The officer should be given a citation just like the rest of us.

He should have had to pay the fine just like the rest of us would.

When my daughter was 17 she got lost and pulled into a CVS because she saw a cop. She explained that she and her friend were lost. He said your parked in a handicap spot. Gave her a ticket. She said I didn't see a sign. He said it's there. The next day we went back to CVS and took pictures because the sign was in a bush and there were no blue lines. There was a car there with no handicap plates or placard. We went to court, she pleaded no guilty and gave the judge the pictures. As he looked at them he smiled and showed them to the cop. He looked at the pictures and said " I don't remember that bush being there". The judge asked him,"so you think she planted it there?" The cop turned red and everyone laughed. Never went back to that city, cause they would be looking for her. 😊

Need a board meeting to determine consequences? What a joke. Have him face the same consequences any private citizen would have to face.

“He made a mistake and didn’t see the handicap symbol.” How many times has that excuse worked for regular civilians?

B.s. he "didn't know" then he's not observant enough to be a police officer

I remember telling the judge I didn't know and he told me ignorance was no excuse for the law now on your way out you can pay the lady up front. 😮

I've seen a lot of complaints on this corrupt department. As I told another individual, this department is making the city unlivable with their sense of entitlement and disrespect for their citizens.

"we do not condone this behavior" yet "we investigated ourselves and found us not guilty"

Whether he saw the sign or not, as a cop would say to a citizen “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse”

How would that response be met if a civilian said they didn't see the paint markings?

Officer should be given a citation for parking in a handicapped space just like anybody else!!!!

The police man just needs a 250 dollar ticket just like anyone else

Oh, does “Your honor I didn’t know it was a handicap spot” work in court for regular citizens? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Issue the officer a ticket.

He can literally park anywhere he wants, on the side walk, in the grass, in a lane, how did this even happen?!

Police thought you could also park there when mentally disabled.

If a cop doesn’t see the sign, he is embarrassed. If a civilian doesn’t see it. Ticket

The officer should pay the same fine any ordinary citizen would pay. Easy. Simple. Appropriate.

Pretty sure the handicap cop got a raise and a promotion

He should get a ticket the same as anyone else who "accidentally" parked in a disabled parking space.

He didn't realize it was handicap parking!? Aren't Police taught and supposed to be observant of their surroundings? He should pay double the fine!

It's hard to believe the arrogance of these cops. I am 82 and I never would dream of parking in a handicap spot, I am so greatful I am not handicapped. The other thing that I always do is put the cart away when shooping, it's not that hard to do.

Another move from the police where people are NEVER shocked and surprised.

"Ignorance of the law is no excuse"....ticket and fine him as we have been

If he’s going to say that he couldn’t see any of those painted lines and handicap signs he’s too blind to be enforcing the law.

When I was a LEO, we were taught to be very observant and aware of our surroundings .

Here in Washington state, the marking on the pavement isn’t enough to make where the officer parked a handicap spot. There must also be a sign directly in front of the space that is visible when you’re looking straight forward from your vehicle.

Well, it's nice to know that the police acknowledge that not seeing a sign is a valid excuse for breaking the law.

When your above the law. Captain was so upset that he did nothing about it.

This is an everyday occurrence. In my town, the same cop sits on the shoulder of a busy road, waiting for speeders. "Emergency use only": if the red and blues are not activated, it's not considered an emergency. It's actually written into the statute.

"Didn’t know it was a handicap spot." INDEED! He’d sure as hell know it if I parked in it!!! 🔥😡🔥

As a 100% disabled Veteran, I believe they should charge the officer a $250 fine regardless.

if the officer didnt see that was a handicap spot .he should not have a gun..

You can't even make a parking mistake these days.

One of the most vital components to being in law enforcement is , wait for it, observation! An example is, the suspect was OBSERVED driving a light blue colored vehicle. I would have had mountains more respect for the officer if they just paid the fine and moved on.

They investigated themselves and found they did nothing wrong.

"The officer claims he didn't know the spot was handicapped." Hark! I think I hear the sound of thousands of BS detectors going off!

If a cop can't see all the indicators this was a handicapped parking spot, then nothing he sees in the course of his duties is to be believed. He admitted he's completely incompetent.

The officer needs to be issued the same ticket and fine that everyone else would receive. "I didn't know it was a handicapped spot" sure won't work for me in court.

People think it's a small matter and let it go, but it all starts with little things like this. Once officers think they can get away with this, they push the boundaries.

He should be given a ticket just like anybody else.

Right and the other dude who pulled the fire alarm at a SENATE HEARING claiming he thought it was a Door handle

I'm a commercial general contractor here in Wayne county Indiana. I also have a permanent handicap placard. The International Building Code (IBC) clearly states that 1 handicap space per 25 spaces. I addition to the painted surface you must have a post with a handicap sign 5' up from the surface. A faded symbol on wet asphalt is not enough. What if it snows? I also noticed that the spot on the left side of the picture has a sign on a post. I Think the building inspector dropped the ball here.

