Attorney complains cop parked illegally


Monday, April 21, 2008 | 5 comment(s)

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PORTLAND (AP) — An attorney who watched a police officer park illegally in front of a restaurant, then wait around while his meal was prepared, issued the officer a series of citizen-initiated violations.

Eric Bryant said he was sitting at the restaurant March 7 when Officer Chad Stensgaard parked his patrol car next to a no-parking sign and walked inside to wait for his food, the Portland Mercury reported Thursday.

Bryant told the weekly paper that when he asked Stensgaard about his car, the officer asked Bryant, “If someone broke into your house, would you rather have the police be able to park in front of your house or have to park three blocks away and walk there?”

Bryant filed a complaint as a private citizen alleging several violations, including illegal parking and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle.

Stensgaard was issued a summons to appear in traffic court in May. The fines could total $540.

“Citizens should be concerned that he used his status as an officer of the law as justification for breaking the law,” Bryant said.

Cathe Kent, a spokeswoman for the Portland Police Bureau, said Stensgaard would fight the complaint in court, “as he rightfully should.”

Parking is limited on city streets, especially with many construction projects downtown, she said, and officers remain on duty even when they are picking up food.

“We are emergency responders and need to be ready to take an emergency call,” Kent said Saturday.
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Ranger wrote on Apr 22, 2008 8:24 AM:

heh heh, just another "slime at the checkouts article/publication". I think the writer(s) at the World could do better in checking out the source of said article before forwarding it onto their readers.
The writer of the article up in Portland:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Author?oid=39220

FYI, the Portland Mercury is a "alternative publication"of the Rose City....read into that what you will. In other words, take whatever they print with a grain of salt.

law abiding citizen wrote on Apr 21, 2008 11:16 PM:

just because they wear a badge doesnt mean they are any different than us, the law is the law and it is to be obeyed by all... i wish more people would stand up and give citizens arrest to more officers. maybe then, they will learn to practice what they preach.

Citizen wrote on Apr 21, 2008 9:34 PM:

It's good that this officer will be kept off the streets while he deals with this attourney. Honestly!

I wonder if this busy body didn't have a run in with the law before or if perhaps he had it in for this particular officer?


Mark Smith wrote on Apr 21, 2008 4:34 PM:

Sorry but if we have to follow the rules, so should they. Should they park in handicapped spots and take them away from those that need them?

Now if they are responding to a call, I can see it, but if they are just having lunch, same rules apply.

I think that should be true of speeding. How often have you been passed by a cop when you are doing the speed limit. They don't have their lights on, they just go 5-10 mph over the speed limit.

quikwink@yahoo.com wrote on Apr 21, 2008 12:41 PM:

the general public are also emergency responders,depending on the situation and circumstances.so now what?


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