STORM2K

Senior's arrest for unpaid traffic fines spurs policy change

HIGHLAND PARK, Texas (Court TV/AP) — Police guidelines calling for anyone wanted on a warrant to be arrested have been revamped following the public outcry over an officer's arrest of a 97-year-old woman.

The woman was handcuffed and taken to jail for an outstanding traffic warrant.

Officers in the Dallas suburb of Highland Park now can use discretion in arrest cases if they have a supervisor's approval. Several factors will be weighed when making that decision, including physical disabilities or old age. The same criteria will be used in determining if the person needs to be handcuffed.

The department was inundated with e-mails and calls from around the country after the April 22 arrest of Dolly Kelton.

The revisions clarify the options officers have in arresting offenders, said Detective Randy Millican, public information officer for the Highland Park Department of Public Safety.

"I think it's appropriate to say we have defined some discretionary areas without placing at risk our officers," he said.

This was the dumbest thing I have read yet. The police used poor judgement in arresting her. SHAME on them!!

Do the crime...you have to do the time.

I know about the time and crime. It was the manner in which the police made the arrest.

What part disturbed you?

Cuffing someone for a traffic warrant? Much less, a 97-year old?

police have a tough job. they cuff people for a reason, safety. sure a 97 woman wont do much damage, but i guarantee you, if you start making exceptions, then someome will file a discrimination lawsuit because they WERE cuffed

Your statement is so out there Helen it is not even worth replying to.

They handcuff people that are threats. I have known on several occasions (even in Cobb Cty, GA) where they allow people to drive themselves to the police station if they are not a threat and for minor violations.

The elderly bruise very easily. Imagine what this 97 year old lady can do from the injuries suffered from the handcuffs. And a traffic warrant does not constitute handcuffs. POOR judgement by the police dept. and am glad I do not have to deal with them.

Just to verify this, I talked to an officer that relocated here from Dallas to the Pascagoula Police Dept. and even he said what they did was just idiotic!! His words, "What did they think this old lady was going to do? Spray their sorry behinds with Pepper Spray? Or hit them with a walking cane?"

I understand she had an outstanding ticket but there is no justification for her being handcuffed like that.

"The revisions clarify the options officers have in arresting offenders, said Detective Randy Millican, public information officer for the Highland Park Department of Public Safety.

POOR JUDGEMENT!!

"I think it's appropriate to say we have defined some discretionary areas without placing at risk our officers," he said."

TOO FUNNY!!

Well, sure, safety is a key issue.

However, after ascertaining that a detainee is unarmed and not a flight risk (and being arrested for a mere traffic violation), I think departmental policy might dictate that officers could use reasonable judgment in restraining or deciding not to restrain an individual.

In the ER, we MUST have written orders from a physician in order to restrain a person and the orders must provide a reason.

I'm sure most arrestees are a flight risk, if not dangerous, and should be cuffed. But a 97-year old woman? Did they at least explain the reason she was being cuffed, did they cuff her hands in front, and above all, did they read her the Miranda rights?

yikes

yikes?

eeeeeeeeeeepppppppppppppp

Gotcha Helen. heehee!

Lindaloo wrote:Gotcha Helen. heehee!

hehe

Why was Michael Jackson cuffed? I heard no outcries then....was he a danger to police? Cuffing someone is a standard when arrested. It is done for consistency and in a small part to humiliate. That itself is a deterrent. Its the same idea behind having your child arrested for petty theft in a store to teach them a lesson and scare them straight.

The real problem was she was 98. This buys into the thought that because one has grown old, they deserve special treatment. I do not buy it....sorry.

My opinion...of course.

Cuffing someone on an old traffic warrant seems a bit much. These are not folks who committed crimes and shouldn't be treated the same as those who have.

stormchazer wrote:Why was Michael Jackson cuffed? I heard no outcries then....was he a danger to police? Cuffing someone is a standard when arrested. It is done for consistency and in a small part to humiliate. That itself is a deterrent. Its the same idea behind having your child arrested for petty theft in a store to teach them a lesson and scare them straight.

The real problem was she was 98. This buys into the thought that because one has grown old, they deserve special treatment. I do not buy it....sorry.

My opinion...of course.

i agree with you.

stormchazer wrote:Why was Michael Jackson cuffed? I heard no outcries then....was he a danger to police? Cuffing someone is a standard when arrested. It is done for consistency and in a small part to humiliate. That itself is a deterrent. Its the same idea behind having your child arrested for petty theft in a store to teach them a lesson and scare them straight.

The real problem was she was 98. This buys into the thought that because one has grown old, they deserve special treatment. I do not buy it....sorry.

My opinion...of course.

For one you cant compare this to what Michael Jackson did. You are being a bit extreme in comparing the two here storm. For one, it was a MINOR traffic offense and she was not charged with molesting a child. Michael Jackson was considered a flight risk at the time and the charges are FAR more serious than a traffic fine.

It was POOR judgement by the arresting officer. Does not matter if she was 7 or 97, they used poor judgement according to the own dept.'s guide lines.

We had a case here in Phoenix a couple of years ago where an elderly man was caught shoplifting. The security guards ganged around him, put cuffs on him, and he had a heart attack and died while under their control. The argument was that he was not an escape risk, his crime was very minor, and they could have accomplished what needed to be done in a much quieter and safer manner.

Not sure you need cuffs for a 97-year-old, but I suppose the officers are told to follow procedure.

It's probably a situation where procedure and common sense don't mix well.