Paperjunkie#1, (6/16/2009 9:24:26 AM)

Sick em O'Carroll!

Carl, Henryetta (6/16/2009 9:25:45 AM)

Instead of coming out with the fantasy story that the Trooper was the victim, if Jabba the Hut James had simply said: "My client, Trooper Martin, regrets the incident and apologizes for his idiocy", I think this might've blown over.

Now, it looks like the gloves are off and if NATIONAL and LOCAL opinion is an accurate predictor of the outcome, Bully Boy Martin can kiss his law enforcement career goodbye.

SHouldn't have done what he did AND should've owned up to it like the big boy he's NOT.

Ric, Broken Arrow (6/16/2009 9:31:15 AM)

The media is just not going to let this go.

Obviously there were mistakes made on both sides.

Ambulance should have had lights on, trooper could have been calmer (but as mentioned there was a primary scuffle not on camera), EMT should have stayed in the vehicle with the patient and not have resisted arrest, trooper could have followed them to the hospital. (The hand gesture is not on camera as well)

So, let's just dismiss all three, will that make everybody happy?

T.B'Ville, Bartlesville (6/16/2009 9:31:44 AM)

All of them need to shut up and move on.

Popeye, T-Town (6/16/2009 9:36:46 AM)

It takes two to tango...

QLC, (6/16/2009 9:36:58 AM)

And the ambulance should have had their lights on if they want immunity from traffic laws.

What the ?, Tulsa (6/16/2009 9:38:44 AM)

Correct post T.B'ville!

Check It out, Tulsa (6/16/2009 9:40:49 AM)

The trooper cannot be fired until the threat of litigation is past. The State would be liable for any and all punitive damage awards so for now they have to maintain their employee's innocence in order to mitigate damages. I predict a quick resignation after all the cases have been settled. I would be willing to bet that the Trooper has already agreed to this as a way of avoiding criminal prosecution.

okierose, Glenpool (6/16/2009 9:42:32 AM)

QLC, (6/16/2009 9:36:58 AM)
'And the ambulance should have had their lights on if they want immunity from traffic laws.'

and Ric

It seems as if you two, and others, did not listen to the EMT's explanation of why the lights and siren were not on. And, if you are not paramedics how would you know the correct protocal for running 'hot', as they say.

Shooter, Tulsa (6/16/2009 9:43:02 AM)

At first I was on EMT's side, however if he was so concerned about his patient why did he get out of the van to fight with the Trooper instead of staying with his patient. Dont get me wrong this Trooper didnt handle the situation like a true professional would but I think the EMT is trying to get some sort of settlement, but going on national T.V. with his sob story. Get over it and move on, this makes all of Oklahomas emergency personell look bad, on a national scale.

Better Than, (6/16/2009 9:44:04 AM)

I agree with Check it out. He's outta there.

Popeye, T-Town (6/16/2009 9:45:21 AM)

okierose... This was a cornucopia of bad decisions and stupid actions. Nobody is innocent in this embarrasing melee, and the onus of ignorance shines on all of Oklahoma.

Shooter, Tulsa (6/16/2009 9:46:02 AM)

Check it out
The D.A. for that county has already refuse to file charges. I dont think they can tell him to resign or face criminal charges when the D.A. has already refused to file charges.

Darockwilder, Tulsa (6/16/2009 9:49:47 AM)

Both of there lawyers are idiots in the first place maybe the paramedic should have clam downed a little bit hes helping a victim instead of them fighting they should do there job which is to protect and serve but the troopers with there power trip had to be hard @ss's I think they should both be blamed for not doing there jobs and fighting with each other

God Bless our Troops, Small town (6/16/2009 9:50:49 AM)

It is the paramedics decision to run with the lights and sirens on. It is not required. Also the paramedic was in charge of the rig, THAT is why he got out. I would have done the same thing. An ambulance driver is nothing more than that, a driver, has no EMT training. The paramedic, who is in charge of the whole rig, is responsible for that patient and is responsible for getting them to the hospital, the driver just follows orders.

Carl, Henryetta (6/16/2009 9:50:55 AM)

Lights and sirens do NOT confer a shield of invulnerability, either from physical danger NOR from most traffic laws.

Example: Martin had no authority to blow through the stop sign nor SPEED through the school zone nor residential neighborhood while he was HUNTING DOWN the ambulance.

Did you HEAR his engine whining as he UNLAWFULLY sped to catch up with the ambulance? A high speed pursuit to issue a MISDEMEANOR traffic ticket? COme on.

Little man with a badge and gun syndrome through and through.

The DA got it 100% accurately when he said that the Trooper was INAPPROPRIATE FROM THE ONSET and that his behavior was UNACCEPTABLE.

This isn't from either guy's paid attorney, this is from the DA - the lawyer who represents the STATE>

Yes, that's right, the STATE'S OWN LAWYER said Martin was innappropriate but made no such comment regarding White.

I wish that the trooper's speedometer reading was displayed on the dashcam.

Everyone is making a big deal that the ambulance didn't have lights and sirens - but in a well-equipped ambulance with a certified PARAMEDIC on board, the lights and sirens are RARELY necessary. On the other hand, the trooper SPEEDING with lights and sirens to "assist" with a stolen vehicle REPORT seems a little "overenthusiastic" ---- perhaps putting on a display of manhood for the wifey in the passenger seat?

Carl, Henryetta (6/16/2009 9:51:47 AM)

Let's hear the tape that dispatches the trooper to the stolen vehicle "emergency", please.

Hijinx, (6/16/2009 9:55:52 AM)

As for the flipping him the bird as any kind of justification for his actions, take the Duran v. City of Douglas, Arizona, for instance.

