St. Louis to discipline officer who wore Wilson patch at protest

[Jazzy]

St. Louis to discipline officer who wore Wilson patch at protest

A St. Louis city police officer will be disciplined for wearing a patch bearing the name "Wilson" on his uniform on Friday in apparent support of the officer who fatally shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the police department said.

The officer was pictured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wearing the patch on his sleeve while standing in front of St. Louis City Hall during a public protest of police brutality.

"Chief Dotson is disappointed in the officer's decision to violate the department's policy," the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement in reference to Chief Sam Dotson. "The officer will face discipline for his actions."

Only department-approved insignias, pins or similar items can be worn on uniforms, the department said. Having Wilson's name on the patch was also a relevant issue, spokeswoman Schron Jackson said.

The protest Friday was one of many in the St. Louis area since former Ferguson officer Darren Wilson fatally shot Brown in August that have spread nationwide since a grand jury declined to indict Wilson in November in the teenager's death.

Chief is not just gutless, but he has blatantly violated the rights of the Police Officer. Why is it OK for the protesters to carry signs that insult and degrade the police, throw rocks, molotov cocktails and spit on officers because it is their 'RIGHT'; but a Police Officer can't even wear a band supporting his fellow officer. Where are HIS RIGHTS??????

Your thoughts?

 

[Dee]

I can understand why the officer was not allowed to do what he did. This wasn't a policy that was enacted the day of just to get that officer in trouble. He knew what he was doing when he pinned it to his uniform, and he got disciplined for it. If he wanted to wear a pin off-duty, on his plain clothes, it sounds like he would've had more leeway, but he decided to wear it on his uniform.

 

[Jazzy]

Dear Chief Dotson,
The actions of the police officer that wore a patch in support of a cleared officer that performed his duty, is subject for discipline. Does this mean that all officers that wear a black ribbon on their badge for the next officer to be killed by a criminal, will also be disciplined?

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I can understand why the officer was not allowed to do what he did.  This wasn't a policy that was enacted the day of just to get that officer in trouble.  He knew what he was doing when he pinned it to his uniform, and he got disciplined for it.  If he wanted to wear a pin off-duty, on his plain clothes, it sounds like he would've had more leeway, but he decided to wear it on his uniform.

I have to agree if it is a actual rule you are not supposed to wear anything that is not approved then he needs to be disciplined. The black patches I think they wear if a police officer dies is something that is more then likely approved in every police station across America. And you are right if he wants to show support for the cop then he can do it on is off hours off duty.

 

[Dee]

I can understand why the officer was not allowed to do what he did.  This wasn't a policy that was enacted the day of just to get that officer in trouble.  He knew what he was doing when he pinned it to his uniform, and he got disciplined for it.  If he wanted to wear a pin off-duty, on his plain clothes, it sounds like he would've had more leeway, but he decided to wear it on his uniform.

I have to agree if it is a actual rule you are not supposed to wear anything that is not approved then he needs to be disciplined. The black patches I think they wear if a police officer dies is something that is more then likely approved in every police station across America. And you are right if he wants to show support for the cop then he can do it on is off hours off duty.

"Chief Dotson is disappointed in the officer's decision to violate the department's policy," the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement in reference to Chief Sam Dotson. "The officer will face discipline for his actions."

I'm assuming it was already department policy because the chief said that he was disappointed about one of his officers disobeying it, which is where I can understand why this officer is getting in trouble since it seems the policy was already in place before this incident.  Hell, even in my retail job I'm not allowed to wear certain things, and I know that because I was told before I started working there.  You take the job, accept the policies, and also accept the consequences if you break those policies--simple as that.  If you don't like it, then don't work there.  No one is saying, as far as I know, that those officers couldn't wear those pins on their plain clothes while they're off duty, so technically it's not a violation of freedom of speech.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I can understand why the officer was not allowed to do what he did.  This wasn't a policy that was enacted the day of just to get that officer in trouble.  He knew what he was doing when he pinned it to his uniform, and he got disciplined for it.  If he wanted to wear a pin off-duty, on his plain clothes, it sounds like he would've had more leeway, but he decided to wear it on his uniform.

I have to agree if it is a actual rule you are not supposed to wear anything that is not approved then he needs to be disciplined. The black patches I think they wear if a police officer dies is something that is more then likely approved in every police station across America. And you are right if he wants to show support for the cop then he can do it on is off hours off duty.

"Chief Dotson is disappointed in the officer's decision to violate the department's policy," the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement in reference to Chief Sam Dotson. "The officer will face discipline for his actions."

I'm assuming it was already department policy because the chief said that he was disappointed about one of his officers disobeying it, which is where I can understand why this officer is getting in trouble since it seems the policy was already in place before this incident.  Hell, even in my retail job I'm not allowed to wear certain things, and I know that because I was told before I started working there.  You take the job, accept the policies, and also accept the consequences if you break those policies--simple as that.  If you don't like it, then don't work there.  No one is saying, as far as I know, that those officers couldn't wear those pins on their plain clothes while they're off duty, so technically it's not a violation of freedom of speech.

And you do not want your police to show they are taking a stand on such matters but instead show a kind of neutral standing on such things in front of the public. Otherwise you are going to have a growing public thinking the police truly do care about there own police more then they care about the welfare of the people. And then what if you have police officers showing support for not the police officer but for the one who got killed. You just do not want to go down that road.