Owensboro, Kentucky

Justice Comes to Owensboro!!

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• published: 06 Oct 2010
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Owensboro Police officer fired for misconduct, veteran officers say he deserves another chance...BULLSHIT!!! OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - Veteran officers weigh in on the decision to fire an Owensboro police officer. The Owensboro City Commission fired Fred Coomes late Monday night after a 14 hour hearing. The commission concluded Coomes used unnecessary force while booking an inmate at the detention center last spring. Supporters from the Fraternal Order of Police and the community sat through the hearing Monday night, and tell 14 News, Coomes deserves a second chance. Retired Owensboro Police Sergeant George Ballard was just one of many supporters attending Fred Coomes' hearing. Ballard says, "I've made mistakes in my career, I've been to a city hall hearing. It's a sick feeling when you have people who you look up to sit across from you, and tell you how bad a person you are, when you know you're not." Ballard says Coomes deserves a second chance. He says, "You've thrown away a lot of money the city spent on an officer who still has a lot of potential in him. Walking away for free, I did not see that happening and as a supervisor I would say no to that." Coomes was found guilty of violating several OPD policies, including improper use of force. Sergeant Alex Payne, an expert in police training, says Coomes reacted properly. Payne says, "I think he reacted well. I actually counted it on a clock and it was one point two seconds from the time he exploded off the bench, to when an officer made contact with him. That's the amount of time you have to make decisions." Payne told commissioners on Monday, the incident could have been avoided if inmate Shane Voyles remained handcuffed. He says, "As long as you can keep control of the hands it's safer for everyone involved and hopefully I'd like to see more across the state. Keeping someone controlled until the last possible minute can avoid a lot of problems." Investigating officers told commissioners that discrepancies were found between the video and the use of force report filed by Officer Rick Latanzio, who is the other officer shown scuffling with the suspect. Ballard says those discrepancies likely stem from lack of communication. Ballard says, "If OPD wants to prevent this from happening again, have both officers fill out a report and have both sign off on the report." Comments from city officials, OPD or Fraternal Order of Police can not be made until Officer Rick Latanzio completes his hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday. We'll keep you updated.