ChewDown
04-12-2006, 10:46 PM
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/8646957/detail.html
Officer Considers Legal Action Against McKinney
POSTED: 2:59 pm EDT April 12, 2006
UPDATED: 5:59 pm EDT April 12, 2006
WASHINGTON -- The top police union official in the U.S. was in Washington today, urging the police officer who was involved in a run-in with Rep. Cynthia McKinney D-Ga. to take legal action against the congresswoman.
McKinney is accused of striking a Capitol Police officer, after the officer failed to recognize her and stopped her at a security checkpoint.
Channel 2 Action News learned exclusively that the president of the largest police union in the U.S. met with the unidentified officer this morning to talk over possible legal action.
“We're going to make sure the officer won't be harassed. We want the officer to be able talk to experts, who can look at his legal recourses, if he needed to," says Chuck Canterbury, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The F.O.P. has more than 320,000 members.
Union officials are also looking into the run-in between one of the congresswoman's employees and Channel 2 Action News reporter Scott MacFarlane.
They're looking into the background of the man who claimed on-camera to be a police officer.
The union says he should be prosecuted for impersonating a police officer.
Rep. McKinney's office says the man is her driver, not a police officer.
“We rail against people who use police authority when they don't have it,” says Canterbury.
“It's dangerous for police officers. It's dangerous for the public. Imitating police is not a good thing,” he added.
Rep. McKinney’s case remains in the hands of the U.S. attorney in Washington.
A grand jury is hearing testimony.
Officer Considers Legal Action Against McKinney
POSTED: 2:59 pm EDT April 12, 2006
UPDATED: 5:59 pm EDT April 12, 2006
WASHINGTON -- The top police union official in the U.S. was in Washington today, urging the police officer who was involved in a run-in with Rep. Cynthia McKinney D-Ga. to take legal action against the congresswoman.
McKinney is accused of striking a Capitol Police officer, after the officer failed to recognize her and stopped her at a security checkpoint.
Channel 2 Action News learned exclusively that the president of the largest police union in the U.S. met with the unidentified officer this morning to talk over possible legal action.
“We're going to make sure the officer won't be harassed. We want the officer to be able talk to experts, who can look at his legal recourses, if he needed to," says Chuck Canterbury, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The F.O.P. has more than 320,000 members.
Union officials are also looking into the run-in between one of the congresswoman's employees and Channel 2 Action News reporter Scott MacFarlane.
They're looking into the background of the man who claimed on-camera to be a police officer.
The union says he should be prosecuted for impersonating a police officer.
Rep. McKinney's office says the man is her driver, not a police officer.
“We rail against people who use police authority when they don't have it,” says Canterbury.
“It's dangerous for police officers. It's dangerous for the public. Imitating police is not a good thing,” he added.
Rep. McKinney’s case remains in the hands of the U.S. attorney in Washington.
A grand jury is hearing testimony.