The first line of our statement at Copblock.org reads “Cop Block is a decentralized project supported by a diverse group of individuals united by their shared goals of police accountability.” I believe this officer did a great job accomplishing that goal by holding himself accountable.
This officer gets a thumbs up from myself and I hope he can set an example for other officers in this country. I wish I could say the same for the troopers that let him go and apologized for pulling the Chief over.
According to the article
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A trooper stopped New Jersey’s state police chief for speeding and the two had friendly conversation before Col. Rick Fuentes drove away without a ticket, audio and dashboard video recordings show.
The veteran trooper didn’t realize he was pulling over Fuentes on Aug. 13 but recognized him when he approached the car and shook Fuentes’ hand.
“I didn’t realize it was you,” Staff Sgt. William Walsh said on the video.
Fuentes was clocked going 75 mph in a 65-mph zone while traveling northbound in an unmarked state police-issued black SUV on the Garden State Parkway near Paramus, just northwest of New York City.
I hope the troopers that let him go could learn from his example.
Fuentes apologized at one point, saying, “Sorry about that.”
The stop lasted two minutes and Fuentes drove away without a ticket.
Later that afternoon, Fuentes reported the stop to the Office of Professional Standards and asked for a speeding ticket. He received one days later costing $160
He paid the ticket on Monday and received a two-point penalty against his license.
I’m pleased to see an officer hold himself accountable as well. Even though I don’t believe Fuentes actually committed any “crime” I’m glad he held himself to the same standards he holds others to. Now, let’s work to change some of these ridiculous standards!… :D
Keep up the good work, guys!
Agree with Rich. I would much rather prefer officers not ticket other people, and also not themselves, instead of ticketing other people and ticketing themselves.
Who was injured? Was there a verified complaint? Where are the witnesses? Where and who is the accuser??
@Neil
-You should already know that our (stupid) laws don’t require an injury or victim.
-Why would there need to be a complaint?
-William Walsh was the witness.
-Fuentes accused himself of speeding, and confessed to speeding. As an officer, he was able to cite himself for speeding.
My father-in-law used to say, “they used to be called ‘peace officers’, now they just hand out tickets”. Quite a statement for the officer to ticket himself, and hold himself accountable, but if he weren’t “pulled over” by another cop, would he then, still, have issued himself a ticket for speeding? And there is no indication of reprimand for the officer who let him go? All sounds like grandstanding of the first order!
Walter brings up a good point.
“Character is doing the right thing even when nobody is looking.”
Character must be the most rare trait in police officers of them all.
To BigDog; you said ‘ “Character is doing the right thing even when nobody is looking.”
Character must be the most rare trait in police officers of them all.’
I think “Character” realized the dash cam had him and his Sargent “Character” on record.
There must be something about those cams that gets reviewed by someone else in the department, unless the cam gets “lost”, hence his truly rare performance.