Cop Gives Woman In Labor A Ticket
By Wyatt Earp | December 6, 2008
This galls me, but it galls me much more because I raced my pregnant wife to the hospital on Tuesday night before the birth of my daughter.
All too often, the congested roads of Greater Boston conspire with the vagaries of childbirth to leave a mother-to-be in a car on the roadside at one of life’s most critical moments. A hard-bitten state trooper shows up and morphs into a highway midwife, clearing the newborn’s nose and mouth, cutting the cord, and sometimes even saving a life.
This is not one of those stories.
Jennifer Davis was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Nov. 18, her contractions just 3 minutes apart. Her husband, John, was trying to appear calm for his wife’s sake, driving in the breakdown lane of Route 2. They pulled up behind a state trooper to ask whether they could continue using the lane to reach the next exit, near Alewife Station.
So far, I’d say they exhibited amazing restraint. I’d be bumping cars out of my way and flipping off the trooper. But some people say I have an anger management problem. You’ll have one, too, after you read the next two paragraphs.
Not only did the trooper say no, he gave them a $100 citation for driving in the breakdown lane, made them wait for their citation while he finished writing someone else’s ticket, and even seemed to ask for proof of pregnancy, Jennifer Davis said.
“He said, ‘What’s under your jacket?’ I said, ‘My belly,’ ” Davis said. “He waited and gestured with his head like, ‘OK, let’s see it.’ He waited for me to unzip my jacket. I mean, it was so clear that I was pregnant.”
Congratulations Trooper Galluccio: You are the biggest jackass in Massachusetts. And considering Ted Kennedy and John Kerry hail from there, that’s really saying something.
Luckily, Trooper Galluccio’s supervisors are even more incompetent . . .
While State Police spokesman David Procopio declined to comment on the merits of this stop, he noted that state law prohibits driving in breakdown lanes on Route 2.
“The trooper made a judgment call to enforce the law governing the use of the breakdown lane,” said Procopio. “If the couple does choose to submit a letter of complaint, we’ll review it in accordance with our procedure.” (H/T – Boston.com)
Before I unleash my “sentence enhancer” filled tirade, I want to make one thing clear: The actions of Trooper Gallucio do not reflect those of the Massachusetts State Police, or any other jurisdiction in America . . . or even the world. Galluccio is just a jackass with a badge, who evidently gets his rocks off by harassing people in distress.
I make it a point to rarely – if ever – second-guess another officer’s judgment call. I wasn’t there, so I shouldn’t have an opinion. Having said that, if even part of this story is true, Trooper Galluccio should be fired. Ignoring the couple’s request to continue in the breakdown lanes is despicable, but forgivable. Galluccio went off the deep end when he:
1. Asked for “proof” of Ms. Davis’ pregnancy.
2. Ticketed Ms. Davis – and made her wait an inordinate amount of time – for the offense. He could have “filed” the ticket. In other words, he could have jotted down her information, let her go, and filled out the ticket before sending it through the mail. At least, we can do that in PA.
Someone needs to remind Galluccio the we are here to help people, and when some jackass goes on a power trip, said jackass makes all of us look bad. This incident was not about Ms. Davis or her husband. It was ultimately about the Davis’ unborn child. She deserved better.
/rant.
Topics: People I Hate, The Job | 15 Comments »
December 6th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Likewise with the DCFD story I commented on. Why do these type of idiots make it into our professions and make us look bad?
December 6th, 2008 at 4:40 am
unfuckingbelieveable…. I would NOT have stopped… he would have had to chase me all the way to the hospital!
December 6th, 2008 at 6:31 am
I think, I certainly hope, the policeman over here (UK) would have listened, said “Follow me!”, and led the way down the breakdown lane and right into hospital with his blue lights flashing and his siren sounding. He might even have been able to get some clearance of the traffic ahead – I’m sure he would have tried. Certainly, he would have alerted the hospital and got them ready.