Would the officer have accepted "I didn't realise it was a handicapped space" from someone he was in the process of writing a ticket for? Of course not. The officer Neds to at the very least get ticket and pay the fine.

Simple. Give him a ticket, same as everyone else would get if they "didn't know it was a handicapped space". What a load of crap..

"didn't see the handicap marking", if he can't see that, i hope he don't have the right to use a gun.

Oh... He knew it was a handicapped parking space. He just didn't care. I am disabled partially, from injuries on the job, as a police officer. And other reasons. I cannot stand, or walk well, and is very painful. It ticks me off when ANYONE parks in a handicapped space, or blocks one, when they are not handicapped. I wrote others for this. The officer should be written a ticket, and have his day in court. Money taken out of his pocket, will hurt. It will make him more alert. Or, he can wait a few years, and if he happens to get injured, he will realize he was wrong. Not that I wish injury to him, but, in his profession, injury is bound to happen. And how about women, who are way up in age, parking in the parking space, for pregnant women? Not a law to back it, but a courtesy, in a grocery store parking lot. Or, family members, who use their disabled family member's parking placard, to get a primo parking space?

Cartman in the scooter, lean, and all grown up: "Respect my authoritah!"

Law enforcement has become a a thorn in the sides of communities they are supposed to serve and protect. As a retired police officer I am embarrassed and ashamed of the behavior of officers currently in service. Shameful just Shameful. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

A cop who thinks he is above the law, hmmmmm, what a surprise.

according to the statement of many officers arresting people, "ignorance law is not an excuse to break the law", also, the statement of "well, you should have paid better attention to your surroundings"

What is it that a cop would say to someone else: ignorance is not a excuse. But I guess for cops, they have their own laws, meaning that they do as they please.

I'm disabled & blind in my right eye, & I have no trouble seeing the HUGE BLUE Handicap signs painted on the parking stall pavement when I use them. This cop just didn't care, let's keep it real.

The officer should be ticketed and fined like anyone else would have been.

That cop deserves the same ticket as anyone else would

They don't care and would do it again. A Police officer is trained to observe the details. He and his boss will say anything because the Police Officer got caught.

the cop should be issued a parking ticket,just like any other citizen.

"I didn't notice it was a handicapped spot" How come that excuse doesn't work for private citizens?

Just write his ass a ticket and be done with it. Hell, I’m handicapped and unknowingly pulled into handicapped spaces

Simply question. If you want the officers to always find a legal parking spot, the chief should order it, as long as the people understand that if you call the police, and he parked a block away from his car during lunch, it's going to delay the response. Anyone else notice that they cropped the other spot that was available. I also noted that the spot is not legally designated as a handicap space. It is possible to miss the ground markings which is why an additional marking on a pole is necessary.

“I didn’t know it was a handicapped spot!” Really… you didn’t notice the fact that it had a huge marked off area when you got out of the car leading to a ramp? You just missed all that. You didn’t notice the sign? You didn’t notice the paint? Does this guy really think we’re that stupid? Either he is WOEFULLY incompetent, or he’s blatantly lying. I would normally say just give him a ticket, and let him pay a fine, but because of that bullshit excuse I don’t think he should be a police officer anymore.

I used to work in the county jail & sat in MANY court hearings & judges always would tell people that "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" & that would sometimes include some pretty obscure law or ordinances. I've also noticed over the years that doesn't apply to cops, judges, prosecutors or politicians. Laws are for we the little people, not our "betters". 🤬

We investigated ourselves and it turns out that we are Heroes! -LPD

I mean to be fair, if the car on the right of the cop car was already parked there before he came in, and he came in from the right of the picture, he couldn’t have seen the markings on the ground because before pulling into the space it would have been masked by the other car, and on these chargers the hood extends pretty far out which hides a bit of whats in front of it. In europe we have markings on the ground and a small sign at eye hight that you see when pulling in the space which prevents a situation like that if he really didn’t see what was on the ground

Imagine if you or I parked there "accidentally", we'd still be given a ticket. Fine him as you would a citizen.

How could he "not see" the handicap logo when he was pulling into a parking spot? Would he accept that excuse from anyone else?!

This isn't an employee/policy issue. Thee law was broken and there is only one remedy. The "remedy" is for the offender to be cited and go through the process, just like anyone else that broke the same law!

What type of discipline needs to given? A ticket for parking in a handicapped parking spot, just like anyone else. Then a cople of weekends patroling parking lots for people that illegaly park in handicapped spots.

Funny, the “didn’t see it” excuse doesn’t work for the public?????

