Fire San Marcos Police Officer Paul Stephens
UPDATES: August 21
The office of the City Manager, Rick Menchaca (who now has his own petition--click on Rick's name), called in answer to one of my angry emails. Before the conversation was over, the woman had said about Stephens "You don't know what he's been through." I could hardly believe my ears. Anyway, the City obviously thinks that we should be feeling sorry for Stephens and not for those poor kids. Go figure.
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The Mayor of San Marcos (sign a petition calling Shame on Her here) has decided to plant her dainty feet firmly into the mud where she will wallow with Stephens and Williams. She's backing them 100 percent:
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/austin/stories/082108kvue_SanMarcos_dog_mayor-cb.1d13b0f8.html
You might want to call:
City of San Marcos 512-393-8000
Incidentally, neither the Chief of Police, Howard Williams, nor Officer Stephens were present for the press conference, preferring to hide behind the skirts of the mayor, cowering like the craven bullies they are.
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Here's the story from
http://www.mysanantonio.com/pets/officers_actions_as_dogwas_dying_anger_driver100.html:
See video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39sctITKM9g
Here are two different petitions for the same cause:
http://boycottsanmarcos.com/
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/fire-san-marcos-police-chief-howard-williams#signatures
A Texas State University student who waited to get a speeding ticket while his girlfriend's dog died in her arms has filed a formal complaint with the San Marcos police over the Aug. 5 incident.
Krystal Hernandez was holding her ailing teacup poodle, Missy, while her boyfriend, Michael Gonzalez, raced south on Interstate 35, allegedly hitting 95 mph, toward a 24-hour veterinary clinic in New Braunfels.
After their car was pulled over sometime after midnight, the couple said they were kept waiting for 20 minutes by Officer Paul Stephens before he issued the ticket, despite their desperate pleas.
Police Chief Howard Williams said an internal investigation was begun after Gonzalez complained.
"This was not our finest hour," Williams said. "It was not handled right by our officer, but whether there was a violation of our policy that is subject to punishment, I don't know."
He said the officer has been "counseled" by supervisors.
Hernandez said the incident began when she and Gonzalez returned home after midnight from visiting a friend in San Antonio and fed Missy. When the dog began choking, they tried to dislodge the food, only to have Missy vomit and go limp.
They were racing down Interstate 35 toward New Braunfels when they were stopped by Stephens.
"Instead of helping us, he asked Michael what he was on," Hernandez said.
She said they begged to be allowed to take the dog to the clinic, also asking that they be allowed to turn themselves in to be ticketed or arrested or for Stephens to detain Gonzalez there while she drove the dog to New Braunfels.
Instead, she claims, Stephens responded, "Chill out, it's just a dog, you can buy another one."
Instead of hurrying to issue the ticket, Gonzalez said, Stephens chatted with two other officers on the scene. When he finally allowed them to leave 20 minutes later, the dog was dead, Gonzalez said.
But Chief Williams, who reviewed the patrol car's videotape of the stop, said Gonzalez should not have been driving so fast.
"He was going to kill someone the way he was going," Williams said. Unfortunately, the chief said, the officers made the situation worse.
Gonzalez said he was told that the department's shift commander had contacted the municipal court and asked that the speeding ticket be dropped.
"That kind of makes me more furious," Gonzalez said. "It's like I was kept there for nothing."
UPDATES: August 21
The office of the City Manager, Rick Menchaca (who now has his own petition--click on Rick's name), called in answer to one of my angry emails. Before the conversation was over, the woman had said about Stephens "You don't know what he's been through." I could hardly believe my ears. Anyway, the City obviously thinks that we should be feeling sorry for Stephens and not for those poor kids. Go figure.
--------------
The Mayor of San Marcos (sign a petition calling Shame on Her here) has decided to plant her dainty feet firmly into the mud where she will wallow with Stephens and Williams. She's backing them 100 percent:
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/txcn/austin/stories/082108kvue_SanMarcos_dog_mayor-cb.1d13b0f8.html
You might want to call:
City of San Marcos 512-393-8000
Incidentally, neither the Chief of Police, Howard Williams, nor Officer Stephens were present for the press conference, preferring to hide behind the skirts of the mayor, cowering like the craven bullies they are.
