Just wondered if you had read this comment to the Channel 2 site: Bud W. Stephenson · Weber High School I am an Assoc. Professor of Psychology at WSU and during that tenure I served as an Adjunct Instructor at the Utah Police Academy for approx. 20 years. What follows is my opinion and is based on the likelihood that most or all of the report above will prove to be true. When the City Attorney states that no laws were broken she is only commenting on half the story. The rest of it has to do with what I will label Have the officers performed their duty to protect and serve in making that arrest. In my opinion the answer is categorically NO! Mr Bryge cautioned those officers that the handcuffs were not to be placed near his neurostimulator generator implant with the possibility of severe damage to the instrument and to his medical condition. Did the reported arrest record of a moving traffic violation warrant the aggressive conduct or could he be treated more humanely? He was no threat to the officers. I wonder if the City Attorney and/or the officers involved even know that individuals with that implant carry a medical card excusing them from the TSA scrutiny at airports because the machines will damage the implant and cause medical problems just like Mr. Bryge is reporting. I do not recall any requirement that the arrested person sit back in the seat re Mr. Bryges report of being forced back. He was obviously trying in vain to produce a space between the handcuffs and his implant. Any suspect may lean forward if they remain in the seatbelt if it increases their comfort or safety. The nature of police work occasionally will draw an overly aggressive candidate application. Granted that is difficult to sort out initially because federal privacy law prevents psychological testing that could likely reveal that behavioral defect. In my opinion, based on the report, these officers acted in an egrigious behavioral manner in ignoring Mr. Bryges pleas to safeguard this surgery and the generator that had reportedly helped him to have a better lifestyle after many years of suffering with the pain and narcotics. I am an implant candidate at the moment so diagnosed by a Mayo Clinic Physician after more than 10 years of my own suffering and fear of the narcotics. The conduct of these officers is deplorable in my opinion and their style here has given clues of the possibility they will empty the city coffers in future civil actions. Because, it appears from the report, that no truly outside agencies, police and prosecutors, reviewed this case I do hope that the State Attorney General does a review in that office. Fortunately, in every such device, there is proprietory software that will reveal what happened, when it happened and whether substantial force was appliced to the generator. What is the tragic other consequence of these actions in the American Fork Police Department? They have cast another shadow on every one of the dedicated officers who every day risk their lives; not demonstrating their perceived power over citizens but treating them humanely and with respect while fully executing their duty to enforce the law. I wish Mr. Bryge success in his legal actions. These two officers must be evaluated not just on the procedures but also as to their aggressiveness and need for power and fired or forcefully trained whichever course will best serve the public - not them. All of this over a little swagger! Reply · Unlike · 5 · Follow Post · April 25 at 12:25pm
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 07:09:18 +0000