Police officers made a vehicle stop and arrested the passenger, Ralph Duran, after he made an obscene hand gesture and yelled profanities at them. Duran sued and was awarded summary judgment against the city and the officers for violation of his First Amendment rights.

Citing the ruling in Houston v. Hill, the federal appeals court said the following: "We cannot, of course, condone Duran's conduct; it was boorish, crass and unjustified. Our hard-working law enforcement officers surely deserve better treatment from members of the public. But disgraceful as Duran's behavior may have been, it was not illegal; criticism of the police is not a crime.

LocalBoy, B.A. (6/16/2009 10:13:32 AM)

The ambulance crew and EMT did NOTHING wrong from beginning to end EXCEPT they never should have stopped for the trooper before they got to the hospital.

All of this noise about the ambulance not running with lights and siren is just that, noise. They are not required to run lights and siren. All that matters is that they had a patient in transport.

Anyone that thinks the ambulance did not yield quickly enough needs to watch the video closely and think about how big, heavy, cumbersome, and noisy an ambulance is. The law does not require drivers to immediately swerve off the road when a hot head trooper races up behind them on a curve and a hill. It does not require ambulance drivers or anyone else to be constantly checking behind them instead of watching the road in front of them. It only requires that they yield when prudently safe to do so. And for an ambulance driver, he has to maneuver carefully to protect the sick patient in the back. I can't see how anyone can say the ambulance did not yield when prudently safe to do so.

If the trooper had simply been man enough to not over-react to the situation from the beginning, none of this would have ever happened. But he had his woman watching him and, with his Napoleon complex, he blew every single decision he made: radioing the ambulance, chasing down the ambulance, starting off yelling and threatening from the get-go, not backing off IMMEDIATELY when being told there was a patient in transport, all stupid hot-headed mistakes. He should simply have been man enough to know it was all not worth getting upset about at all and he should have kept his cool from the beginning and just let it go. The ambulance crew gets the benefit of the doubt here. Can anyone say that, beyond a reasonable doubt, the ambulance did not yield satisfactorily. I do not believe they can. That should be the end of this pathetic story but we all know what actually happened.

I also can not see how anyone can fault anything the medic did. As I said, the only ambulance mistake was stopping before getting to the hospital.

It is disturbing that we seem to have some people that think this kind of behavior from the trooper was in any way justified by anything that the ambulance did. It wasn't. I hate to think there are other cops out there that identify with this unprofessional jerk. Defending this behavior just further tarnishes the public image of law enforcement. Can't you see that? Look at the overwhelming majority of comments from outraged citizens.

Ambulance did not need to be running hot. Period.

Ambulance did yield in a reasonable amount of time in the circumstance. Period.

Medic in charge of the ambulance needed to be sure trooper knew there was a patient and there was NO reason for trooper to react as he did to the medic who was calm and under control from the beginning. Period.

Such a shame that this happened at all. Would have been so simple for the cop to just be cool and do his job.

2curious, Tulsa, OK 74104 (6/16/2009 10:15:36 AM)

Regarding the "finger" ... and the "no-you hear now" neither are not justification for the anger shown by the trooper. Certainly not justification to choke White in a manner to "shut him up". Martin over-reacted.

Bob74112, Tulsa (6/16/2009 10:21:11 AM)

My opinion is simple. Our police officers are hired to protect and serve our community. Which means our officers chose to do a job that gets little respect, life threatening and odd hours with little thanks. They should be commended and honored. However, being yelled at and getting "birds" flown their way is unfortunately but secured by our first admendment rights. Disrespectful, yes but illegal no. If your in charge of a EMT Unit, you are to handle all situations that involve that unit. The patient was apparently not in life or death situation or this situation wouldn't have happened because the lights would be on and stopping wouldn't have been an option. The trooper purposely looked for a confrontation. It's funny to hear he didn't want to see the "bird" but was cussing his head off. Which is more abusive and disrespectful? This type of bullishness and power throwing also make troopers at conflict with local police officers. In light of this information and more you care not to read, I would rule that no money awarded, no extra time off for anyone and written apology be sent to the EMT Unit and it's organization from all the troopers on site who let this situation get out of control and their supervisor and counseling for the trooper who showed out of control anger. Have a good day and stay keeps your hands inside your car windows and keep your mouth shut.

52favoriteteacher, Washburn--used to be Broken Arrow (6/16/2009 10:25:01 AM)

to the driver Paul Franks,

You need to be a man here.

Stand up and call a spade a spade.

If it costs the young trooper his position

then he can seek work elsewhere...

Whenever someone puts you/me in a choke hold 4

no good reason...

coyote, (6/16/2009 10:26:03 AM)

The Trooper should have had enough common sense to let the ambulance proceed once he was informed there was a patient on board enroute to the hospital. I don't understand why he stopped the ambulance for failing to move out of his way if the Trooper was on an emergency run himself. The Trooper lost his self control and that's a bad thing for a law enforcement officer to do. Maybe Trooper Martin needs to find another line of work.

Jolie2, (6/16/2009 10:29:06 AM)

Let's hope this is a wake-up call for any other bully cops and troopers on the road. Lose your cool and behave unprofessionally and be prepared to lose your career.

I'm 100% behind Mr. White in his calling for the trooper's badge and gun. Mr. Martin should not be allowed to carry either one to prevent another or worse incident to occur as a result of his poor judgement and impulse control.

hmmmmm, (6/16/2009 10:32:06 AM)

Can someone point me to the article that says the trooper had his woman/wifey in the car with him? I've seen two people on this board mention it. Or are people just making this up?