----------------------------------------------------------
Here's the story from
http://www.mysanantonio.com/pets/officers_actions_as_dogwas_dying_anger_driver100.html:
See video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39sctITKM9g
Here are two different petitions for the same cause:
http://boycottsanmarcos.com/
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/fire-san-marcos-police-chief-howard-williams#signatures
A Texas State University student who waited to get a speeding ticket while his girlfriend's dog died in her arms has filed a formal complaint with the San Marcos police over the Aug. 5 incident.
Krystal Hernandez was holding her ailing teacup poodle, Missy, while her boyfriend, Michael Gonzalez, raced south on Interstate 35, allegedly hitting 95 mph, toward a 24-hour veterinary clinic in New Braunfels.
After their car was pulled over sometime after midnight, the couple said they were kept waiting for 20 minutes by Officer Paul Stephens before he issued the ticket, despite their desperate pleas.
Police Chief Howard Williams said an internal investigation was begun after Gonzalez complained.
"This was not our finest hour," Williams said. "It was not handled right by our officer, but whether there was a violation of our policy that is subject to punishment, I don't know."
He said the officer has been "counseled" by supervisors.
Hernandez said the incident began when she and Gonzalez returned home after midnight from visiting a friend in San Antonio and fed Missy. When the dog began choking, they tried to dislodge the food, only to have Missy vomit and go limp.
They were racing down Interstate 35 toward New Braunfels when they were stopped by Stephens.
"Instead of helping us, he asked Michael what he was on," Hernandez said.
She said they begged to be allowed to take the dog to the clinic, also asking that they be allowed to turn themselves in to be ticketed or arrested or for Stephens to detain Gonzalez there while she drove the dog to New Braunfels.
Instead, she claims, Stephens responded, "Chill out, it's just a dog, you can buy another one."
Instead of hurrying to issue the ticket, Gonzalez said, Stephens chatted with two other officers on the scene. When he finally allowed them to leave 20 minutes later, the dog was dead, Gonzalez said.
But Chief Williams, who reviewed the patrol car's videotape of the stop, said Gonzalez should not have been driving so fast.
"He was going to kill someone the way he was going," Williams said. Unfortunately, the chief said, the officers made the situation worse.
Gonzalez said he was told that the department's shift commander had contacted the municipal court and asked that the speeding ticket be dropped.
"That kind of makes me more furious," Gonzalez said. "It's like I was kept there for nothing."
Officer Paul Stephens has shown himself to be exceedingly callous and cruel by not only allowing Mr. Gonzalez's dog to die but to exacerbate the situation by saying he could buy a new one.
Allowing a man such as this to continue to carry a gun and have other people's lives in his hands is just plain reckless. We consider Officer Stephens a liability and a disgrace to your profession and request that you fire him immediately.
Sincerely,
Friends of Missy
All of our animals are part of our family! and in texas especially that should be understood.. I would have kept driving.. This is ridiculous and the cop should be fired.
I have had the pleasure of being harrassed and followed intentionally by this "officer." I personally think he not only reflects bad on the San Marcos Police department, but on the entirety of the human race
The officer could have easily escorted the couple to the vet, traveling at a safe speed and alerting other drivers with lights. Why he chose to allow these people to experience the helpless anguish of watching someone they loved die, I can't understand a person like this. It is simply petty cruelty the way he taunted them, insulting their dog while it died in their arms. He must have been beaten as a child.... It's only a matter of time before he does something like this to someone else, only it may not be a dog, maybe it will actually be a child. 'Hey - those upset parents might speed into a car with 4 kids, you only have one that's dying.....you could potentially kill so many more.' See, a bully can justify any kind of torture.
