This is WAY beyond apology territory. You said it yourself. She initiated and was wrong. Everything…EVERYTHING …that followed as a result need s to be looked at critically. Her past record with the BPD is meaningless. The retirement rolls are full of 30 year vets that made that ONE contact that ruined their “legacy” She is nothing special.

I agree with your assessment Dave. The officers career should not be defined by this single lack of good judgement. I say apologize for the inappropriate contact and get back to work.

EDITOR NOTE–Isn’t this what they call a “learning moment.?”

Unfortunate all around. It is unfortunate that too many times too many long term “civil servants” forget what their mission is and come to believe that they are, somehow, owed some ill-defined fealty / respect by those they are supposed to serve.

I don’t agree at all – I think Mr Seim is just a jerk looking for his 15 minutes trying to provoke a reaction. The only mistake the Sgt. made was stopping after finishing her traffic stop and allowing him to continue provoking her, when she should have just driven away.

Why does she have to be categorized as a “lady copper”? I have never seen a post about “man copper”. Seems like the guardian is inferring only men can be police officers. Thought maybe we would have moved past bigoted labels in 2013.

EDITOR NOTE–Good point. We actually hesitated a bit, but the gender does play into the story. Same as identifying a day car worker, nurse, or elementary school teacher as “male” when most in those jobs are female. Must admit with lawyers and doctors, for example, the gender gap is much narrower and seldom plays into events.

Any officer should be trained and qualified to handle situations where someone is trying to provoke them. Obviously, Gavin was a lot better at provoking her then she was at being a 23 year professional. Given the negative publicity I don’t see where the BPD has much of a choice other then to throw the book at her. Her grabbing of his arm without an arrest gives him the ability to destroy her life in the court system for a very long time.

I do think this controversy is more of a tempest in a teapot. While the cop made some poor decisions, I don’t think any of them were egregious. I think she should get some training in dealing with people with cameras. I honestly think most police departments need regular training on how to handle videographers and photographers in their vicinity. The world has changed a LOT in the 23 years she has been a cop.

Everyone makes mistakes, your learn, you move on. I don’t think this sort of mistake should stain a record.

I found this online and thought it applies.

1. Everyone is an idiot sometime.
2. Don’t be an idiot.
3. Realize the inconvenience caused by the idiots in your life – expect it.
4. Repeat 1-2-3

How many “law enforcement” actions are undertaken by “law enforcement professionals” to make an example of some quite harmless conduct? Isn’t what is good for the goose good for the gander?

I am not so sure that handling her with kid gloves is what is needed or appropriate. The ombudsman or internal affairs will surely whitewash it and otherwise dismiss it as they always do.

Terry vs Ohio. She failed to meet it and it’s serious. …and it isn’t any ridiculous “POLICY ISSUE”.

EDITOR NOTE–Remember, she NEVER searched him! Half hearted grab at the arm, but no search or pat down.

Then you have missed the point….her intent and her actions are all that were needed. She didn’t search him because he refused her commands. She tried and tried to spin him around…it’s on the tape. Tell me the difference between a robbery and an attempted robbery. This is fundamental cop stuff……..”youre making me nervous” does not rise to the level of articulating why you may think someone has a weapon. Someone with over 20 years on needs to know this . This is a FEDERAL decision not some Boise City podunk making up POLICIES. It is very disturbing from many different levels to watch this video. Lack of understanding seems to be the problem here…..the cophaters will always be out there. But this is in your face a major issue.…and we have not even touched the CCW issues here.

Seems like a whole bunch of arm chair quarterbacking and angry citzens on here! Do any of us really understand what they do everyday…..? Think about it and do you really need some idiot amature “American Pictorialist” with nothing better to do filming it? Yeah she needs to be more composed and could have definitely handled it better, but asking for her job. Come on folks use some common sense and stop overreacting. Please note that this tool bag seeks her out by walking in the direction of where the officers drove out and even makes the comment that they might have parked in the back, behind Cabelas. To say he was so innocent by “just filming” is to really be ignorant in what we all know his motivation was. The problem here is she gave him what he was looking for and he will milk his 15 minutes and then return to his sad existance which offers very little to this wonderful country. While the Sgt will continue to do a job that most can’t and don’t have the guts to do.

