Neither officer stated an intent or desire to shoot the driver.
At 8:21 of the video the cop said: "Right now, the **** you just pulled I could blast you right in the mouth" , 8:51 "I am so close to caving in your goddamned head", 9:07 Do you want me to pull mine and stick it to your head?", 13:30 "I tell you what I should have done. As soon as I saw your gun, I shoulda taken two steps back, pulled my glock 40, and just put ten bullets in your *** and let you drop.", 13:53 (referring to the other officer) "And he would've been a nice witness as I executed you, because you're stupid.". So my question is that while it's not a direct threat does that negate the potential of an implied threat? The man is handcuffed (hands in the rear as SOP calls for) and in the backseat of the cruiser and his own weapon is on the trunk of his car. Someone (cop or not) angrily shouting at you and making implied "would, could, should've" threats... while basically defenseless is a pretty scary situation.
Granted the guy was lying out of his *** about being in the area and why he was with those two people. Harless recognized the woman and knew her vocation. The guy simply was trying to get out of a illegal solicitation of prostitution charge (or however it's worded). Thus I agree he was rightfully detained. As noted it was stupid to obey the "shut-up" command given by the other officer and clearly and loudly state that he had a CWP and was armed.
Still the aggravated officer was unable it seems to get himself under control and verbally abused the "suspect".
I will also agree that sometimes you have to "speak their language", cursing, and being aggressive to ensure that there is no loss of control of the "situation" but not of one's self.
I do appreciate that the officers were hyped up/high alert given the area they were in. (Street) prostitutes aren't known for working nice areas of town in any city.
The guy was wrong for not asserting himself to ensure the officers were notified quickly of his CWP and armed status, disobeying the command to silence.
As to why he was armed in a bad neighborhood and consorting with criminals... well, common sense says better to be armed than unarmed when in a potentially dangerous area. But common sense says much better altogether NOT to be in those areas, particularly after dark.
He needs a new profession.
And pray tell what profession would that be? Hopefully you're not thinking anything involving "public relations."
The officer's use of words would offend my grandmother (RIP) but not most felons who understand it. The officer is working in a very high crime area (not too many departments have seasoned officers riding together unless the area routinely calls for multiple eyes and 'guns' on stops. He seems to have a nose for picking out those that do not belong, are armed and breaking the law. Seems like a good street cop that needs to work on presentation. For his own health he needs to help in learning how not to personalize the idiots idiocy, and really needs to work on his professional comportment and letting go of upsets. No one is perfect and all can constantly improve. It is far easier teaching a good street cop how to cope than trying to teach a milk toast how to become a good street cop.
Regards
Brian King
Agreed. Just sad that the video went viral and casts a very bad light on a lot of good cops.
I would never want to be a cop in Canton Ohio, and work in the area Harless does. I do see Harless's situation. I understand why he behaved they way he did. He isn't not giving traffic tickets to speeders in high end neighborhoods. From both videos he is dealing with criminals in a high crime area. Criminals, druggies, etc. are stupid. What is this guy doing carrying a concealed weapon in a car with a pimp and a prostitute? Think about it, that is pretty stupid. The "john" the driver probably isn't new to hiring a street prostitute. You have to look at the whole picture. Also. I agree you have to talk to low lives and handle them in a certain way, in their language, in a way their world works so they understand you, and will respond and respect you. You can't let them think they have control or you are controllable. Low life criminals do play games, they do lie and are unpredictable and dangerously stupid, they don't want to get caught. Harless does tell the prostitute he will give her lumps, he is speaking to her in a way she is accustom to. And he does that during the whole incident. He is clearly upset that a "john" who has in his car both the pimp and the prostitute carrying a legal conceal weapon, and rightfully so. Why is the "john", the driver, have a gun while picking up criminals? Did the pimp and the prostitute know he had a concealed gun? What was the intention of a man hiring a street prostitute in a bad part of town leaving the house with a gun? Who allows the pimp as well in the car. That is stupid. If Harless didn't stop them, would he have come across any of them later shot to death? Again Harless isn't dealing with a stressed out soccer Mom running late to her kids game who broke the speed limit by 5 miles an hour in they best part of town. Harless is in a whole different and more dangerous stupid world, a world I won't be caught dead in. I don't admonish Harless, or see him as an SOB out of control, unless he acted that way to the example of a soccer Mom speeding in the good part of town. Now I could be wrong and Harless does work in a low crime area, and that changes everything. Second thought maybe not. Unless his trying to keep scum out of a good place to live. It is a hard call.
The guy driving the car was an idiot for putting himself in that situation with the pimp and hooker in that neighborhood and after dark. That I will not dispute. Yet Harless' attitude and lack of professionalism was uncalled for. You can be firm and strong without yelling and cussing and throwing implied threats at someone. The uniform and vehicle and badge should automatically give you the authority you need to control the situation. Granted some folks don't see it or recognize it or will submit to the authority presented by the badge/uniform/vehicle. Those can be dealt with in a likewise professional calm but firm manner.
I can appreciate the harshness of the job and the tension one feels walking up to an unknown during a traffic stop and seeing lots of red-flags everywhere. Still.
Harless has been investigated by IA 18 times. I dunno if that is a lot or if it's a small number, yet it does speak volumes to me, an average citizen that a "good cop" is investigated by the department 18 times.
Still final judgement is and should rightly belong to the Canton OH. police department.
