Sgt. Robert McFarland -- Prick of the Month
I’m normally the biggest supporter of the men and women in our Police force.
I rarely think there is such a thing as “excessive force” used against asshole criminals. In fact, I’d like to see more routine beatings for people who run from the police or otherwise resist arrest.
I even fully backed Deputy Chris Bieze who tasered 72-year old Kathryn Winkfein here in Austin (NOTE: I don’t care who you are, if you dare a cop to tase you, don’t act so freak’n outraged and surprised when they actually do).
You’ll almost never hear me criticize these men and women because, frankly, they’ve got an unbelievably hard, dangerous, and often-times thankless (despite its tremendous importance) job.
Bad Cop
But not all cops are saints, and some of them can be assholes. Needlessly be assholes. And these guys deserve to be called out because they give other cops a bad name.
Like officer Sgt. Robert McFarland, a 20 year veteran of the Lincoln Park Police Department.
Sgt. McFarland was working the 9-1-1 lines when 17-year old Adrainne Ledesma called, frantic and frightened, needing an ambulance for her father who was on the floor in a sever seizure.
Frustrated that the 9-1-1 operator was taking so long to answer, she mutters the “fuck” word just as McFarland answers the phone.
Instead of trying to help this young girl or find out what her emergency is even though she asked for an ambulance…instead of doing his job and acting like the civil servant that he is, he admonishes her for cursing. And when she repeats her demand for a “fucking ambulance” this prick of a cop hangs up on her.
She calls back twice more. Twice more, McFarland admonishes her, even calling her an asshole before hanging up on her twice more.
McFarland then waits 6 more minutes before finally dispatching an ambulance.
Un-freak’n-believable.
And then, when the scared and now understandably angry young girl goes to the police department to once again ask for an ambulance and to file a complaint…the asshole cop arrests her.
Just watch this video.
Chick Arrested For Swearing At 911 – Watch more Funny Videos
While I don’t suggest that a 20-year cop with no history of complaints or discipline be fired for this…I do think he should be severely and harshly punished. A few weeks off with no pay. Some remedial sensitivity training. A very public apology to the family. Perhaps a demotion.
McFarland has refused to comment on the story, but in the understatement of the month, Chief of Police Tom Carnes admits that “this was not our finest hour.”
No shit.
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At least Chief of Police Tom Carnes took responsibility of the actions of the officer under his command.
Uh, I don’t care about his past record. Scumbag should be fired without question. 20 years on the force?! All the more reason this SHOULDN’T have happened. I think you’re too soft on this guy. I hope the townsfolk burn his shanty to the ground with him inside.
In my opinion this idiot lost his job the first time he hung up on this girl. I hope this family is successful in any lawsuit they file. I will also add that if this is the best this police dept can do, it might be a good idea for the county to take over the 911 operations for this city.
Fire the scumbag. What if somebody had been bleeding to death on the other end of the line? It’s not out of any vindictiveness, but the fact is, if he’s incapable of handling the pressure of the job he shouldn’t be doing it.
DO suggest that he be fired. What an irresponsible, awful human being! 20 years on the job does not excuse what he did. He had no idea what the emergency was because he wouldn’t listen to the poor girl. Irresponsible behavior like this easily could have killed someone, and he well knew it if he was taking 911 calls. The hell with a two or three week suspension. This guy ignored a serious 911 call multiple times, and then arrested the girl with a phony charge he made up on the spot. He should be in jail himself for this and I implore anyone who reads this to write Lincoln Park Police and demand he be fired!
There’s a reason I taught my now adult children, “The police are not your friends. They serve the interests of the people in power. Fear them and obey them without question, but try to tape or video any interactions you have with them.”
You are so right
You have got to be kidding me…. How absurd…. indeed it was not their finest hour! What an incompentent ass….
Not only was he an incompetent ass but he jeopardized a mans life. I appreciate that he has 20 years of service without any issues but this was so way beyond bad judgement.
I was appalled when I heard about this and I agree with you. This asshole should be reprimanded and placed on leave without pay. I also think they should demote him and keep an eye on him. One more screw up and his ass should be fired. 20 year veteran or not.
Well I’ve been dog cussed by cops before….seen some people dog cussin em back too…they don’t give a …*ahem…FUCK….what you have to say.
they still let us go.
morals don’t come before safety.
…….FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!
NO PAY FOR A FEW WEEKS? NO, MORE LIKE FIRED. HE PUT ME & MY FATHER IN A POSTION ILL NEVER FORGET. HE COULD’VE DIED, & HE WAS LECTURING ME. WHATA ASS. WHO DOES THAT REALLY. HE DESERVES NOTHING BUT THE WORSE.
I hope your father is much better now, Adrainne. I’m sorry that your call for help was not properly handled when you and your father needed it most. This should have never happened.
I get sick of tools who always demand everyone should get fired. He was suspended without pay. Get over it.
@Anonymous 9/14/2009 at 4:39am.
SHUT UP COP! You are either a cop or a cop is a friend of yours. You are the tool here, and as much of a tool as Tom Carnes who gave him the shortest time off without pay I’ve ever heard of for such disgusting act. If it were the cops father, or your father dying on the floor and the girl hung up as the operator, you guys would try to not only charge her, but make up EVERY charge you could come up with. You deceptive, disgusting, lying pig. And to each and every cop that reads this, don’t sit there and act like you think he’s 2 weeks without pay was plenty. That’s more like an effen vacation to a man who makes over $65,000 a year! He earns enough that if he were careful, he could be rich in 10 to 15 years. Given a job of answering that phone, which was SO EASY, and this pig didn’t even want to do it correctly.
You shut up. This story is three years old and here you are still whining about it. Go see a psychiatrist.
Warm wishes and god Speed for a fast recovery for you father–not to worry there is always an angel looking over the weak and helpless in critical times
TO EVERYONE:
Chief of Police Tom Carnes – is just as much a part of the problem for not giving only 2 weeks off without pay. I’d vote the officer he should lose his job, even if he’s had 20 years of good service. Simply because he showed that he was willing to violate and disregard one of the most important jobs. Answering life or death calls for 911! If he were my cop, I’d say, “Seems like you’re tired of your job” and let him go.
But if he’s not fired? It was up to Tom Carnes to at least give him a fitting punishment. A cut in salary would be the 1st place to start. Like $40,000 instead of $65,000. Most families are lucky if they make 40k a year and must get buy on that. Why should this man with a cushy pay if he’s a tool?
That is why I say both Sgt. Robert McFarland AND Tom Carnes are partners in crime in this one.
LET US NEVER FORGET! (and too all the jerky cops that will try to answer me. We all see right through you)
typo, I’m saying Tom Carnes is just as much a part of the problem as Tom Carnes is….
Get over it, dumbass.
Sorry this happened to you and your father!
2weeks without pay for almost costing a life. If he had died wouldn’t he have gone to jail.