Cop fired after helping fellow officers in distress

[PegLeg45]

http://beta.news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/cop-fired-helping-fellow-officers-distress-150454649.html

Cop fired after helping fellow officers in distress

It was a Saturday on campus when David Sedmak, a Rice University police officer, heard "Officer down, officer down!" on his scanner: Two members of the Houston Police Department had been shot downtown. Sedmak rushed to the scene to help his fellow officers.

But Rice didn't see Sedmak as a hero. Instead, the university fired him, citing "dereliction of duty."

The university said in a statement that its officers often assist other law enforcement agencies when the need arises. But Sedmak erred, it said, by not informing the university police dispatcher about where he was.

"Sedmak left his post when only two other officers were on duty and failed to notify his supervisor of his whereabouts for nearly an hour, which could have endangered the safety of our students and campus," according to the university.

More at link above.

[MikeBjerum]

I'm reading between the lines, because I can't find it any where:  Is the issue that he did not radio in his response to the scene to either the University or other agencies?  If that is the case I agree with the statement "you call him in, counsel him, and put him back on the streets.  You don't fire him."  If he did radio in I see it as an issue of why wasn't it noted.

I love the modern media and their lack of reporting skills 

[tombogan03884]

6th and 7th lines seem pretty clear

"Sedmak erred, it said, by not informing the university police dispatcher about where he was.

"Sedmak left his post when only two other officers were on duty and failed to notify his supervisor of his whereabouts for nearly an hour, "

[MikeBjerum]

I have been in enough of these pissing matches that I would prefer that is said he did not radio in, or did not follow up when his call was not acknowledged, or the dispatcher dropped the ball (I don't expect that because I'm sure he would have made that clear as he fought for his job).

I know it is semi-clear, but as I age and deal with more of this crap I like clarity rather than assumptions.

[tt11758]

One also needs to know if this was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of behavior on the part of this officer.

[Sponsor]

[CJS3]

One also needs to know if this was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of behavior on the part of this officer.

What, answering an officer down call? Are you guys serious? For God's sake, he was first on scene after shots fired.
This is nothing more than a professional academic being PO'd that the campus cops didn't write enough parking tickets on a saturday morning, because one of the three was doing police work.

What ever the reason for firing the guy, giving aid after recieving a report of two officers down nearby, good luck getting the Houston PD or the City of West University PD to answer a call on the Rice Campus (it lies within the limits of both cities).

[jnevis]

I'd also side with TT on that.  We had a couple of Patrolman that occasionally "forgot" that as Navy Security we didn't have juristiction once you left the base.  We could assist but we had to have REALLY good reasons for it, like the other agency specifically requested it.  Sure an "Officer down" call would be justified, but if he'd also had a pattern of running off-campus anytime a call was close without telling anyone he screwed up.  Also with only two other officers on duty that leaves a HUGE hole in coverage.  We had 15 or so and four cars on the road a shift, if one car was taken out of service we started having issues.  It was usually then that he barracks would have a coupel fights and housing would get a domestic, plus a DUI at the gate.  Then EVERYBODY was on the road (or the gate).

BTW the FIRST thing I beat into student EMTs (or rookie Patrolmen when I did that) is "Loose contact on the radio WILL get you killed."

[tombogan03884]

CJ, you are overlooking the fact that Rice apparently had 3 officers on duty, Houston probably had 300.
1/3 of the universities force disappeared to go play hero.
Sounds like a mall ninja that couldn't make it on a real PD so he plays cop for the coeds.
Town I used to live in had a retarded guy on the Fire Dept Auxiliary, his job was to roll hoses and clean the trucks, he had no drivers license but lived near the station, every time there was a call you would see him running up the street in all that gear. They never actually let him go to the scene, but whether it was -10 below or 95  he had all that gear on sitting around the station.
This "cop" sounds like the same sort.

[fightingquaker13]

As CJ noted Rice IS in the middle of Houston. HPD doesn't patrol it and it needs patroling (think lots of oblivious and half drunk co-eds wandering around on any given night). Running off on 10-13 is one thing, not calling it in is something else. Also, the question remains as to whether it was necessary or the guy just getting bored and doing something exciting. I think there needs to be more context before judgement is rendered. Given how much of a PITA it is to fire anyone from a college, I doubt that there wasn't a backstory here.
FQ13

[CJS3]

CJ, you are overlooking the fact that Rice apparently had 3 officers on duty, Houston probably had 300.
1/3 of the universities force disappeared to go play hero.
Sounds like a mall ninja that couldn't make it on a real PD so he plays cop for the coeds.
Town I used to live in had a retarded guy on the Fire Dept Auxiliary, his job was to roll hoses and clean the trucks, he had no drivers license but lived near the station, every time there was a call you would see him running up the street in all that gear. They never actually let him go to the scene, but whether it was -10 below or 95  he had all that gear on sitting around the station.
This "cop" sounds like the same sort.

Police vet with 17 years experience in Galveston PD. Helps to know the facts. You can't be a cop in Texas without a commision, and Rice U is in one of the richest parts of town. As I said, he was first on scene after shots fired.