Give him a ticket and his day in court, just like every other CITIZEN!

The man who posted the picture was dealt with accordingly.

You know you are in good hands with that cop. He just didn't know he was actively braking the law...

I saw a cop parked in handicapped parking and I approached her she said "I'm here on business ma'am" really rudely like I had the nerve to question her. so I called and made a complaint. I was not expecting a call back but I did and they asked me if I wanted her written up or ticketed. I said ticket of course, she wouldn't hesitate to give me one if I was parked illegally so damn right she is gonna get one. I was so happy that she got a ticket Edit: I'm disabled and had to park 7 spots further because she was parked in handicapped so I'm glad she had to apologize to me in person for being rude when I approached her. It was great lol

This cop can probably "see" illegal window tint from 3 blocks away.

Wow, with those skills he should be made detective immediately.

For a parking spot to be a legal handicap parking spot must have a posted sign with the ADA regulation # and must be at least readable from a parked car.

Some years ago as I was walking out of a Walmart, I saw a cop writing a ticket for a vehicle parked illegally in a handicapped space. The handicap spaces were three spaces facing three spaces. The cop had actually found a way to "park" his car into ALL of the remaining five spaces. I took a picture and showed it to the local newspaper. The editor loved the picture but said " I can't use this, I have to live here." - LaGrange GA.

"He didn't see it". Great, use this evidence the next time he pulls someone over and it's disputed. "The officer admits to having lapses".

So I can also say that I didn't know I was handicap and I parked and they wouldn't give me a ticket?

If that "officer" didn't see the handicap sign perhaps he really is disabled.

He knew damn well what the spot was, he just didn't think people would out him for it!!

The police chief said, "The officer made a mistake....he didn't realize it was handicapped." So if I make a 'mistake,' is that all I need to say to get out of a ticket?

He should pay the $500 fine like any other person why is he above the law

He should just plainly get 1) a ticket just the same as a regular person, wait their is more,2) yes the car should get towed and impounded 3)cost of tow and impoundment fees go the recipient who just broke a law. It is not a felony. And in this case , give the person a pack of flash cards with pictures on it, one of those pictures being a handicap ♿️ symbol Like the huge big blue one painted on the ground along with the huge yellow lines surrounding it, lets not forget the sign looking at you when you parked. If the person comes out before the towing , please ignore 2) & 3).

> "He didn't see the marking on the pavement." Would that excuse work if he were writing up a ticket for a motorist?

"The officer says he didn't see the handicapped markings on the pavement." It's called "selective vision." Cops' eyeballs are in a heightened state of alertness when they're on the prowl looking to make arrests and write tickets. But if it affects their personal convenience they can suddenly go completely blind. No need in obeying the laws themselves.

At first, I was thinking a week suspension without pay, but after hearing, "I didn't know", he should be fired for incompetence.

You would think being observant of your surroundings should be pretty important in police work yet he claims he didn't know it was a handicap spot

“Didn’t realize it was a handicapped parking spot?” Please. 1. Parking spot clearly marked 2. Rockstar parking spot would usually clue you in that it could be handicap parking. 3. The painted lines next to the spot for wheelchair access would be another indicator. I thought one of the first things they teach in cop school, is be aware of your surroundings. Is this the kind of deputy you want patrolling our streets, keeping us safe?

Seriously, he didn't realize it was handicap parking!? If anyone else were to give that explanation they would be laughed at, given a citation, and possibly had their car towed. This officer should be given the same penalties as everyone else!!! And, his commanding officer should not be making excuses for those breaking the law under his command!!

I'm so tired of the departments making excuses for cops that break the law! He didn't even get a ticket! The citizens would have!

WOW... If an officer claims the didn't see a HUGE handicapped sign on the pavement and another sign right in front of the parking space, then he is either blind, a liar or is so entitled he didn't care! So... what did the chief and the mayor do about it???????

The space was clearly marked. Have him pay the fine from his own pocket just like any other guilty citizen!

"He made a mistake" "he didn't see the markings" HORSE FEATHERS! Would that excuse work for anyone else? He parked there deliberately so his lazy blue tail wouldn't have to walk too far.

Didn't know? Then You're FIRED.

The officer knew exactly what they were doing.

He knew what he was doing. He's just used to being a cop and not having to worry about certain laws being enforced because he's a cop.

Even without noticing the symbol on the ground, as a cop he should have known that the yellow area beside the car only exists to make room for wheelchairs. It is common knowledge that is what those are for, as stated in any driving handbook. His excuse is invalid. To make sure all officers understand the same thing, they should have training on the matter, at his expense and not the tax payers.

accountability should be universal

if he didn't see the markings then he shouldn't be a cop and driving a car because he obviously can't see. not exactly hard to miss