Connecticut police officer fired after being filmed berating a woman and accused her of trying to run him over
>
The Connecticut police officer is fired after being filmed berating a sobbing woman in an SUV that went through an intersection he was driving, and accused her of trying to hit him.
- James Hinkle was fired from the Waterbury Police Department after he was filmed berating a woman who passed him in an SUV while he was directing traffic.
- Hinkle had signaled the woman to stop and hit her car as she passed him, cursing her into stopping her car.
- The woman was startled by the angry officer, and when she broke down in tears and apologized, he accused her of trying to hit him a week before Christmas.
- An internal investigation found that Hinkle’s actions violated department policies, with the police chief calling them a violation of the public trust.
A Connecticut police officer has been fired after cameras filmed him berating a woman who was driving through an intersection he was driving, claiming she almost hit him.
Dashboard and body cameras captured James Hinkle, a former member of the Waterbury Police Department, directing traffic at the intersection of Thomaston Avenue and Homer Street on December 13.
As the officer signals for cars to cross west, an unidentified woman heading east in an SUV passes the officer, who had motioned for her to stop.
The officer drives forward and slams his car as it goes by, yelling, ‘Stop the fucking car.’ He then proceeds to walk behind the car, which has stopped on the other side of the road.
Hinkle yells at the woman to pull over in a nearby parking lot as she tries to apologize to him, breaking down in tears.
Hinkle interrupts her as she yells, ‘Sorry, that’s not enough. Explain to my kids why they don’t have a dad a week before Christmas because you’re trying to run someone over.
James Hinkle was fired from the Waterbury Police Department after he was filmed berating a woman in an SUV that passed him while directing traffic.
Hinkle had motioned for the woman to stop and hit her car as she drove past him. He cursed the woman and accused her of trying to run him over a week before Christmas.
During the nearly 10-minute video, the driver could be heard crying as she repeatedly apologized for walking past the officer and insisting that she did not try to hit him.
Hinkle, however, left his position directing traffic to berate her for ignoring the flashing lights and her presence on the road.
“It’s a bright yellow jacket in the middle of the street,” Hinkle yelled, referring to his uniform. ‘What you do not understand?’
“I have two children at home waiting for me to arrive tonight,” Hinkle yelled. You’re lucky you’re not handcuffed right now.
Hinkle also yells about the woman’s explanation to another responding officer, and when the other officer asks if he’s hurt, Hinkle answers. ‘Emotionally.’
Waterbury police said an internal affairs investigation “determined that his conduct, actions and behavior violated department policies.”
Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said, “Your conduct during this encounter with a citizen of the community is unacceptable and does not represent the men and women who serve with the Waterbury Police Department.”
“I haven’t seen a case in my 30 years here that has undermined public trust more than this,” he told reporters Tuesday after Hinkle’s firing. It really shakes you to the core.
The driver of the car cried as she apologized for walking past Hinkle, saying she wasn’t trying to hit him. Hinkle interrupted her and kept yelling at her.
Police determined that Hinkle’s actions violated department policies.
Hinkle was a member of the patrol division and had been placed on administrative leave before being fired Monday.
He has been with the department for seven years and will be allowed to file a complaint about his dismissal. NBC CT informed.
The department’s union said in a statement that it was reviewing the case.
The Waterbury Police Union is aware that Officer Hinkle was terminated on 01/09/2023 and is currently reviewing the internal affairs report and videos regarding the incident with our legal counsel.
‘The union will ensure Officer Hinkle is afforded all due process rights in the collective bargaining agreement.’