Really Rick? “…give BPD some much needed oversight”, didn’t you just post that another ombudsman is needed on another article? Isn’t there still an ombudsman office open that is handling complaints? Yes there is. Isn’t there and hasn’t there always been a Internal Affairs that look at complaints like this? Yes there is. Cameras at every angle, get a friggin grip pal, there are so many people already filming every aspect of what occurs at some crime scenes, that they are asked for their films because of that. Get off your high horse, how would you like to be under a microscope? Maybe you already are, ie probation/parole? That’s my guess.
Almost forgot, its laughable that there are people that won’t do there job, or people like you that don’t qualify?

Internal affairs or ombudsman? Let us all please get a clue!

It would all be termed a “phony scandal” and then swept under the rug. They are merely shills who cover up the bullying, wrongdoing, and bungling.

I do not agree that it is merely a simple apology moment. The BG is opining as if this is an isolated matter and it is not. The BG ought to expand it’s report to post the awards to the victims of the Boise PD and it’s not pretty. This officer should be obligated to complete a civics course focusing on constitutional studies. I don’t give a rat’s ass how many years of service or her reputation. she works for the citizens. This demonstrates how irrelevant years of service is. It’s only relevant to the adoring fans of authority. If her expertise is to exemplary why did she bother with accosting a bystander?

You say a search by “your definition…” What you really mean is by the definition of that pesky old US Constitution! It always seems to get in the way of people who want to impose on me their idea of what is best for me.

Stephen
So you believe that because one did wrong all are wanting to do wrong…. No I know you are a cop. I will bebunk some of your previous comment it a bit… stand by

Actually Sal I said they need to hire 3. Internal affairs, the rubber stamp division of the dept. even worse if that is possible than an ombudsman who is an ex cop. I think that every traffic stop, hell every interaction that happens between LE and a citizen should be at least audio recorded and preferably video recorded by an independent entity so it will not be erased. LOL get off my high horse… I have been a cop… albeit a reserve and I’ve been under your so called microscope. If these individuals do not have what it takes to do the job professionally and with oversight then they need to find another line of work. Instances like this prove that LE needs much more supervision. As to your “guess” you would be dead wrong, but it goes to show that you cops are pathetically narrow minded. Why do you all believe that anyone who thinks you need keepers has to be either on probation or parole? You did get one thing right though, I do not qualify, I’m too old and have had too many knee surgeries.

Stephen
I wonder why, you wonder why I do not like the actions of this cop. Everyone should be appaled by the actions of this cop. I am sure you like all of your kind feel that anyone who wants some adult supervision for LE has to be on probation or parole an idea that is so ludicrous it is as most of your points are is a joke. I believe exactly that he was expecting to see a breach of the drivers civil rights. What he got was an up close video of the attempted breaching of at least 2 of his civil rights, plus he was harassed, and “battered”. On those points there is no discussion they are documented facts, watch the tape.
Why do I feel they need oversight, hum, if a cop with 23 years of service tries things like this when she knows she is being filmed what goes on when the camera is not rolling. Cops do these things because they know they will not be reined in by their supervision so the public has to take the reins and hold these guys accountable. Am I from here… yes, I have live in the valley since 1984, with the exception of when uncle sam moved me. How long have you been here? How long have you been a cop?

You say it’s a thank less job, again what a joke. A BPD Sgt’s pay “averaged” is $78660 a year, look at the BPD site and do the math if you do not believe me. She gets 78 thousand thank you’s every year. A cop in the academy gets over 40 thousand thank you’s every year pretty good for a job that requires no college degree and no experience. You guys need to do your job and quit whining about how people do not like us. The public, according to you should not want to insure they are getting their money’s worth. Put on your big boy pants do your job correctly and quit violating peoples right because you don’t “feel” safe. Most people who get pulled over by a cop don’t feel say either. If your that big a chicken s-it get into another line of work. You’ve got at least one gun, a tazer, pepper spray, an ASP, a bullet proof vest and probably 3 or 4 knives, you have every advantage and yet you still whine and cry. Wal-mart will hire people with the same amount of education and experience, but they will expect a lot more in the way of customer service, so that might not be a good fit either.

EDITOR NOTE–Rick, you are off a bit on the salary. Latest info we got is Sgt. Makes $93K and a 20 yr. corporal gets $88,000.

Do your researcch Rick, Ombudsman Office, even with Murphy gone, is up and running. Has and always has had 3 investigators or more. For a guy that was a reserve cop, sounds like its bitter sweet with you, must have been disciplined a few times for your errors in judgement huh? Anyways, enough of this, you will always have your beliefs and rest of us ours, so enjoy life and press on!

EDITOR NOTE–Ok, we’re done with cop bashing and baiting. Moving on…