Austin Police Officer Hits Motorcyclist with...

[f-Stop]

...his cruiser!!!

http://www.kvue.com/home/Police-release-video-of-officer-hitting-motorcyclist-97694484.html

Let's see - runs a stop sign in a neighborhood while entering data unto his computer, sends an unsuspecting motorcyclist to the hospital - no disciplinary action?

Frisco Dave...any thoughts?

[Oyeaa]

Above the law, as always.  But why do we allow it?

[Disco]

Makes me sick to my stomach.  Good thing he wasn't doing 50mph.  I know cops are merely human, and we all have bad days, but isn't it reasonable to hold them to a higher standard - even if it's just slightly higher?  Isn't that the other side of the respect equation?  

I hope Officer Dunn at least went to check on the condition of the Mr. Olivier.  If he did, he's a better man than Garland Police Officer Lester Ray Patterson, Jr.  

[RainMaker]

Take a moment to send an email showing your dissapointment with the Austin City Council on this.

Here's the link to send an email to all of the city council (I picked "public safety" as the subject from the drop downs):

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm

Here's what I wrote:

Honorable City Council Members of Austin:

I just read and viewed video of the running down of motorcycle rider Louis Oliver by Officer Damon Dunn on May 29th.  I gather from the information presented that Officer Dunn was too busy entering information into his computer to be driving safely at the time.  For running a stop sign and injuring another driver, the sentence is "no disciplinary action".  Why not?  Was Officer Dunn on an emergency call?  Not if he was driving 10mph.  Was he in a hurry to re-establish a speed trap?  What possible good reason did he have to ignore basic safety principles while driving a large, high horsepower vehicle through an intersection?  If a child had been on a bicycle and been killed as a result of this dangerous behavior, would the "no disciplinary action" still be applied?  Is it simply because it was a motorcyclist that no action was taken? Or was it because Mr. Oliver had the bad luck to survive the encounter that no action was taken? While there are circumstances that should be taken into consideration when law enforcement officers are involved in traffic accidents, this case is simply one of having those in charge of enforcing the law being above it.

The city is responsible and should be paying for all medical, property, pain and suffering damages sustained by Mr. Oliver as a result of this blatant violation of the law by Officer Dunn.  Officer Dunn should be moved to a job that does not require being behind the wheel of a police cruiser.

Maybe it would be a good idea to make him a motorcycle officer so that he can appreciate the dangers presented by inattentive, law-breaking drivers in cars when one is riding a motorcycle. 

I am a past officer of the Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club and I am warning riders of my club and all others to stay clear of Austin, as it is a city where motorcyclists are second class citizens and the police truly have a "license to kill".


Mark Clauder
Concerned Motorcycle Rider
Arlington, Texas

[Houdini]

I am a past officer of the Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club and I am warning riders of my club and all others to stay clear of Austin, as it is a city where motorcyclists are second class citizens and the police truly have a "license to kill".

BAM!  Well written and to the point.

[f-Stop]

Thanks for the link Mark.  Here's what I wrote...

I am writing in respect to Officer Dunn running into and injuring motorcyclist Louis Olivier with his police cruiser on May 29th of this year. I know police are only human, but shouldn't they be held to a higher standard? Gross neglect of a traffic signal resulting in the injured spending more than a month in the hospital should have more consequences for Officer Dunn than "no disciplinary action"!

As a motorcyclist myself, I am very concerned with this non-action. It's bad enough that I find myself constantly dodging inattentive drivers in this town, but now I need to watch out for inattentive police cruisers, too! I can't help but think that this incident has been prejudiced into a "non-action" due to the fact that Mr. Olivier was on a motorcycle.

I hope Officer Dunn has at least learned something from this - enter data while stopped, maybe - and has been decent enough to go visit his victim while he was in the hospital.

Thank you

[Houdini]

Here's what I wrote;

Just out of curiosity, would I as a citizen get a free ride if I ran into a motorcyclist or maybe a child on his bicycle if I was playing with my computer or texting with a friend and ran a stop sign? If no, then why did Officer Dunn receive no disciplinary action? It must be nice to be above the law...

Chuck

[SideCar]

Thanks, Mark.  Had to write a quick note as well...

I have just read an article and seen the video of Officer Damon Dunn running into 74 year old motorcycle rider Louis Oliver.  The recklessness of Officer Dunn's actions are apalling and while every person makes a mistake, I also read that no disciplinary action is being taken. 

The fact that there is an exception that allows entering data while driving does not mean that officers may do so negligently, putting the public in danger.  This officer should be disciplined just as you would discipline a civilian for such criminal recklessness.  If this had been a child on a bicycle, I feel certain the outcome would be different regarding discipline.  It shouldn't be. Whether motorcyclist, pedestrian or bicyclist, this type of recklessness should not be condoned or accepted by the City of Austin.

Please look into this carefully and take action to protect the public.

[Old Geezer Richard]

  Charlie after watching the video , boy o boy that hits a REAL sore nerve with me  ......  before my accident last summer , me and Lisa were out on an late afternoon ride in January going home on the access road because she was getting cold and this DUMB bunny almost T-BONED us running  a stop sign that was on the access rd. . she swerved at the last minute after realizing where was headin and she side swiped us along the whole right side of the Valk ..... and she kept on rolling for another 100 feet, finally she stoped.. luckly we did not wind up like that poor guy in the video. I hope the letter gets somebody's attention because if it were ANYBODY ELSE they would throw the book at us  that cop has to be held accountable for his actions just like everybody else . that damn cop could of pulled over to play around with his computer .......... Thanks the Pissoff Geez    tickedoff:

[bigguy]

Texarkana Gazette Biker Blog on this subject.
Thanks for the heads up guys.

[RainMaker]

Check this story out - maybe we should consider such a rally in Austin to protest having Officer Dunn on the street with a loaded cruiser.

http://www.toledoonthemove.com/news/story.aspx?id=460820

[SideCar]

I notice that when I left a comment on the story page, it said the comment would be up in 5 minutes.  Still not there. Guess I'll have to resubmit later.

[RainMaker]

Update to the story - this guy may lose his leg.  He's still in the hospital!!!

http://www.kvue.com/news/Motorcyclist-hit-by-APD-speaks-publicly-for-the-first-time-97990364.html

[john]

                 keep Austin weird  .....    ???
 
  

[RainMaker]

                keep Austin weird  .....    ???
 
  

And stay out of Austin.  Spend no money there.   Gas up before or after.

Thanks to all who have responded to my request to email the Austin City Council.  For those of you who haven't, please consider doing so.

Mark