KitchenWitch's Stupid Question O' the day #61

[KitchenWitch]

Background information:

Last week, an undercover St. Paul police officer was shot and killed while on duty by two civilian assailants. This particular officer worked vice and was on a long term prostitution sting. The funeral was on Wednesday. Today, I heard on the radio that the St. Paul Chief of Police told the press that this dead officer was legally drunk when he was killed. I guess when they are undercover they are allowed to drink alcohol but not be drunk.

My question is: what good does it serve to release such information? The guy is dead, the information is not going to bring him back!

[Worst Username Ever]

1. Well, in the interest of democracy,

I would rather we know too much info than too little. It is probably irrelevant, but I don't think details like that should necessarily be kept secret. Come to think of it, if my police officers are legally allowed to drink on the job, that is information that I would like to be privy to.

[KitchenWitch]

3. That part I understand

about knowing that undercover cops are allowed to drink, to stay undercover, but why release the information that he was drunk after he was dead, unless they are trying to weasel their way out of paying the life insurance.

[northzax]

5. maybe it explains how he died in some way?

were the other men drunk as well? was there an arguement?

[BR_Parkway]

6. To make sure they don't have to pay benefits and that they aren't

blamed. He was drunk, OMG, it must have been his fault. Don't point any fingers at the management who literally spent someone's life trying to stop people from getting the sex they were paying for.

[KitchenWitch]

9. The shooting was unrelated to the sting

The officer and his partner happened upon some people fighting outside a bar.

[BR_Parkway]

13. then maybe his exemption to being able to drink on the job doesn't

apply here.

[jukes]

14. undercover

if you don't drink/use, you're automatically suspect; ie, dead.

it's usu not spoken of, w/in or outside the department.

[Book Lover]

2. Maybe he was asked?

Maybe the chief hated this particular cop and didn't care how he sounded? Maybe the dead guy's BAC was released accidently? Maybe there was a legit reason for its release?

I feel like I'm three years old again with all these questions...

[lpbk2713]

4. Might have been a preemptive disclosure.

The chief might have thought it best to disclose before the press got ahold of the autopsy results.

[CornField]

7. Chances are there will now be an investigation

Since the officer had broken at least one major rule, they'll look to see if he/she was otherwise "dirty." From the department's standpoint, it's better to issue what they know upfront so that it doesn't look like a larger cover-up when the investigation is made public.

[Debi]

8. This is probably real bad news for his widow

cuz it may default some of her survivor benefits.

Why broadcast it? I dunno, did the cop mess something up and start the shootout? Way for the City to protect itself by saying the officer was drunk so it's not our fault. :shrug:



x( geez, could I learn how to spell?

[stevedeshazer]

10. How can they be allowed to drink alcohol

and not be drunk? Is there a pill for that?

Interesting.

[CBGLuthier]

11. A little more info would have helped

He was twice the legal limit for instance.

http://www.kaaltv.com/article/view/87730/

ST. PAUL (AP) - Test results show slain Saint Paul police Sergeant Gerald Vick had a blood alcohol concentration of point-two-zero, twice the legal limit for driving.

Forty-one-year-old Vick was working undercover last week on a prostitution case when he and his partner got into an unrelated confrontation with two men. Authorities say one of the men shot and killed Vick.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5402300.html

St. Paul Police Sgt. Gerald Vick likely violated department policy by drinking to excess while on assignment before he was shot dead last week, Police Chief John Harrington said today

[KitchenWitch]

12. My point is, why release it? I believe it is in poor taste.

[CBGLuthier]

15. Because it is the facts

Open government and I do think it is relevant. A drunk police officer is a very dangerous thing.

I respect the police, well the good ones, but they have to be held to a slightly higher standard of conduct than the rest of us since they have quite a bit of power.

And the fact that they work for the government means when they fuck up it has to come out. Especially in as serious a situation as this.

[jukes]

16. it's a faux pas

prbly a reporter bought the info from a cop or coroner employee, & the chief had to disclose.

to any1 that's been there, it isn't shocking. undercover cops risk their sanity as well as their health.

"Rush" is a good movie. cd have been my story, less the gorgeous love interest/partner.

i lasted 2 years, deep cover, before it was get-out-or-suck-my-9-millie.