Two Officials Arrested During HS Football Game

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

I hate this part of the press release:

It is their goal to be as invisible as possible so that the game and the teams are the only focus.

No. That is not the goal of officials.

From my officiating class notes:

Officials Have Four Objectives

1. Ensure player safety
2. Ensure games are played fairly, according to the rules
3. Help players develop skills and knowledge of the sport
4. Promote sportsmanship

"Being invisible" is a bonus.

Covington Mayor Mike Cooper on referee arrests: 'I want the truth'

[CT1]

Apparently the new police chief has appointed another officer who was at the scene to do the PD's investigation.

Wonder how that's gonna work out?

[HLin NC]

Cooper said the police investigation is being led by Capt. Jack West, who was on the sideline next to Short when the arrests were made and has been interim police chief.

A witness is leading the investigation???!!! Mayor Cooper may want to back up and punt on this one. Call the LSP and let them handle it.

[scrounge]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

A witness is leading the investigation???!!! Mayor Cooper may want to back up and punt on this one. Call the LSP and let them handle it.

Not just that, but one who's ALREADY been quoted as saying the redass officer did nothing wrong. This whole thing stinks and I hope that the publicity this has received will cause them to tuck tail and drop these ridiculous charges. Even if EVERYTHING the cop says is true - and I doubt very much of it is at all - that shouldn't even be a crime. It's basically outlawing being 'uppity' however some power-mad bully with a badge defines it.

[MD Longhorn]

I don't want to just see dropped charges (which, honestly, should be a given). I want disciplinary action taken against the officer.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

I don't want to just see dropped charges (which, honestly, should be a given). I want disciplinary action taken against the officer.

I'm going to go extreme and go with legal action for false imprisonment under color of authority. If anybody is subject to "public intimidation", it should be that officer.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

I don't want to just see dropped charges (which, honestly, should be a given). I want disciplinary action taken against the officer.

Good luck. I don't know how small of a town Covington is, but my buddy had a run in with the police when we were in college (and Pullman is a small town). Long story, but in the end the officer's police report was full of bull#*$?, and there were about 10 of us that were there that could testify against it. Initially my buddy was going to fight it, but his discussion with a lawyer went like this:

Lawyer: "Do you like living in Pullman?"
Friend: "Yes."
Lawyer: "How many police officers does Pullman have?"
Friend: "I don't know."
Lawyer: "25. Now, if we pursue this complaint, and succeed in having it entered against him, how many of those other officers will know about it?"
Friend: "All of them."
Lawyer: "How many of those officers will know who filed the complaint?"
Friend: "All of them."
Lawyer: "Would you still want to live in Pullman after every single one of the officers knows who filed a complaint against a friend and fellow officer?"
Friend: "Probably not."

In the end, his lawyer negotiated dropping the charges. No complaint was filed, and my buddy had no convictions (though he does have an arrest record).

The police have _a lot_ of power, even beyond just their simple authority granted by law. Their influence is often enough. And if Covington is small enough, I bet every single one of those officers would know who these officials were if they pursued some sort of complaint against Short.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Suudy

Good luck. I don't know how small of a town Covington is, but my buddy had a run in with the police when we were in college (and Pullman is a small town). Long story, but in the end the officer's police report was full of bull#*$?, and there were about 10 of us that were there that could testify against it. Initially my buddy was going to fight it, but his discussion with a lawyer went like this:

Lawyer: "Do you like living in Pullman?"
Friend: "Yes."
Lawyer: "How many police officers does Pullman have?"
Friend: "I don't know."
Lawyer: "25. Now, if we pursue this complaint, and succeed in having it entered against him, how many of those other officers will know about it?"
Friend: "All of them."
Lawyer: "How many of those officers will know who filed the complaint?"
Friend: "All of them."
Lawyer: "Would you still want to live in Pullman after every single one of the officers knows who filed a complaint against a friend and fellow officer?"
Friend: "Probably not."

In the end, his lawyer negotiated dropping the charges. No complaint was filed, and my buddy had no convictions (though he does have an arrest record).

The police have _a lot_ of power, even beyond just their simple authority granted by law. Their influence is often enough. And if Covington is small enough, I bet every single one of those officers would know who these officials were if they pursued some sort of complaint against Short.

