Jury awarded lady 850k, cop dry fired his gun on her

[stlgunfan]

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4185/is_20060906/ai_n16709160

Anyone remember this? It was in the news a few months back. It happend here in St. Louis at the community college which has its own police force Well this cop on the force was obsessed, harrased one of the female staff, even drew his gun, and pulled the trigger, dry firing the gun pointing at her.

Im glad they awarded her the money. Question is if she was a LTC holder and drew on him, returned fire do you think charges would be filed? That would be a justifiable shooting IMO a serious threat to injury, and death.

The cop denied he pointed the gun at her, but other witness also says otherwise.

St. Louis County jury awards secretary $850K in sexual harassment
St. Louis Daily Record & St. Louis Countian, Sep 6, 2006 by Allison Retka

Find More Results for: "meramec community college sexual harassment "
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On the eve of a long Labor Day weekend, a jury stayed in St. Louis County Circuit Court until 8 p.m. last Friday to return an $850,000 verdict to a woman in her sexual harassment case against St. Louis Community College.

Caren Sharpe, a secretary at the college's Meramec campus, was awarded $400,000 for emotional distress and $450,000 in punitive damages at the conclusion of a weeklong trial against the school and a former campus police officer, Larry Phillips.

Phillips took the stand during the plaintiffs' case and admitted to a Feb. 11, 2004, incident where he entered Sharpe's office, displayed his gun and said, "If I can't have you, no one will."

But Phillips disputed Sharpe's claims that he pointed the gun at her and pulled its trigger. He also denied making frequent sexual remarks to Sharpe.

A co-worker testified last Wednesday that Phillips relentlessly asked Sharpe to have sex with him, and once told Sharpe he wanted to have sex with her and her mother
The testimony of two co-workers, along with Sharpe's statements, countered Phillips' denials and made the sexual harassment claims a "jury question," said Jerome Dobson, Sharpe's attorney.

Dobson, of Weinhaus, Dobson, Goldberg and Moreland, said his client was thrilled with the verdict. A few jurors approached Sharpe after the trial and hugged her, he said.

"I think they were deeply moved by her testimony," Dobson said.

Priscilla Gunn, an attorney with Rabbitt Pitzer & Snodgrass who represented the college, did not immediately return a call for comment

Lt. Dan Butler, the acting supervisor at the campus police station, was fired along with Phillips just after the gun incident. Employees testified that Butler witnessed many of the sexual exchanges between Phillips and Sharpe, but responded only with verbal warnings.

"I think it was important factor, that supervisors of the college knew about the conduct and didn't do anything to stop it," he said.

Patricia Henderson, the manager of employment for St. Louis Community College's Meramec campus, testified about the college's procedures with sexual harassment. Dobson said she talked about what the college would have done, had it been aware of the ongoing sexual statements Phillips made to the secretary.

Dobson said he was not surprised that the school system is planning to appeal.

"It's generally a rule of thumb that when a defendant is hit with a large verdict, they'll appeal to keep their options open ... or as a negotiation strategy," he said.

Dobson said he appreciated the jury's commitment to stay late on Friday and deliberate on the matter.

"They took the case very seriously," he said. "It reaffirms my faith in the jury system and my awe that someone like Caren Sharpe can stand on equal footing against an institution like the St. Louis Community College."

 

[648E]

That's alot of taxpayer money down the drain.

 

[Steam dragon]

So what is the status of the criminal prosecution?

Brandishing, A&B, Stalking, Etc.

 

[LAK]

In Texas, such and act would be at the least a charge of deadly conduct - a felony. Indeed; where is the criminal prosecution? In the case of a crime having been committed, this should normally precede a civil suit for damages.

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http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[razorburn]

I think that money just came from the school, not the taxpayers. As far as I know, campus cops are hired by schools, and not the city or state or government. I was always told they were basically security guards. Maybe someone more informed on the subject can clear it up better.

 

[FPrice]

I think that money just came from the school, not the taxpayers.

And just where does the school get that money?

 

[brerrabbit]

Why in any case is it money down the drain?

People giving large settlements in these cases are one of the few ways to keep it from happening again.

Even if it was taxpayer money, it might incense enough voters to start replacing people to keep it from happening again.

 

[hammer4nc]

So what is the status of the criminal prosecution?

Brandishing, A&B, Stalking, Etc.

Its probably recognized up front, that this offense would fall into the "unconstitutionally vague" portion of the statutes; hence no charges were brought.

AKA double standard for those wearing badges.

 

[Y.T.]

Victim Number 35 is a 26-year-old Navy lieutnant. While walking through the hallway, he was pinched on the buttocks by an unknown woman. A short time later he was grabbed in the crotch by a different woman. He retaliated by pinching the woman on the buttocks.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Question is if she was a LTC holder and drew on him, returned fire do you think charges would be filed? That would be a justifiable shooting IMO a serious threat to injury, and death.

Sure, just like somebody that points a toy gun at you that you think is real. Just because the gun did not fire on the first shot does NOT mean the person wasn't trying to kill you. The safest belief is that the moron behind the gun had bad ammo, forgot to load the first round, or had a poorly maintained gun and would rectify the problem (such as by tap-rack) and re-engage to kill you. So you return fire to neutralize the threat or take flight to remove yourself fromthe threat.


Y.T. Quote:

Victim Number 35 is a 26-year-old Navy lieutnant. While walking through the hallway, he was pinched on the buttocks by an unknown woman. A short time later he was grabbed in the crotch by a different woman. He retaliated by pinching the woman on the buttocks.

What?