why are all of you arguing "what if he crashes and kills lot of people?" what if all the drivers in the world that drive 100 mph everyday what if they crash and kill families? this driver is just as harmless as any 100 mph driver that are on the roads every day...those arent the ones that kill people its stupid oblivious drivers, 16 year olds with new licenses, old people, and just low IQ people...I think this guy was the safest guy on the road that night at that speed, hes trying to save his dogs life, he was going fast, but not driving dangerously, why would he drive dangerously? hes trying to save his dogs life and safety of his girlfriend....people drive 100 mphs all the time, they are more deadly because they are just going to work etc. not really caring, this guy is in nascar mode, i guarantee he couldve made it across america going 100mph with his dying dog and not hit a single person, too much was at stake for him to drive dangerously, fast yea, but dangerously i doubt chief of police is right, he could have killed someone going that fast, well chief sad news, but you could have killed someone everyday driving 60 mph on the freeway or 45 mph on your way home, any of us can kill anyone any time, most at any speed. AM i not right? so that argument does not hold water much. this cop could have been pulling over a drunk driver with a higher chance of killing someone rather than michael gonzalez. i want to know if you rather have officer stephens pull over michael or the drunk guy that has the higher chance of plowing into your family vehicle? which one is it? drunk drivers or michael? i thought so. if any of us find out if the mayor or officer stephens family dog dies, well be sure to email them and to the san marcos department "get over it, get a new one, its just a dog".
What a bum.
This officer's behavior was disgusting. He was well aware that the dog was dying and purposely took 20 minutes to write the ticket TWENTY MINUTES!!! He is not a public servant he is an idiot with a hand gun and the ability to abuse citizens without fear of punishment. Allowing him to keep his badge is an insult to the citizens of Texas. John G. Hayes
We also own a home in San Marcos where we will be retiring in two years. I find the actions of this officer to be reprehensible and heartless. You do not need such people on your force.
Karma's knocking on someone's door........its only a matter of time before he gets his....
I am disgusted with what happened here. To know that poor dog suffered because of this power-tripping, sadistic SOB makes me embarrassed to live in San Marcos.
I was completely shocked and horrified when I saw how the Officer treated the young man, and his truly hateful remarks. This is NOT a human being who needs to be an authority figure, this is a human being who is in desperate need of help! This officer needs intensive counseling and psychiatric care
Paul Stephens does not deserve to have a badge. That dog's life is worth more than his.
This is absolutely unforgivable! To allow a living creature to die in order to issue a frivolous ticket - what a waste! I can only hope Officer Stephens learns what it's like to suffer as these people (and their poor dog!) did. Maybe he should lose his job - "it's just a job - you can get another one," though it wouldn't be atonement enough for his callous and damaging actions. How fitting it would be if he started choking and was left to die in the same manner. How would he feel about that? I'm sure he's just as easily replaced. What a sad commentary on the state of compassion and empathy in the world.
As a pet owner, and one who would protect my Boston Terrier with my own life, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I would have probably died in this case, because I would have offered for the officer to follow me to the emergency room, I would have returned to my vehicle, and I would have driven to the emergency room to try to save my dog and then, and only then, would I have dealt with the officer. He would have likely shot me dead in that case. Law enforcement officials need to recognize that, good or bad, pets have been elevated to human status to those of us who treat our dogs like children. I would no more let a police officer harm my dog than harm my child. To me, it’s the same and I would use whatever force necessary to neutralize any potential harm or threat to my dog, including deadly force. I would suffer the consequences later. I can only hope that the trauma of this dog’s death that has been experienced by the owner, is transferred to the conscience of this officer. I hope it weighs on his mind when his head hits the pillow at night.. Perhaps he’ll choke or experience someone or something he loves choking and be delayed in the process of seeking help. Karma is only a bitch when it comes back around!
What a selfish, egotistical act on behalf of Officer Stephens. His use of power was abused and it is men like him that give officers a bad name. Officer Stephens, escort the family to a vet next time. Wake up!
What a disgusting example of a human being. I'm a law enforcemnt officer myself, and never in my life would i ever even consider doing something so callus and awful. he should not only resign but enroll himself in a self help program; or better yet; just end it all. what a shame that a city major would back such a sad example of an officer or a human being for that matter.
