LF: Photo Of Cop Parked In Handicap Spot (In Front of IHOP )Goes Viral

Title: Photo Of Cop Parked In Handicap Spot (In Front of IHOP )Goes Viral
Source: Opposing Views
URL Source: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/soci ... arked-handicap-spot-goes-viral
Published: Jul 14, 2015
Author: Amanda Andrade-Rhoades
Post Date: 2015-07-15 11:11:52 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 5545
Comments: 27

A photo of a police car parked in a spot designated for handicap patrons of an IHOP in Lafayette, Indiana, has gone viral.

The image, which was posted to Reddit by a user TheToolMan, was captioned “My local police must be responding to a pancake emergency.”

TheToolMan also claimed the officer who took the parking spot was inside the restaurant having breakfast.

Lafayette Police Department Chief Patrick J. Flannelly in Indiana told WTTV “It was incredibly disappointing to see the image and embarrassing to our agency. Outside of an officer responding to the business for life saving action there is no reason for a police car to be parked in that spot, period.”

Chief Flannelly said that the officer who parked the police vehicle was not there on official business. The unidentified officer told his leader that he didn’t realize it was a handicap parking spot and was embarrassed by his mistake and apologized.

The Lafayette Police Department noted that the space was improperly marked and determined that the officer had made a mistake.

The photo has already been viewed over a million times.

Sources: WTTV, Reddit Image via Reddit

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The unidentified officer told his leader that he didn’t realize it was a handicap parking spot and was embarrassed by his mistake and apologized. The Lafayette Police Department noted that the space was improperly marked and determined that the officer had made a mistake.

Lying scumbag cops, you can't see the effing handicapped symbol?

Anyone else (non-cop) doing this would be cited and forced to pay a hefty fine.

This is untrue, it was not “TheToolMan’s” local police. The image was originally posted by Ryan Schmitt on his Facebook timeline. That is not the caption Schmitt placed on https://www.facebook.com...

The image was shared more than 1,400 times on Facebook before Schmitt, who didn't respond to a request for comment, either removed his post or altered its privacy settings about 5 p.m. Monday. "I believe this is called abusing your power. Parking in a handicap spot when your not handicap and now my father had to park further from the door than he already had to," Schmitt wrote. A copy of the image posted Monday afternoon to Reddit, an online forum, garnered more than 3,400 comments within five hours.

This is also untrue, the officer was identified as Jason Savage. Savage has 15 years service without a single disciplinary action, he has a perfect performance record. Savage said he did not see the handicapped marking on the ground and "was unaware that it was there until a citizen (inside IHOP) pointed it out to him. He was very embarrassed and apologetic for his mistake." He moved his vehicle. He self-reported the incident to his commander.

Investigators visited the restaurant and noted that not only was the space not properly marked as a handicapped space, but no vehicle would have been ticketed for parking in the space….regardless of who was driving. Because the painted symbol on the ground is easy to miss, or fades through time and with vehicles driving over it….a signage is required to be placed at eye level in front of the parking spot so it can be easily seen.

However, Officer Savage still should have noticed the improper signage on the pavement and not parked there, to save embarrassment to himself and the department. Furthermore, Schmitt should have approached Savage in IHOP, like the other patron did, and Savage would have moved his vehicle. Apparently Schmitt later realized this, as evidence of his quick removal of the picture from his Facebook page. Schmitt will not respond to any calls by the media for an interview.

Part of an officers job is being observant. Ray Charles could have seen the large blue handicapped marker on the pavement. If he was my subordinate, I'd give him a week off without pay.

I originally didn't comment because I was unaware or the circumstances. For all I know, the officer responded to a 911 emergency at the restaurant and parked at the closest space near the door for quick entry. I don't trust these stories... but now that you've pointed out this was from non observance, I'm disgusted.

Yea, although the ground painted sign is not the legal notice in their city (the sign posted on a pole at eye level is)....he should have seen the marking and not parked there.

His chief said he will receive disciplinary action. He should, for the nationwide embarrassment he brought to his department.

The article was still yellow journalism, I got detailed information from local news....as always with all of Deckard's articles.

Blow it out your ass - the article I posted got their FACTS from the same local news.