Case involving Ken Sheppard

[chrisleeberk]

For those folks with insider knowledge of this issue,

What do you think about this situation that happened to Ken Sheppard and the LASD?

From the video itself, it seems pretty bad for the deputies involved. However, I want to have all facts into account.

The deputy involved seemed to escalate the situation unnecessarily.. (??)

Is this a case of bad apples? Is this "standard procedure" in terms of how a deputy is trained to act?
Am I blowing this out of proportion?

I ask because of a previous thread in which I expressed interest in the LASD.

It was particular disturbing to me if in fact it was true that another deputy said: "Let me taze him"........

I need commentary and corrections if I am looking at this wrong.

http://www.jasmyneacannick.com/blog/video-l-a-sheriffs-deputy-please-just-let-me-taser-him/

[SkyHawk]

3rd post and you are in the LE forum asking opinions about LE misconduct, and to give our opinions formed after asking us to read a blog post on a site no one ever heard of.

I'm probably not the only one who has no intention whatsoever of clicking on that link.

Embed the video, or share a snippet from the site, or link to a site that doesn't require a tight fitment of tin foil over the head to even be believable. Or take it to off topic where this has already been discussed, at length.

[pacrat]

Video #1 the deputy asked Mr Sheppard to "step out for me" 27 seconds into the video. He refused to do so.

The End.

[Ron-Solo]

He had his day in court and a jury sided with LASD. He's had multiple run ins with LASD and has sued unsuccessfully. He's trying to bait deputies for a pay out. Oh, and he has a felony record that he failed to properly disclose, reuulting in his discharge as a non sworn investigator.

He has an axe to grind, but is not having much luck.

[RickD427]

I also agree with the "Baiting" conclusion. The conduct is pretty clear right at the beginning of the video.

Having said that, I really wish that the deputy didn't take the bait in the manner that he did. The corresponding alarm bells should have been going off with the line "Holster your weapon." I often speak of the need for LEO's to have legal standing before giving orders to folks. The same also works in reverse. There are a few folks that the deputy has to take orders from, and Mr. Sheppard simply is not one of them. The deputy seems to have taken Mr. Sheppard's assertion of authority as an indication of criminal conduct, which he wasn't able to substantiate when it really was just a provocation to improper conduct.

I was a patrol deputy during the time that an ex-Hawthorne PD sergeant (Don Jackson) was running around the South Bay area attempting to "Sting" officers. His father was an LASD sergeant who had worked at my station and was very favorably regarded. I stopped Don twice during that time. On each stop he was somewhat disquised and would act very similarly to Mr. Sheppard. That set off my "set-up" alarm and on taking a second look, would recognize that it was Don. Each time I would say something to effect that I wasn't going to play his game and to give my respects to his father (and with the appropriate voice inflection to indicate that the giving of respect was only to the father). Seeing Don's facial expression each time was worth it.

[chrisleeberk]

Ron, Ricki
Thanks.. this provides the perspective that isnt immediately obvious from the video.

While I agree that the deputy shouldnt have escalated the situation, I think that when Sheppard said "Holster your weapon", I can easily see that the deputy had his guard up because that could be a signal that Sheppard is going to do something else...

When your guard is up, and very tense, it is difficult to think, and you do things for self-preservation... (right, wrong or indifferent).

I think it was an unfortunate situation for both sides..

[yzErnie]

When your guard is up, and very tense, it is difficult to think,

I wholeheartedly disagree with this comment. I have a lot more to say about the comment but I'll just leave it at that.

[1911su16b870]

Mr. Sheppard lost this case in Federal Court. He repeatedly did not follow lawful commands and his disobedience escalated the situation until a sufficient number of deputies arrived on the scene.

Sheppard ordered to pay Deputy Short's costs.

[jdubs71]

First of all its almost 3 years old, secondly, I have no issues with that contact based on the video, the guy was being very evasive from the start. Its obvious that the video is trying to show the Dep was using excessive force. He's conducting proactive patrol in his beat and makes a self initiated stop, maybe its a high drug area I dont know. I tend to agree that the guy was baiting him. If the PI had half a brain he would've notified dispatch and gave his vehicle description, plate #, location and reason for being there. I'm just glad there was no AD, the Dep had his finger on the trigger during the confrontation. That's the main issue I had with it.

[chrisleeberk]

What do you all think about the issue where one of the other deputies was reported as saying "Let me taze him."

I dont know if that is even true or not.

[jdubs71]

What do you all think about the issue where one of the other deputies was reported as saying "Let me taze him."

I dont know if that is even true or not.

I'm more curious as to why you care about this story so much. It happened 3 years ago, you've been a member for less than a month and have 5 posts, probably all on this topic so what gives? You've already heard several comments on this, the guy was a fraud baiting the Deputy and in the end got nothing. I think it's safe to say this discussion is over. Starting to seem more like some type of attempt at trolling.

[Country_Jim]

What do you all think about the issue where one of the other deputies was reported as saying "Let me taze him."

I dont know if that is even true or not.

Why don't you just be honest about your agenda for posting all these questions?

[chrisleeberk]

Country Jim,

I want to understand the issue behind the tazing part.

I am not sure why questioining and trying to understand now constitutes an "agenda"..

Am I simply supposed to take it all in and say that everything that any LEO does is OK?

You dont question things? You just accept it?

I want to understand why someone saying "Please let me taze him" is ok...

[cvigue]

The whole finger on the trigger thing was a little disconcerting.

I want to understand why someone saying "Please let me taze him" is ok...

Joking amongst themselves. Don't be disingenuous.

[dno]

Sounds like he said it as a joke, you know, everyone wants to tase the guy, the guy needs tasing, so the deputy says, "Please, let me tase him" because the deputy agrees the guy needs tasing and is joking that he would like to be the guy that tases him. They don't pass the taser around and give everyone a turn, it's a joke.

Why the big deal? What is it about this that won't let you move on? It happened 3 years ago....it's over.