Oklahoma Trooper Daniel Martin suspended for 5 days. Ordered to anger assessment. OHP says stop and arrest justified. Finds medic obstructed officer.
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OHP discipline letter to Trooper Daniel Martin
Paramedic Maurice White Jr. files suit against Trooper Martin and our earlier coverage of this story
Starting today and continuing through Tuesday, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Martin is serving a five day suspension without pay. OHP says Trooper Martin showed “conduct unbecoming an officer” in the videotaped confrontation with a Creek Nation ambulance crew on May 24 in Paden, Oklahoma. The trooper has also been ordered to undergo “anger assessment”.
Despite those findings, OHP’s investigation found that Trooper Martin was justified in stopping the ambulance and making an arrest of Paramedic Maurice White Jr, saying that White obstructed a police officer.
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The report questions Martin’s judgment when he learned of the patient in the back of the ambulance and his initial demeanor and language when he confronted the driver, EMT Paul Franks.
Citing ongoing civil litigation, the OHP declined to be questioned about their findings after the release Wednesday evening.
Here is more in excerpts from an article by Tulsa World’s Manny Galmallo:
OHP spokesman Capt. Christ West, reading from a news release, said Martin had a right to stop the ambulance and had justification to arrest the paramedic for obstructing an officer but that the situation could have been and should have been handled differently.
Martin’s demeanor and language were unprofessional and contrary to what is expected of an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper by both the Department of Public Safety and the public, West said.
It would have been more appropriate to allow the ambulance to continue to the hospital immediately once he knew that a patient was on board, West said.
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White filed a federal lawsuit against Martin on Tuesday, claiming that his civil rights were violated.
White’s attorney, Richard O’Carroll, said Wednesday that he wasn’t surprised by the agency’s decision not to fire Martin.
“It was predictable,” he said, adding that Martin “should never be allowed to wear a badge again.”
“Imagine what would happen to a citizen assaulted by an officer in an alley and there was no film available,” he said. “This sends a further message of abuse.”
Referring to the lawsuit, O’Carroll said, “We will deal with this and deal with this severely. Martin will pay.”
The trooper’s attorney, Gary James of Oklahoma City, said Wednesday night that his client followed the law and agency procedure in stopping the ambulance.
In spite of that, James said his client, aware of all the controversy sparked by his confrontation with the ambulance crew, “wishes he could do it over.”
According to James, Martin had a right to appeal his suspension but waived that right “in the best interests of everyone.”
“He just wants to get this behind him,” James said, “and for the good of the Highway Patrol.”
