Police Officer Robert Powell Quits His Job Over Detaining NFL Player Ryan Moats at Hospital

Officer Robert Powell has quit his job as a police officer after a confrontation with NFL Ryan Moats outside of a Plano hospital, according to various media. Before anyone feels sorry for this officer, hear the whole story and think what if this was you and your family? This could have been worse, much worse!

Yes Ryan Moats admittedly ran a stop sign but he was trying to see his dying mother-in-law before she passed away. He did tell the police officer this but the officer pulled out his gun, threatening Moats in the interaction. His wife went into the hospital anyway even after the police officer, Robert Powell refused to give her permission to go see her dying mother. It is a wonder that Powell did not shoot her! That was the only correct action he took that day.

The tape of the incident shows Powell threatening and berating NFL player Ryan Moats even while hospital staff acknowledged that his mother-in-law was indeed moments away from dying. She died before Powell was ever released from police custody and allowed to go in. As heartbreaking as this is, it brings up a problem with police interactions that we should all be informed of. After hospital staff came out and talked to the police, why wasn't the family allowed to go? Was it because of the race of the family? Was this profiling of suspects done on camera and why is this still happening to this day after many horrible outcomes for others?

I do feel that police officer Robert Powell should have been terminated from employment but just knowing that he is no longer a police officer does make me feel great! Police officers need sensitivity training at the very least. What if this was Officer Powell's family member dying? Is running a stop sign worthy of such berating and police threats to a family? I don't think so. Give them a ticket and let them go be by the side of their dying relative!

It is being said that Ryan Moats never mentioned that he was a NFL player but I have a feeling that Officer Powell already knew this. Maybe he felt it was his job to put Moats in his place? Big powerful police officer holding a NFL player hostage right outside of a hospital while his mother-in-law dies. It surely sounds this way to me. Another possibility is that Powell thought Moats was lying. Why then did he not let the family go once the hospital staff said yes the mother-in-law was dying of breast cancer? It makes little sense.

This isn't the first issue like this in recent times. A woman going to the hospital was stopped by a police officer and not let go on to the hospital. She ended up having a miscarriage, standing on the side of the road, being prevented from medical treatment. She is heard on the tape begging for help. Although she was bleeding, the officer arrested her. Police officers have way too much leniency and power in these situations. There should be a call to a supervisor in medical issues like these. Especially if the offense would likely only end up in a ticket anyway...such as Ryan Moats' offense of running a stop sign. When was the last time you were held up this long for this type of offense?

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/texans/2009-03-27-moats-apology_N.htm