Posted on 05/04/2006 1:54:08 PM PDT by The Old Hoosier
Thursday, May 4; 4:16 pm
By John McArdle,
Roll Call Staff
Police labor union officials asked acting Chief Christopher McGaffin this afternoon to allow a Capitol Police officer to complete his investigation into an early-morning car crash involving Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.).
According to a letter sent by Officer Greg Baird, acting chairman of the USCP FOP, the wreck took place at approximately 2:45 a.m. Thursday when Kennedy’s car, operating with its running lights turned off, narrowly missed colliding with a Capitol Police cruiser and smashed into a security barricade at First and C streets Southeast.
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| Rep. Patrick Kennedy |
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“The driver exited the vehicle and he was observed to be staggering,” Baird’s letter states. Officers approached the driver, who “declared to them he was a Congressman and was late to a vote. The House had adjourned nearly three hours before this incident. It was Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy from Rhode Island.”
Baird wrote that Capitol Police Patrol Division units, who are trained in driving under the influence cases, were not allowed to perform basic field sobriety tests on the Congressman. Instead, two sergeants, who also responded to the accident, proceeded to confer with the Capitol Police watch commander on duty and then “ordered all of the Patrol Division Units to leave the scene and that they were taking over.”
Baird said he had been advised that after the officers departed, Capitol Police “House Division officials” gave Kennedy a ride home.
Kennedy’s office did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
“If the events unfolded as they have been reported to me, and I believe they did, a complete and immediate investigation into them is required,” Baird wrote to McGaffin. Baird asked the acting chief why officers on the scene were prevented from completing the appropriate investigation “into violations of law they witnessed. This appears to be interference with their duties as U.S. Capitol Police Officers and may have prevented the collection of evidence of such violations."
“My members were attempting to carry out their duties with the professionalism and objectivity their oaths require. They should have been assisted in those duties by every level of supervision and command. Instead these circumstances call the integrity of our organization into question by creating the appearance of special favor for someone who is perceived to be privileged and powerful,” Baird wrote.
While a Capitol Police spokeswoman could not be reached for comment, Baird said in an interview this afternoon that McGaffin had contacted him about his letter.
“I want the public and those who we protect to know that we are fair and impartial when it comes to enforcing the laws on capitol grounds and the officers are doing their jobs in accordance to the laws and D.C. code and U.S. code,” he said.” That’s really why we want this addressed.”
Congress critters are immune from prosecution going to or coming from a session. It's a get out of jail card. And he's a Kennedy and he's a (D).
He'll get away with it until he kills someone, and then he's a Kennedy and a (D). Lather, rinse, repeat. :-/
Pinz
I saw it, no worries! I was not picking on you, just letting the lurkers know we know, ya know? :)
You should have bumper stickers made of that and send them to the Sen and his family.
I'd contribute.
With Patches' handwriting like that, he couldn't even stay on the lines of the page, the Portsmouth, RI PD still had the nerve to write under "physical condition of driver" that Patches "Appeared normal."
Another interesting thing, the "owner" of the vehicle that Patches was driving (the 4/15/06 RI accident, not to be confused with the one this morning in DC) is listed as "Friends of Pat Kennedy, Inc." I guess that way, he doesn't have to pay for gas, insurance, upkeep, etc. The campaign funds can be used to keep up Patches' wheels.
Maybe he was delivering a Gas rebate check.
Oh wait, er, nevermind. ;-)
Pinz
Chrissy Matthews bringing out a Constitutional arguement saying that a Congressman can't be interfered with when going to his office per the US constitution.
If anything close to substantial punishment comes of this...I will run naked through the closest tick and chigger infested forest.
Now let's not rush to judgement...I'm sure he was on his way to early mass...
Hopefully the watch commander made a little green for this favor. We'll have to wait and watch to see if it was all worth it. Too bad we can't get a BAC on Kennedy, what with the time delay and all. But he wasn't drunk, so the point is moot...right?
</sarc>
show me a kennedy that's not a drunk...
I notice that Kennedy was driving a Ford Crown Victoria and the owner was Friends of Pat Kennedy Inc. It must be good to be a Congressman and charge all your expenses to your PAC.
Yeah... nice, huh?
Before I moved to Florida, I lived in the same neck of the woods as the Kennedy's on the Cape. What I learned form that is:
"All pigs are equal, but some are more equal than others".
(George Orwell)
I'd be careful...the odds may not be in your favor considering the current animosity on Capitol Hill...
He was likely drunk and should have been given sobriety test. But, a Kennedy mobile strikes again.
Patrick is Ted's son.
These Kennedys make me sick...
Wearing socks???
Love your tagline.
Pinz
LOL
(His cousin is on with John now, maybe John will ask him about it.)
Pinz
Wow, that scribble looks like the work of a drunken sot -- if that's his 'normal' handwriting, unimpaired, then he has just about the worst handwriting I've ever seen.
Sounds like the twit turned left just in front of the oncoming driver who had no chance to stop in time????? You have to cut it awfully close to have any chance of getting hit that way - I've been driving for 30 years and I've never come remotely close to that kind of an accident...... but then I'm not a drunken sot who considers himself above the law and above all other citizens.............
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