What ever happened too people being happy and friendly? This incident involves a Chattanooga Police officer and a Wal-Mart Greeter.
As anyone knows that shops at Wal-Mart these days we know that they now have people stationed at the entrance and exits to welcome you to Wal-Mart and to make sure you don’t shop lift on the way out.
Something went wrong with this simple request from a Wal-Mart greeter as an on-duty police officer was attempting to leave the store after he done some last minute shopping on Christmas Eve.
His actions lead to him being suspended for 28 days.
Officer Kenneth Freeman is an officer at Chattanooga Police Department and during the hectic times of holiday Wal-Mart shopping he got a little more than he bargained for.
Officer Freeman was there with another officer (I think***) and as Kenneth Freeman was attempting to leave the store and the Wal-Mart greeter asked to see his sales receipt. Sounds simple enough right?
Not for Officer Freeman. Unlike the thousands of people that shop at Wal-Mart this officer thought he was above the rules and regulations and decided not to comply with a simple request from a 71 year old man.
Officer Freeman kept walking. At some point in this encounter, Bill Walker, 71, placed his hand on the officers arm while asking him to stop.
Now instead of trying to remain civil while in uniform and in public, Officer Freeman shoved the greeter which caused him to “black out” and fall to the ground. Then if shoving the old man down wasn’t enough Officer Freeman shouted “never put your hands on me” and “don’t touch me” as the greeter lay on the floor.
Now the 71 year old cannot even return to work. He still has flashbacks of the incident and gets so nervous he cannot even say Welcome to Wal-Mart according to his wife.
Wal-Mart has been cool with the incident and was able to transfer Walker into another position with no reduction of pay. It was reported that Walker wanted to work and had always wanted to work as a greeter. Walker took the greeter job so his wife would not have to worry about working. The Walkers have reported a lot of public support since the incident.
What should Tennessee do with an officer that assaults a 71 year old man for no reason?
An internal affairs investigation at the Chattanooga Police Department found Officer Freeman used excessive force, conduct unbecoming an officer and improper procedures
Here’s what they did do…
1) 28 day suspension
2) Must be retrained in the departments use of force
3) Complete an anger management course.
My questions would have to be why has he not faced criminal charges?
Would this not violate laws dealing with assault and battery? Elderly abuse?
Now with this post keep in mind that within the same article that was written and published in Tennessee said in one sentence the officer was off duty and then in the next sentence said he was on duty and there with another officer and they both were attempting to buy last minute Christmas gifts.
I did read that the TBI is investigating the case and has not released any details about this case so I’m not sure if there will be criminal charges following his smack on the wrist for assaulting an elderly man.
Now I can understand the fact that Bill Walker should not have touched the police officer. I do understand that according to the letter of the law it says the unlawful touching, but for God’s sake it was a 71 year old Wal-Mart greeter.
Could the officer not have said sir, (at least tried to show some respect to an elderly person) please don’t touch me?
Was this incident so severe that Officer Freeman felt it necessary to use force on a Wal-Mart greeter. Get real. This man was not even a criminal.
At least the internal investigation got Officer Freeman suspended for 28 days. Hopefully he will be charged with criminal charges as well. The attitude of officers these days
**** Note
There have been many different on line versions of this case.
One reports that two bystanders were also assaulted by Freeman.
One man was reportedly thrown through a glass door and was bleeding from the neck when EMS arrived. The victim refused treatment.
The Sergeant that was on scene with Freeman was the one who reportedly broke up the fight.
This man in my opinion needs to be fired.
2 comments:
Detective Freeman's actions are indefensible. He used excessive force and responded impulsively and inappropriately for a uniformed officer of the law.
However, the Wal-Mart greeter who stood in front of him to block his exit and touched his arm was treading on extremely thin ice. Your allusion to "rules and regulations" notwithstanding, receipt checks and bag searches are 100% voluntary. Customers can choose whether or not to let store employees search their property (as soon as they paid for it, the store lost all rights to inspect it).
The greeter's request is simply that, a request. Most shoppers choose to show their receipts, but a growing number don't appreciate being treated like criminal suspects and have taken to politely but firmly rebuffing such inquiries. That's all fine and well until the greeter or security guard demands the receipt and prevents the shopper from leaving until he or she shows it, which happens more often than you would think.
This conduct is illegal. State shoplifting laws only allow store employees to detain a customer if they have some reason to believe he or she has stolen. For more, see: http://www.crimedoctor.com/loss_prevention_3.htm
Did Freeman cross the line? Absolutely. But, the greeter...old, frail and pitiable as he may be...was dangerously close to illegal detainment when he stood between a paying customer and the door for no good reason.
This case is pathetic to say the least.
For a police to even think about being involved in such activity is just beyond my belief.
3 people to be assaulted all over a simple request of a Wal Mart Greeter. Give me a break.
This man has no business in uniform.
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