Atlanta Police Chief questioned for providing police escort to Corvette Club
10-04-2008, 02:25 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Atlanta Police Chief questioned for providing police escort to Corvette Club
Complaint: Chief made officers escort Corvette Club
Ethics filing made against Atlanta Police’s Richard Pennington
By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, October 04, 2008
An Atlanta police officer has filed an ethics complaint against Police Chief Richard Pennington, contending the chief made on-duty motorcycle officers escort members of his Corvette club through the city last summer, the police union said.
Atlanta ethics officer Ginny Looney confirmed Thursday that a complaint was filed against Pennington on Aug. 22, but she would not discuss its details. She said an investigation into the complaint has begun.
Pennington would not comment on an open investigation, said Sgt. Lisa Keyes, an Atlanta police spokeswoman.
The officer who filed the complaint did so anonymously out of fear of retribution, said police Sgt. Scott Kreher, president of an Atlanta police union.
The escort incident happened on July 12, Kreher said. He said Pennington owns a Corvette and is a member of the United Council of Corvette Clubs, which describes itself on a Web site as the premier African-American Corvette club.
Kreher said the club’s members came to Atlanta for its weeklong annual convention and stayed at a hotel south of the city, near the airport.
On July 12, Pennington had a handful of officers escort the club members, driving their Corvettes, from the hotel to Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead, Kreher said.
Pennington was with the group, was not on duty and was driving his Corvette, Kreher said, adding that the escort required about two hours of the officers’ time.
Atlanta Police Information - (404) 853-3434
Ethics filing made against Atlanta Police’s Richard Pennington
By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, October 04, 2008
An Atlanta police officer has filed an ethics complaint against Police Chief Richard Pennington, contending the chief made on-duty motorcycle officers escort members of his Corvette club through the city last summer, the police union said.
Atlanta ethics officer Ginny Looney confirmed Thursday that a complaint was filed against Pennington on Aug. 22, but she would not discuss its details. She said an investigation into the complaint has begun.
Pennington would not comment on an open investigation, said Sgt. Lisa Keyes, an Atlanta police spokeswoman.
The officer who filed the complaint did so anonymously out of fear of retribution, said police Sgt. Scott Kreher, president of an Atlanta police union.
The escort incident happened on July 12, Kreher said. He said Pennington owns a Corvette and is a member of the United Council of Corvette Clubs, which describes itself on a Web site as the premier African-American Corvette club.
Kreher said the club’s members came to Atlanta for its weeklong annual convention and stayed at a hotel south of the city, near the airport.
On July 12, Pennington had a handful of officers escort the club members, driving their Corvettes, from the hotel to Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead, Kreher said.
Pennington was with the group, was not on duty and was driving his Corvette, Kreher said, adding that the escort required about two hours of the officers’ time.
Atlanta Police Information - (404) 853-3434
10-04-2008, 02:30 PM
#3
Race Director
Talking about throwing rocks in a glass house. I know he filed under anonymous but things do leak out. Yes, the Police Chief wouldn't be able to get him in trouble but he sure can make his life rough, including finding things that he did wrong.
10-04-2008, 02:33 PM
#4
Team Owner
I've seen and heard of police officers escorting lots of different processions in many different cities. It's usually good public relations for the city. Just wondering if there was something different about this one that indicated it shouldn't have been done?
10-04-2008, 02:40 PM
#5
Team Owner
As a former LEO . . been there and done that. If it's a large group trying to stay together, it's better than having them race around traffic or bust a few lights. Wisdom suggests however that the Club might want to offer to compensate the City for the officer's time .
Sounds like a 'problem child" that needs a new career or an attitude adjustment.
10-04-2008, 02:44 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
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..There's GOT to be more to the story here....I too see no problem with a little public relations escort...Any one here know what a presidential visit costs any city??? Its monstrous $$$'s and there is never any reimbursement!!!
10-04-2008, 02:51 PM
#7
Race Director
Last year I was in a cruise with our local club with 70 plus corvettes. We drove through 5 towns to our destination and each had police escorts to get us through all the traffic lights as a group. The only problem was that folks thought we were a funeral procession and pulled over to the side of the road while we passed. It was “good will” on the part of the police departments involved….
10-04-2008, 03:00 PM
#8
Melting Slicks
It's really being nit-picky. Look, ALL officers do things they are not "technically" supposed to do when it comes to the realm of using their "connections". How many times do officers get stopped for a minor traffic violation while they are off-duty, flash their star and get off without a ticket?? ALL THE TIME!
Off-duty cops going double the speed limit & they don't get a citation. They will always show their police credentials to get off on a ticket. IF they want to be "above reproach". When stopped while off-duty, they should NOT show any proof they are an officer, and take the ticket.
