During a ride-along with the Beckley Police Department, local news station WVNS-TV captured a heated encounter between the patrol officer and driver during a routine traffic stop. Perhaps playing the part of the objective third-party, the news reporter refused to get involved when the driver threatened to file a complaint.
A recent post on Gawker featured the WVNS-TV (channel 59) story and showed a video of the traffic stop. A camera shows the police car following a pickup truck into a parking lot with its lights flashing, coming to a stop behind it when it parks. The driver was being cited for using his cell phone while driving.
After the driver, an older gentleman, comes out of his car, the police officer quickly steps out of the patrol car and tells him to go back into his car, asking him, “Did you not see my lights flashing?” The driver stalls, asking why they can’t discuss this outside the car. When the driver finally goes back into his car, the officer walks up and slams the vehicle door after him, yelling, “When I give you a command, sir, you do it! I need your license and registration, now!”
Aside from raising his voice at the beginning of the encounter at the driver’s failure to obey his instructions, the police officer is polite throughout the rest of the traffic stop, addressing the man as “sir” and saying “please” when asking for his driver’s license and vehicle information. Nevertheless, the driver asks the officer for his name and that of his supervisor, making it clear he intends to file a complaint for the police officer’s excessive rudeness.
Despite both the officer and the man asking that the footage of the encounter not be used, 59 News uploaded the footage to their website and used it in the evening segment. Viewers complained the video was edited to paint the driver in a negative light and make the police officer’s actions seem justified.
In the comments, viewers took different sides. Some lambasted the officer for his impatience and rudeness, while others pointed out that you should always immediately obey officer instructions and that it is common knowledge that you should remain in your vehicle during a traffic stop.