Once he’s there he can let the wife go in and tackle the husband.
If he’s been taken as an idiot he has wasteing police time and multiple other things he can charge the fool husband with. I’m sure he’d find a side light bulb out and a tyre not properly inflated and who knows what an intelligent cop could find. He’d have a whale of a time and why not?
If it’s genuine the cop will have the overwhelming gratitude of the couple, probably have the child named after him and a glowing letter of thanks to go on his record.
The fact that it APPEARS that he took the opposite route makes him a very sad man in my eyes.
Go carefully, my friend.
Alan
December 6th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I saw an interview with the couple last night. I think the reporter said that they had asked two other troopers and had received permission as they tried to make their way down the road. They were being conscientious.
Yeah. Driving in the breakdown lane has its hazards, but so does giving birth on the side of the road. I’m sure the father was blinking his lights and beeping his horn or something to let people know he was to the right.
That whole asking for proof thing was way over the line.
December 6th, 2008 at 8:55 am
That couple should have asked for proof that that cop was a dickweed.
December 6th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I wonder how fast he would have flashed those lights and led them to the hospital if the husband had turned to him and yelled, “Roll up your sleeves, the baby is coming NOW!”
December 6th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Typical civil servant with a chip on his shoulder and a god complex.
December 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Randall: TYPICAL?
In my 17 years on the job I can say without a doubt cops like that are the RAREST exception.
Should we open a discussion of the TYPICAL IGNORANT BEHAVIOR of the general population that require nearly 300,000 911 calls a year?
December 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
unfortunately the actions of the few ruins the reputation of the many.
It will take a lot more than a couple of articles on a few lousy cops to ruin the respect I have for Officers in general.
December 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
1. The dumbasses should have called 9-1-1 in the first place, especially if her contractions were 3 minutes apart.
2. If RT is correct, maybe the other 2 lazy troopers could have given them an escort since she was about to give birth.
3. The cop did his job. If they let her go that just starts the ball rolling. Next, you’ll see people with every little medical issue breaking traffic laws.
4. The husband was a dope for waiting for his ticket. He should have told the cop he was leaving and dealt with the consequences once he got her safe to the hospital since the baby was practically sticking her head out and waving!
December 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Randal, Randal, you are single aren’t you?
December 6th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
No, why do you ask?
December 6th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
If he left, he could have been charged with fleeing the police and arrested.
From what I understand about being a cop is there is something called discretion. Most cops use it, some cops don’t.
I say Wyatt should be a personal escort to every pregnant woman in the Philly area.
Wait. That didn’t sound quite right.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
“The other two lazy troopers.” Uh huh.
You’re right, we can’t have pregnant women skirting traffic jams now, can we? Where, oh where, would that end?
December 7th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Captain – Only takes one bad apple.
Old NFO – I would have, but immediately shouted, “She’s in labor! The baby’s coming!”
Alan B – I did that a few times when I was in patrol. Not labor, but emergency room calls. One was a very sick child. Sometimes, you need to use common sense.
RT – Agreed. The asking for proof was disgusting.
GroovyVic – They had proof with his actions.
DL474 – He would have turned into Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Randal – Sure, lump us all together. Typical.
Captain – I have received calls for a “Hospital Case.” They weren’t emergencies: the people just wanted police taxi service to the hospital. Idiots.
E.L. – I appreciate it.
Randal – 1. In Philly, the medics would have arrived when the child was 2 years old.
2. If they were on traffic posts, they cannot leave without relief. At least that’s how it is in Philly. Of course, they could have radioed the other troopers in the area, but . . .
3. True. But that cop is the one who stops and tickets you for sliding through a stop sign, not signaling to change lanes, and obstructing your window with a tree air freshener. technically, they’re against the law, but ya gotta use your head.
4. And this idiot would have called in a pursuit and arrested the man enroute.
Kim – First two points are correct. Third one? Don’t lay that at my feet!!!