There is MORE to the story than we know. The officer that filed the complaint has some type of beef against the chief. He or she is trying to get back at the chief.
I guarantee you that the officer who filed the complaint, while off-duty, has broken minor moving violations, been stopped and got off without a ticket because they got a badge. I guarantee you that officer has received free lunch, free diners, free coffee, etc., because they use their police status. I guarantee you they did a check on someone they know personally because they wanted to be sure that they don't have a criminal past. Like running a name check on their daughters boyfriend.
It's all politics.
Off-duty cops going double the speed limit & they don't get a citation. They will always show their police credentials to get off on a ticket. IF they want to be "above reproach". When stopped while off-duty, they should NOT show any proof they are an officer, and take the ticket.
There is MORE to the story than we know. The officer that filed the complaint has some type of beef against the chief. He or she is trying to get back at the chief.
I guarantee you that the officer who filed the complaint, while off-duty, has broken minor moving violations, been stopped and got off without a ticket because they got a badge. I guarantee you that officer has received free lunch, free diners, free coffee, etc., because they use their police status. I guarantee you they did a check on someone they know personally because they wanted to be sure that they don't have a criminal past. Like running a name check on their daughters boyfriend.
It's all politics.
10-04-2008, 03:06 PM
#9
Race Director
10-04-2008, 03:08 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '09
Every profession has its perks, but the chief probably should have asked the officers if they were cool with the duty. As a taxpayer I'm not thrilled that tax money gets wasted in this manner and I'm sure that those paying state our county tax in the area will voice their discontent.
10-04-2008, 03:20 PM
#11
Safety Car
Every profession has its perks, but the chief probably should have asked the officers if they were cool with the duty. As a taxpayer I'm not thrilled that tax money gets wasted in this manner and I'm sure that those paying state our county tax in the area will voice their discontent.
10-04-2008, 03:33 PM
#13
Safety Car
It's really being nit-picky. Look, ALL officers do things they are not "technically" supposed to do when it comes to the realm of using their "connections". How many times do officers get stopped for a minor traffic violation while they are off-duty, flash their star and get off without a ticket?? ALL THE TIME!
Off-duty cops going double the speed limit & they don't get a citation. They will always show their police credentials to get off on a ticket. IF they want to be "above reproach". When stopped while off-duty, they should NOT show any proof they are an officer, and take the ticket.
There is MORE to the story than we know. The officer that filed the complaint has some type of beef against the chief. He or she is trying to get back at the chief.
I guarantee you that the officer who filed the complaint, while off-duty, has broken minor moving violations, been stopped and got off without a ticket because they got a badge. I guarantee you that officer has received free lunch, free diners, free coffee, etc., because they use their police status. I guarantee you they did a check on someone they know personally because they wanted to be sure that they don't have a criminal past. Like running a name check on their daughters boyfriend.
It's all politics.
Off-duty cops going double the speed limit & they don't get a citation. They will always show their police credentials to get off on a ticket. IF they want to be "above reproach". When stopped while off-duty, they should NOT show any proof they are an officer, and take the ticket.
There is MORE to the story than we know. The officer that filed the complaint has some type of beef against the chief. He or she is trying to get back at the chief.
I guarantee you that the officer who filed the complaint, while off-duty, has broken minor moving violations, been stopped and got off without a ticket because they got a badge. I guarantee you that officer has received free lunch, free diners, free coffee, etc., because they use their police status. I guarantee you they did a check on someone they know personally because they wanted to be sure that they don't have a criminal past. Like running a name check on their daughters boyfriend.
It's all politics.
there is more to the story than we know. However, police officers DO NOT get a break for doing double the speed limit. I know several officers that have received citations for 12-15 mph over the limit.Each profession has perks. I never hear anyone complaining about airline employees flying for almost nothing or lawyers doing work for a friend for free or a doctor not charging another doctor for an operation.
The last I knew, officers were still permitted to give a citizen a warning instead of a ticket. Maybe officers should just write everyone to keep some people happy.
10-04-2008, 03:52 PM
#15
Racer
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It's really being nit-picky. Look, ALL officers do things they are not "technically" supposed to do when it comes to the realm of using their "connections". How many times do officers get stopped for a minor traffic violation while they are off-duty, flash their star and get off without a ticket?? ALL THE TIME!
Off-duty cops going double the speed limit & they don't get a citation. They will always show their police credentials to get off on a ticket. IF they want to be "above reproach". When stopped while off-duty, they should NOT show any proof they are an officer, and take the ticket.
There is MORE to the story than we know. The officer that filed the complaint has some type of beef against the chief. He or she is trying to get back at the chief.
