Sheriff apologizes to man dumped from wheelchair

[Hepburn]

(CNN) -- The Hillsborough County, Florida, sheriff on Wednesday offered a personal apology to a disabled man who was dumped onto the floor from his wheelchair while in deputies' custody.
"I am personally embarrassed and shocked by the horrific treatment Mr. Sterner received," Sheriff David Gee says in a statement on the department's Web site.

A video now making the rounds on television networks and various Web sites shows a deputy tipping Brian Sterner, 32, out of a wheelchair January at the county's booking center in Tampa on January 29.

"I cannot and will not even try to offer an explanation for what is seen on the video, other than to say, that once it was brought to my attention, I immediately initiated an internal investigation," Gee said.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/02/13/wheelchair.dumping/

The assholes allegedly broke his ribs when they pulled this stunt ~~ the sheriff denies the ribs were broken however.

IMO, they owe a hell of a lot more than just an apology to this young man. The actual deputies involved were suspended witout pay...but their supervisors were suspended with pay. This young man spent 5 days in the jail infirmary from what was done to him.

Suspend??? Hell...fire and take away their pensions for this kind of conduct IMO...and refer the matter to the DA's office in order to investigate filing a criminal complaint against those responsible. This IMO was soooooooo way out of line, it is criminal conduct as I see it.

JMHO

[reformedrethug]

1. two words as to why he was not fired on the spot

UNION PROTECTION. In this case the union is a hindrance to proper disciplinary procedures concerning this situation.

[Donnachaidh]

3. assault is assault

I wouldn't blame the unions on this one. It's cops covering bad cop's asses. The cow that dumped that kid should have been FIRED on the spot. Period.

[Dr.Phool]

6. This is Florida, a right to work state.

And I don't think the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Dept is unionized.

[reformedrethug]

16. Most are

under the FOP, just sayin

[stevedeshazer]

7. Nice try.

Guy dumps guy from wheelchair.

Unions are at fault.

Come on now.

[reformedrethug]

15. just where in my post

did I say unions are at fault?!?!?!?!?!

In the Sheriffs Office I worked in, there were procedures that had to be followed before a deputy would get fired matter what they did and the first step normallly was unpaid suspension. THis dickhead is on his way out, it just takes time for the process. Take heart he is not working and currently sitting at home on umpaid leave.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Work a bit harder on that reformation project.

[reformedrethug]

21. Why?

Because I dont automatically fall in line with the other posters and actually take into account that what these kids did was WRONG? Sorry, that wont happen. The kids broke the law therefore they should face the consequences of their actions, likewise the cop went WAYYYY overboard and should fact the consequences of HIS actions as well.

[kestrel91316]

2. Fire and prosecute the deputy. Fire any supervisors who tried to

look the other way.

NO MERCY.

[Donnachaidh]

4. fire the SOB who was laughing --

I've never wanted to slap someone so badly. The grey haired dude on the end of the tape, laughing about the dump.

[Hepburn]

8. Ooooooooh...

...you and me, too! If I could have just reached through the screen....:grr:

[kestrel91316]

22. Nah, take HIM out and shoot him.

:mad:

[MonkeyFunk]

5. I doubt his apology

will mitigate the huge fucking lawsuit coming his way.

[frogcycle]

9. wwelcome to the post-9/11 world

brownshirt mentality

today Rodney King would not be beaten up. They'd just run over him 5-6 times with their squad car.

[Oilwellian]

11. Hepburn, I've been seething over this all day

I just wrote that in another thread and had to jump in here as well. I almost feel as though I'm in a mild state of shock over this...it's just so ghastly. I'd love to know why this guy was arrested in the first place for a traffic violation. And he spent 5 days in a jail infirmary? Why wasn't he released immediately and taken to a private hospital? What in the hell did he do to deserve being locked up for so long?

[lligrd]

12. Excellent Points

And how many others are treated like this that we never find out about?

[reformedrethug]

17. he apparently

had warrants out for his arrest and normally that is a come in, sign the bond and go home. The reason he was kept in the jail I cannot answer other than the fact that they had one and with no OBVIOUS injuries would not transport him. Notice I highlighted OBVIOUS because t is pretty obvious that these people are idiots.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

13. LAWSUIT!!!

I can see this one coming a mile away.

They should all be fired and sued since that is the only thing that will get their attention.

Attempted murder or at the very least, attempted negligent homicide or aggravated assault.

On edit: Those are felony criminal charges. Those are besides the civil lawsuit for violating civil rights, assault and battery, personal injuries and such.

Civil and criminal trials both, to get their attention. Wonder if a grand jury would recommend, and the D.A. would take the criminal charges?

[kurth]

14. Yep. Sue their asses off

Jackbooted morons.

[lonestarnot]

18. Not good enough! FIRE HIS ASS AND THE DEPUTIES INVOLVED!

[mod mom]

19. My 10 yo saw this featured on Abrams show along with the OH woman that was strip searched.

I left TV on after Keith and went to hook up the dishwasher while she finished her Valentines cards for school. WHAT A MISTAKE! She was terribly upset by these videos. I had to explain the best I could how most police are good but as with all people there are good and bad. My community has very good rapport w the police. They are frequently at our house dropping off files for my husband who sits on a zoning board. they wave to the children and are very friendly. This was extremely shocking to her.

[Cass]

20. The deputy who did it needs to be fired and charged with assault

The ones who watched should be canned too. There is no excuse for this atrocious behavior, none whatsoever. Some people in positions of power seem to have this idea that people they come in contact with are beneath them. Its sickening. Hope this guy gets awarded piles of dough for his treatment. Too bad that all the lawsuits in the world won't stop this behavior, though.

[suninvited]

23. Does anybody have the link to the video of the incident?

I have not seen it.