(AP) STROUD, Okla. - An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper caught on video cussing and fighting with the driver of an ambulance carrying a patient has been suspended for five days.

A patrol spokesman said Trooper Daniel Martin was put on unpaid suspension Wednesday and must undergo an anger assessment.

A cell phone video of the May 24 scuffle that was widely distributed over the Internet shows Martin grabbing the paramedic, Maurice White Jr., in a choke hold around the neck.

Martin's dashboard-mounted camera showed him stopping the ambulance, cussing and accusing White of failing to yield. He also threatened to arrest him.

White's attorney said Wednesday that White was disappointed by the suspension. Martin's attorney, Gary James, did not return a message seeking comment.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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now the paramedic(s) and the patients family can consider suing the cop and his department civilly... this cop gives law enforcement a bad name and reputation. he was an exception to the vast majority of folks serving as law enforcement officers who are professional in how they carry themselves and have what I call the cop gene. this is the thing that enables some folks to be cops and others like myself to not... it's all about being able to keep your emotions in check. loose this and you've got no business being a cop. it's just too volatile with emotions running rampant. five days suspension is a joke. this guy should have been fired.
5 Days..??!! That is a slap and an insult to every Law Enforcememnt Officer and EMS worker out there...He clearly should NOT be in a position of authority....I hope the medic files a civil suit againt him...Paul
According to Dave Stater yesterday, a lawsuit has already been filed.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/2009/07/creek-nation-para...
I guess if you pass thru Oklahoma, beware... LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER aka TROOPER DANIEL MARTIN is on the JOB. No matter how insane he is... watch out OHP.. wait til he shoots someone in his self defense and this video is played over and over at his trial... Support him then...
5 day suspension is not (in my opinion) not enough. But how is a civil lawsuit going after money going to change anything?

So what if he wins? The trooper decides to not own property, or anything in his name. Decides he's not going to pay, files bankruptcy or a host of other ways to keep from paying any judgment.

Then the paramedic has a judgment, and that's it. Has it really accomplished anything.

Now I don't pretend to know Oklahoma law, but I have witnessed these type of actions in Texas on several occasions. The plaintiff prevails and gets nothing in return. You cannot garnish wages or federal tax refunds. You cannot seize property they don't own.

What have you accomplished?
He should of been fired for conduct unbecoming of an officer.
totally agree with shawn
I'm dissapointed by the suspension. I would have fired the guy but thats just me... at least a month or two without pay.

Suing this guy isnt going to do anything... the case is not about money. Its about police officers all over the country thinking they can get away with anything because they have that tin star on their chest. How many "poor judgement calls" where somebody really gets hurt, is it going to take before one of these assholes is finally made an example of??? 5 days??? A JOKE!!!
5 days suspension, and he has the neck to be 'dissapointed' !, unbelievable !. How long before he shoots dead someone for 'looking at him funny'. He should have been sacked. Sounds like an arse covering exercise to me, the police didn't want to lose face.
theres an idiot in almost every police dept. he does need fired.
Look at the bigger picture here, FFN.
This LEO will be followed by cameras wherever he goes from now on.
He is getting sued.
He has ZERO chance for a promotion.
I'm betting that he won't make it to retirement.
Who wants to be his partner?
Naw; the damage is done.
He will be on YouTube again.
TCSS.
Art
That is completely rediculous that trooper should get more than a week off and an anger class. He was completely out of control, especially to the extent that there was a patient in the back of an ambulance. That is worse than the state trooper that arrested a fire captain because he blocked oncoming traffic with their apparatus, despite being told to move it by a trooper.

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