True, and we already know the department has corruption issues to begin with.

[Adam]

Which would be a concern for any of these officials if they live in that community.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Suudy

Good luck. I don't know how small of a town Covington is, but my buddy had a run in with the police when we were in college (and Pullman is a small town). Long story, but in the end the officer's police report was full of bull#*$?, and there were about 10 of us that were there that could testify against it. Initially my buddy was going to fight it, but his discussion with a lawyer went like this:

Lawyer: "Do you like living in Pullman?"
Friend: "Yes."
Lawyer: "How many police officers does Pullman have?"
Friend: "I don't know."
Lawyer: "25. Now, if we pursue this complaint, and succeed in having it entered against him, how many of those other officers will know about it?"
Friend: "All of them."
Lawyer: "How many of those officers will know who filed the complaint?"
Friend: "All of them."
Lawyer: "Would you still want to live in Pullman after every single one of the officers knows who filed a complaint against a friend and fellow officer?"
Friend: "Probably not."

In the end, his lawyer negotiated dropping the charges. No complaint was filed, and my buddy had no convictions (though he does have an arrest record).

The police have _a lot_ of power, even beyond just their simple authority granted by law. Their influence is often enough. And if Covington is small enough, I bet every single one of those officers would know who these officials were if they pursued some sort of complaint against Short.

Which is why I don't automatically judge somebody who has been arrested. It's easy to get arrested, especially if you have pissed off the wrong person.

[scrounge]

The farce is over...charges dropped

***************************

Charges Dropped: Covington Police Chief & Mayor Apologize to Arrested Referees

See bio, contact info, and more articles from Vanessa Bolano

13 hours ago
by Vanessa Bolano
Weekend Anchor & Reporter

There has been a new development in the arrest of two referees at a North Shore football game last week. Wednesday night we were the first to report charges would be refused and they have.
“On behalf of the city of Covington I offer my sincere apology to Mr. Radcliffe and Mr. Gambino,” says Covington Mayor Mike Cooper.
“We apologize from bottom of our hearts for the events that took place last Friday night. It should have been handled differently,” says Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz.
The Mayor of Covington and their newly appointed Police Chief are now apologizing nearly one week after two referees were escorted off the field, put into the back of a police cruiser and arrested.
It all happened in front of hundreds of fans attending the St. Paul’s home game versus rival Mandeville last Friday. Only WGNO cameras were rolling as the confrontation unfolded.
Jim Radcliffe and Christopher Gambino, two referees with 20-plus years of experience, we’re facing criminal charges. The two had been booked with public intimidation. Now, newly appointed Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz, who has only been on the job for days, is saying what his officer did was wrong.
“We spoke with District Attorney Reed and requested that the case and the charges against these two gentlemen be refused. He agreed with us that that’s the right thing to do,” says Chief Lentz.
President of the Greater New Orleans Football Officials Association Eddie Allemore is pleased, but says much of the damage has already been done.
“It’s quite an embarrassment, and their mug shots are still out there if you look at a lot of the articles they still have their mug shots up, and we hope it goes away,” says Allemore.
Allemore says it’s up to his men to pursue legal action against Covington Police. Chief Lentz says he’s still unsure whether disciplinary action will be taken against the arresting officer. At this point everyone is just trying to put last Friday night behind them.
“As an official you never want to see your name in the paper. I’ll be ready for that to get over with,” says Allemore.
“At the end of the day the Mayor and I, the police department, we truly believe this was the right thing to do,” says Chief Lentz.
Allmore originally wanted to keep Covington officers away from his referees. He says for Friday’s game at Covington High St. Tammany Deputies will still be proving on field security. St. Paul’s plays away so it is not an issue this week. In the future though he says eventually a plan will be hammered out. Allemore says it’ll take a bit of time for the two to once again create a trusting relationship.

Read more: Charges Dropped: Covington Police Chief & Mayor Apologize to Arrested Referees | WGNO

[maven]

The farce might be over, but the games have just begun!

[hbk314]

Is unsure about disciplining the officer code for putting it off until people are no longer paying attention and then sweeping it under the rug?