I guarantee you that the officer who filed the complaint, while off-duty, has broken minor moving violations, been stopped and got off without a ticket because they got a badge. I guarantee you that officer has received free lunch, free diners, free coffee, etc., because they use their police status. I guarantee you they did a check on someone they know personally because they wanted to be sure that they don't have a criminal past. Like running a name check on their daughters boyfriend.
It's all politics.
Off-duty cops going double the speed limit & they don't get a citation. They will always show their police credentials to get off on a ticket. IF they want to be "above reproach". When stopped while off-duty, they should NOT show any proof they are an officer, and take the ticket.
There is MORE to the story than we know. The officer that filed the complaint has some type of beef against the chief. He or she is trying to get back at the chief.
I guarantee you that the officer who filed the complaint, while off-duty, has broken minor moving violations, been stopped and got off without a ticket because they got a badge. I guarantee you that officer has received free lunch, free diners, free coffee, etc., because they use their police status. I guarantee you they did a check on someone they know personally because they wanted to be sure that they don't have a criminal past. Like running a name check on their daughters boyfriend.
It's all politics.
10-04-2008, 04:23 PM
#16
Team Owner
I'm not gonna get into the rest of the debate, but although you used to be able to either "call in" a back ground or do it yourself 'unrelated to a pending investigation", it's pretty difficult to do today and is audited pretty closely by both the feds and local departments.
In fact, a suburban valley officer here recently lost his job and was criminally charged for running his own searches - - not sure but think it was related to an- 'ex' and a personal/family situation.
Not saying it never happens, but its unfair and inaccurate to paint the profession in that manner.
Just my .02-
In fact, a suburban valley officer here recently lost his job and was criminally charged for running his own searches - - not sure but think it was related to an- 'ex' and a personal/family situation.
Not saying it never happens, but its unfair and inaccurate to paint the profession in that manner.
Just my .02-
10-04-2008, 04:26 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
We have had the state police give us escorts here in Jersey. Maybe the Chief did not follow proper protocol.
10-04-2008, 04:28 PM
#18
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Cruise-In 3-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
not seeing a problem here folks actually i commend the chief for giving the vettes a safe escort
10-04-2008, 04:38 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
Complaint: Chief made officers escort Corvette Club
Ethics filing made against Atlanta Police’s Richard Pennington
By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, October 04, 2008
An Atlanta police officer has filed an ethics complaint against Police Chief Richard Pennington, contending the chief made on-duty motorcycle officers escort members of his Corvette club through the city last summer, the police union said.
Atlanta ethics officer Ginny Looney confirmed Thursday that a complaint was filed against Pennington on Aug. 22, but she would not discuss its details. She said an investigation into the complaint has begun.
Pennington would not comment on an open investigation, said Sgt. Lisa Keyes, an Atlanta police spokeswoman.
The officer who filed the complaint did so anonymously out of fear of retribution, said police Sgt. Scott Kreher, president of an Atlanta police union.
The escort incident happened on July 12, Kreher said. He said Pennington owns a Corvette and is a member of the United Council of Corvette Clubs, which describes itself on a Web site as the premier African-American Corvette club.
Kreher said the club’s members came to Atlanta for its weeklong annual convention and stayed at a hotel south of the city, near the airport.
On July 12, Pennington had a handful of officers escort the club members, driving their Corvettes, from the hotel to Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead, Kreher said.
Pennington was with the group, was not on duty and was driving his Corvette, Kreher said, adding that the escort required about two hours of the officers’ time.
Atlanta Police Information - (404) 853-3434
Ethics filing made against Atlanta Police’s Richard Pennington
By TIM EBERLY
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, October 04, 2008
An Atlanta police officer has filed an ethics complaint against Police Chief Richard Pennington, contending the chief made on-duty motorcycle officers escort members of his Corvette club through the city last summer, the police union said.
Atlanta ethics officer Ginny Looney confirmed Thursday that a complaint was filed against Pennington on Aug. 22, but she would not discuss its details. She said an investigation into the complaint has begun.
Pennington would not comment on an open investigation, said Sgt. Lisa Keyes, an Atlanta police spokeswoman.
The officer who filed the complaint did so anonymously out of fear of retribution, said police Sgt. Scott Kreher, president of an Atlanta police union.
The escort incident happened on July 12, Kreher said. He said Pennington owns a Corvette and is a member of the United Council of Corvette Clubs, which describes itself on a Web site as the premier African-American Corvette club.
Kreher said the club’s members came to Atlanta for its weeklong annual convention and stayed at a hotel south of the city, near the airport.
On July 12, Pennington had a handful of officers escort the club members, driving their Corvettes, from the hotel to Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead, Kreher said.
Pennington was with the group, was not on duty and was driving his Corvette, Kreher said, adding that the escort required about two hours of the officers’ time.
Atlanta Police Information - (404) 853-3434