USA Today: Officer accused of pulling gun at snowball fight on desk duty pending investigation.

[Heidi]

D.C. policeman accused of pulling gun to quell snowball fight

A Washington, D.C. plainclothes police officer accused of pulling a gun after his car was pelted during a Twitter-inspired snowball fight in downtown Washington has been placed on desk duty pending an investigation, The Washington Post reports.

Police initially denied any weapon had been displayed until video footage and witnesses indicated otherwise.

The video footage shows that the unidentified officer drew his gun and exchanged angry words with the boisterous crowd after his Hummer was hit by one or two snowballs, the Post said.

The City Paper reports said the police department, after initially denying a weapon was involved, issued a press release saying it had "subsequently received additional images and statements that would seem to support the allegation that the off-duty member did pull a gun" and was now investigating the matter.

Read more

Earlier related DU threads:
DC cop brings gun to snowball fight
Cop pulls gun after getting hit with snowball
Snowball fight takes dangerous turn when police officer draws gun

[baldguy]

1. The officer identified himself on the video as Det Baylor.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Faux tried to pass it off as an antiwar rally vs snowball fight

original video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVVEwTiybiE

Revisionist History News has already pulled the video and changed the story on their website.

[Heidi]

8. Because, of course, only anti-war protesters can launch a spontaneous chant.

"Don't bring a gun to a snowball fight." :rofl:

[hootinholler]

15. Better video of the whole scene here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFC8mNdxV0c&NR=1

-Hoot

[hlthe2b]

2. He should be fired, IMO

[Captain Hilts]

3. A police officer should not brandish a firearm at snowball fight. Fire him. nt

[MiniMe]

5. This story is being blown way out of proportion imho

The officer responded to a complaint that there was somebody with a firearm there. He noticed the person with the holstered gun, and drew his weapon. Then he recognized the person who was a detective, so the officer re-holstered the gun. They need to investigate it, but I really don't think it is a big deal.

[Heidi]

7. Please cite sources for your claims that Det. Baylor was responding to a firearms complaint.

Thank you in advance.

[MiniMe]

10. OK, when I read the story yesterday, this is what they were focusing on:

Soon other officers arrived, including one who also approached with a gun drawn at his side, police and witnesses said. Police said that officer knew only that witnesses had reported a man with a gun, and when he learned that the man was a detective, he quickly holstered his weapon.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/20/AR2009122000881.html?hpid=artslot

However, yesterday, they didn't have the part in the story about the detective having drawn his gun was not part of the story. I was talking about the police officer who responded.

[Heidi]

12. The officer who initially responded was Det. Baylor, who's accused of menacing the crowd with a gun.

It's pretty obvious why the second responding officer backed down: he saw that the person brandishing a weapon was a fellow law enforcement officer who was in no danger whatsoever.

[hootinholler]

16. This video is much clearer

Shows that Det Baylor pulled his weapon when he got out of his hummer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFC8mNdxV0c&NR=1

-Hoot

[Heidi]

17. I watched it yesterday. Was just trying to explain to another DUer

what happened. Why the hell doesn't the rank and file drum these thugs outta the force?

[MiniMe]

20. This is the original story I was talking about

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1209/689050.html

It was a local news story. More has come out since then.

[Echo In Light]

6. All you need to know re cops is summed up with this one line....

"Police initially denied any weapon had been displayed until video footage and witnesses indicated otherwise."

[L0oniX]

21. Exactly!

[gopiscrap]

9. Typical fucking arrogant cops

they wonder why people take shots at them?

[Heidi]

11. I don't know if it's typical, but I wonder why the rank and file of officers

don't elbow out, in a very firm way, fellow officers who abuse their power in this way and give all law enforcement officers a black eye. I'd very much like to believe most cops genuinely desire a life of service--that is, after all, what they're paid to do: to serve--but the fact that not one DUer associated with law enforcement has condemned this behavior by one of their own is disappointing.

[TexasObserver]

13. Recommend. It ought to mean loss of the weapon.

[Heidi]

14. You're a lawyer with lots of experience with LE, I assume. Why the hell doesn't the rank and file

just drum these appendage-waving thugs the hell off the force? And, if for no other reason, why don't they do it as a step toward protecting their "brand"?

[TexasObserver]

18. Limited experience professionally with them. But I do know several officers.

We have several LE officers in the family, and I've discussed these issues with them extensively. They typically believe that force is required, that officers act in good faith, and they close ranks behind officers in trouble. They are loyal to each other, not to civilians. They care about each other and their friends and families. They develop a very cynical attitude about citizens, because they have conflict with the worst of society. So they come to think of you and me and everyone else as a scum bag until we prove otherwise.

Because all cops lie to make cases, lie to protect other officers, and tolerate excessive behaviors, it's hard for police to draw a line between that level of misconduct which is acceptable, and that which goes over the line. And if any of the department is juicing with steroids, that's another layer of trouble.

[Clintonista2]

19. LOL I love it when they get "desk duty"

It's such a cliche.