involved in any high profile incident, you're better off taking down your page. A previous status message found on the page attributed to Powell read:
Blessed With Two Beautiful Children All I can do is HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH n wait for this to blow over.Thanks to everyone that standing behind me n helping me get through this.Love U Honey!!!!Ultimately, this is not just a news story in which everyone has a viewpoint to debate, but rather a terrible time in a family's life (and now two, if you include Powell's). If you care to send condolences to the Moats family, a page has been set up over at the Houston Chronicle website for this purpose.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-29-2009 @ 12:30PM
lrpatton said...
UPDATE:: Apparently, this isn't the first time this officer has been a goofball'
http://lewp.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/the-same-dallas-police-officer-mistreated-zach-thomas-wife/
Reply
3-29-2009 @ 12:43PM
gsanchez189 said...
Personally, I would not take it as a apology because it's a loved one who is dying in the hospital and I want to see that loved one and he wants to make it a big deal just for passing the red light while he was doing his job, I would say he would take away that moment and basically do anything stupid.
3-29-2009 @ 1:13PM
taildog11 said...
just another probably high school educated power hungry fool. look at the my space page...this fool craves power
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 2:43AM
jspratts0323 said...
YOU ARE VERY IGNORANT SO GO TO BED......
3-29-2009 @ 2:31PM
Robin said...
Too late for an apology - Moats never got to say goodbye to his mother-in-law. You can't bring that back. Listening to the tape the hospital personnel told the cop what was going on. He still took his time issuing a ticket. Powell's behavior is unacceptable and he should not be allowed to work around people or animals. I am not one for suing, but I hope Moats takes it to that level. I would love to be on the jury! I wonder what would have happened if Moats went straight into the hospital with his wife.
Reply
3-29-2009 @ 3:00PM
lazyindiankid4 said...
agreed with you Robin. This officer is just a lunitic with no feelings. Its too late for an apology, i think Moats should sue this officer and hopefully we wont have a dum officer like this ever again.
3-29-2009 @ 4:52PM
jspratts0323 said...
Good advice from his lawyer to say sorry for now, so these ppl could stop with there non sense, don't worry officer POWELL everything will be o.k., you just cooperate for now so this could boil down, we as the ppl who support the police system know you did nothing wrong, but we need to satisfy the people because they are being immature at the moment.........
Reply
3-29-2009 @ 6:39PM
scramasax said...
Give some guys a fur coat and they think they're "King Kong". I was a Police Officer for 23 years and have seen some people who wear a Badge and think they are Gestapo. Certain people should never become Officers because it goes completely to their heads. Last time I checked the motto was "Protect and Serve" not "Provoke and Threaten".
Reply
3-29-2009 @ 10:21PM
RW said...
You see it's stuff like this that give police officers a bad rap, people like him are what people see as the prototype/stereotype for a man of the law and that's really not how it is. There are tons of police officers who do their job and serve their country in a constitutional manner, but I don't know how this man even made it out of the police academy with such superiority complex. This thing above me needs a clue, you assume because he is dying to see a dying relative that he is a criminal? Geez the people with computers these days let have a keyboard and they think they're king of the internet.
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 12:43AM
jspratts0323 said...
THAT'S WHY COPS WILL DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO STOP JERKS LIKE HIM AND YOU SO THIS INCIDENT WON'T STOP THE OTHER STRONG OFFICERS OUT THERE,WHO DO THE SAME THING STOPPING CRIMINALS LIKE YOUR SO CALLED FRIEND SO HAVE FUN TALKING BECAUSE THIS WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING YOU FOOL, SO GO AND GET A LIFE...............
3-29-2009 @ 11:16PM
RW said...
haha a little sensitive eh there buddy? If I didn't know any better I'd say you love the guy the way you valiantly stand up for his lack there of character lol. Look kid I'll cut you a break since I know you're just tired and you need you 9.5 hrs of sleep at this point. If this officer is so great and did his job the way you say he did, why is he suspended, why are they not giving him a paid leave, why is it in a negative spotlight no the news, how come you're defending him, why is no one else on the board backing you up on this? Now you see if you COULD give me a respectable answer for any of those questions then hey I may back off, but your bias insensitive, moronic views on the subject are just too easy for me to laugh at and counter. This is something I'd expect out of an uneducated 3rd grader not a teenager like yourself. And eh swami can you read the future for the rest of us too? I'll give ya a shiny penny haha get out of here with that insolent comeback I deal with betters tuff from my younger sister.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 11:26PM
jeanahuncain said...
Police have to protect themselves. How did he know that the person in the car was telling the truth. For all he knew the people in the car could have been involved in a drive by shooting. People do lie to the police. It's very easy to make fun of them or try to say what he did was wrong. The officer is supposed to have control of a traffic stop. People left the car against his commands. If you are involved in a similar situation. Try talking to the officer in a calm rational way and you might get a different result. How many officers just died in Oakland, Ca. They are hero's that constantly take crap from idiots like YOU!!!!!!!!
3-30-2009 @ 7:46PM
dani said...
I just watched the interview with Mr. Moats and his lovely wife. They are the kindest, Christian, couple I have seen in a long time. They are both so sincere. If the world had more people like these two it would be a much better place!
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 8:41PM
jumbolooney said...
fire the cop, the cops these days think they are better then everyone else. also that they are ALWAYS in the right... HA surprise there NOT... look at this cop... there ARE not always right
Reply
3-30-2009 @ 9:35PM
bakerhubk971 said...
most officers are decent then you get an idot
Reply
3-31-2009 @ 12:53AM
thebrain86 said...
if this is someone who took an oath to serve and protect, he should be fired. clearly, he is not doing his job. he is just another power hungry cop who treats people like crap b/c the gun in his sling is bigger than the one in his pants. he is abusing his authority to enforce the law. it must be taken away from him. he should remember that karma is a big *itch...
Reply
3-31-2009 @ 1:46AM
ktbrk37 said...
WOW!!!!
I can't believe that this man is'nt fired!!!.
Why the leave with pay? The tapes clearly show's he's a white hick with a beer belly larger than his d...!and brains... Most of you are right about him,but I have lived in Texas and Oklahoma even down south. Most white cops have the bad rip because they are just lilke this guy!!!!
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 8:17AM
Vince said...
I support this officer 100 percent what if Moats had killed someone because he decided that getting to his dieing mother in law was more important than the safety of everyone else and the law. The officer did everything by the book was he nice about it no but his job doesn't say he has to be nice about it. If you break a law you have to be held responsible for it he should not be apologizing.
Reply
4-01-2009 @ 8:21AM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Vince,
By all accounts of the incident, Moats did not drive in a reckless way. He had his flashers on, did not drive at a high rate of speed and stopped at red lights before being motioned to go through the light.
The police officer is apologizing because he recognizes he used poor judgment delaying the family from visiting their dying relative. It is not wrong that he pulled them over. It was wrong for him to threaten to jail a guy who was obviously in distress and just wanted to get the ticket and go.
-Steph
4-01-2009 @ 8:37AM
greeneyeddancer1 said...
of course he is going to apologize..it sure beats a law suit..the judge is no dummy....drop the ticket,have the officer apologize,offer condolences....the whole thing may be dropped...otherwise this guy sees a lawsuit hires an attorney.. and blows the whole thing up.
of course the officer is gonna apologize...lol if the ticket stands ..then an attorney is hired and the police dept gets sued..which makes more sense to you?
Reply