The foul-mouthed Canton, OH police officer who threatened to shoot an armed citizen in the head over his concealed pistol last summer has been fired, but he reportedly plans to appeal.
News of the firing of Canton officer Daniel Harless has already hit some of the gun rights forums, such as GunRightsMedia.com and Gun-Politics.org. Members on both forums are elated. This column first discussed the case back in July after video from Harless’ dash camera became public. The case ignited a fury among gun owners all over the country, including the Pacific Northwest.
Perhaps the most critical remarks of all came from John Richardson, blogger at No Lawyers, Only Guns and Money:
The Canton Police Patrolmen’s Association, the union representing Harless, has asked for an extension of his hearing due to the PTSD. While not explicitly stated, the story implies that they are standing foursquare behind him in his appeal and many other officers have donated sick leave to Harless while he was on suspension prior to his termination. .—John Richardson, No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money
As reported by CantonRep.com, Harless was dismissed Tuesday. City Safety Director Thomas Ream made the announcement and on Wednesday morning, he released a three-page report with details.
Harless confronted a private citizen named William Bartlett in early June 2010 when the officer stopped to check out a vehicle parked on the side of the street. Bartlett was with two other people and the police car’s dash camera caught the whole incident, including Harless’ repeated expletives while Bartlett remained calm.
Bartlett’ sin was in not immediately advising Harless and another officer that he was carrying a concealed handgun, as required by Ohio statute. The problem, as can be seen by viewing the video, is that Harless never gave Bartlett the chance, instead repeatedly telling him to keep quiet. At one point in the video, Bartlett’s hand is visibly holding up what appears to be a document or documents that were apparently his driver’s license and concealed carry permit.
Harless clearly is furious on the video, and at one point tells Bartlett that he should step back, draw his pistol and shoot Bartlett. Incredibly, Massillon Prosecutor John Simpson, who reportedly was asked by Canton’s law department to review the video and determine whether criminal charges were warranted, said there was “insufficient evidence” to support charges.
One is left to wonder whether Simpson would have the same attitude in the event a private citizen had made the same statements to another citizen, on video.
“It is quite clear that (Harless’) actions represented a pattern of behavior where inappropriate verbal abuse and threats of death or great bodily harm of the various complainants occurred. This escalating pattern of potentially dangerous behavior cannot be justified or excused and clearly illustrates the seriousness of the departmental infractions.”—Canton Safety Director Thomas Ream
Instead, Harless has used up his own sick leave and time donated to his cause by fellow Canton officers. That revelation brought this reaction from blogger Richardson:
Tolerance of bad actors like Harless entrusted with the public's safety by police unions and fellow officers diminishes the public's respect for all officers. Rather than propping him up, they should be pushing to get someone so obviously unstable off the force and into treatment (if really needed). Officers like Harless need to be out of law enforcement for everyone's good.—John Richardson, No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money
This column followed the Harless story here, here and here. Things got worse several days after the initial disclosure when a second video from an unrelated winter-time traffic stop by Harless exposed the same behavior.
It is now reported that Harless has apparently been diagnosed with PTSD stemming from a confrontation in 2002 during which he was severely bitten by a suspect in a struggle for the cop’s pistol.
Considering what has been printed about Benjamin Barnes, the gunman who killed Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson, whose memorial service Tuesday was attended by hundreds of law enforcement officers from all over the map, PTSD can be a serious problem. Barnes allegedly suffered from PTSD, which may have been a factor in his violent behavior that resulted in his two Jan. 1 shooting incidents, one in Skyway south of Seattle that left four people seriously wounded, and the other, which left Ranger Anderson dead. Gun owners have raised some $3,000 for her memorial fund at KeyBank.
If Harless goes ahead with his appeal, it will become one of the most scrutinized cases in the Buckeye State.
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