 

[Cromlech]

Either that guy was making stuff up, or there are some seriously frisky women where he is stationed.




Where do I sign up?

 

[Glockamolie]

In Texas, many college districts have their own police departments, as do many independent school districts. They're bona fide officers like any other.

 

[MechAg94]

I like the verdict. She really should have filed sexual harrassment charges after the other incidents. Those are taken very seriously in my company and I think any govt agency should take them seriously.

Either way, dry firing like that should get him prosecuted not just fired.

The Texas A&M PD (Kampus Kops ) were definitely LEO's. I was told they had jurisdiction in whatever county A&M owned property which was a lot. Not sure if that means anything legally. Sometimes the students felt like all they did was go around writing parking tickets and ticketing bicyle riders for not stopping at stop signs.

 

[redneckdan]

MTU Kampus Kops have jurisdiction through out michigan, suposively they are on the same level as state police.

 

[Y.T.]

Victim Number 35 is a 26-year-old Navy lieutnant. While walking through the hallway, he was pinched on the buttocks by an unknown woman. A short time later he was grabbed in the crotch by a different woman. He retaliated by pinching the woman on the buttocks.

IT's a quote from the official "protocol" or version of events at some Navy pilot group event ...
I think it was in Las Vegas.. in a Hilton hotel. Apparently, they all got drunk and then behaved as horny teenagers.. (some of these pilots were women I think)

The quote is funny

 

[GRIZ22]

Campus Police at state colleges in New Jersey are sworn police officers. As far as where the money to pay the law suit very few colleges don't take state or federal money. In other words the moneyfor the lawsuit will have to come out of money that was being spent elsewhere. If the college has some kind of insurance there will be higher premiums. Somewhere along the the line there is likely taxpayer money being used to pay this.

The people that hired this guy ought to held liable to some degree but they probably won't.

 

[Byron Quick]

In the case of a crime having been committed, this should normally precede a civil suit for damages.

Not at all as the standards of proof for convictions in a criminal case are much higher than the standard of proof in a civil case.

The evidence can easily be such that a prosecutor won't even bring a case before a grand jury-knowing there is not sufficient evidence for a conviction in a criminal proceeding requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt-while a civil suit specialist knows he can win a civil suit on the same case with a standard of proof only requiring a preponderance of the evidence.

 

[MechAg94]

In this case with witnesses, I would think there would be proof for a criminal proceeding. They might have thought differently up there.

 

[stlgunfan]

True. I dont care if its a rental college cop, or who it is. Try a stunt like that officer did on me, and Id be firing back at him to end the threat. All because they wear a badge they are not licensed to kill anyone they wish, or above the law!

Btw in MO St. Louis community college is accredited with the state as a LEO, as well as other colleges, Thats why their title police, They can make arrest pull you over if you commit a offense on their property.

I dont agree with it. Ive seen a few of their officers before, and most of these rinky dink PDs like this one are basically the armpit of Law enforcement. Hence the quality of people they employee are not always the best of the best, and are low paid,. There is a reason why they are not employed by the bigger PDs who pay more and have higher standards.

This fomrer officer should be spending time for prison. Yet most likely he is prob working for another juristiction now somewhere in town.

He's lucky he didnt try that on the wrong person who could have defended themselves.

 

[jnojr]

People giving large settlements in these cases are one of the few ways to keep it from happening again.

How's that work? The money doesn't come out of the offender's pockets... it comes out of the institution that employs the offender, and that institution gets the money from taxes. There might be an incentive for them to crack down if they had $X in their operating budget, and losses to a lawsuit forced them to tighten their belts... but that isn't how things work. They "need" $X + Y% every year, and they're going to get it. A few lawsuits just increases their budget.

 

[Car Knocker]

IT's a quote from the official "protocol" or version of events at some Navy pilot group event ...
I think it was in Las Vegas.. in a Hilton hotel. Apparently, they all got drunk and then behaved as horny teenagers.. (some of these pilots were women I think)

The quote is funny

I guess I'm missing on just how this is relevant to this thread??

 

[mrmeval]

648E
That's alot of taxpayer money down the drain.

It's a loss of money that might convince the taxpayers to get rid of pubic officials who can't get rid of criminal idiots in the ranks.

 

[LAK]

Byron Quick

Not at all as the standards of proof for convictions in a criminal case are much higher than the standard of proof in a civil case.

Having had firsthand experience, I have to say otherwise. If one does not intend to pursue a criminal prosecution, the standards of proof are not an issue. But if the evidence and witnesses are there, a criminal prosecution is the first logical step. Once a guilty verdict is returned, a civil suit for damages is a cinch - often merely a case of "how much".

The evidence can easily be such that a prosecutor won't even bring a case before a grand jury-knowing there is not sufficient evidence for a conviction in a criminal proceeding requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt-while a civil suit specialist knows he can win a civil suit on the same case with a standard of proof only requiring a preponderance of the evidence.

True, but if victim makes the formal complaint, presents witnesses (as in this case), the DA better think twice about failing to prosecute a serious crime.

----------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[GHF]

Pointing

Phillips took the stand during the plaintiffs' case and admitted to a Feb. 11, 2004, incident where he entered Sharpe's office, displayed his gun and said, "If I can't have you, no one will."

But Phillips disputed Sharpe's claims that he pointed the gun at her and pulled its trigger.

Here in Florida, two factors - beyond her being in a place where she had a legal right to be - would have allowed an immediate draw and threat termination.

1. She was facing death or serioius bodily injury
2. The display of the weapon - weither it was real or not - and if loaded or not - is the key to fire, since the law does not distinguish between real or fake, loaded or unloaded.