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Oklahoma Highway Patrol: raging cop still under investigation
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The chief of the Oklahoma Highway patrol is currently reviewing an internal investigation of Trooper Daniel Martin, involved in a roadside scuffle with a paramedic in June. Martin remains on administrative leave, according to Public Information liaision Captain Chris West.
In an exclusive interview, West said that Martin's future is "pending the outcome of the investigation and the decision of the chief". Colonel Van M. Guillotte now has the completed departmental investigation into the incident with paramedic Maurice White, which drew international attention.
Martin was hired by the highway patrol despite being fired as Fairfax, OK's police chief after allegations of being a bully. When asked how that hiring happened, West said "I don't have that information."
He explained that personnel records are confidential, and noted that any discussion of those records would require consultation with the OHP's attorney.
"Even state employees have a right to privacy," West said.
The OHP's decision to cancel next year's Trooper Academy was wholly financial, West said, and was not related to the Martin incident. Although the academy's training style was described by the OHP as "paramilitary", the academy and Martin's problems are not related in terms of funding decisions.
"We were about to have to furlough some troopers due to lack of funds," West said. "But the legislature came through with some extra money to keep those troopers in service. However, the money wasn't enough to fund the academy. We had to choose between that and troopers."
Earlier, the OHP had stonewalled the release of Martin's dash cam., citing Oklahoma regulations that do not regard the cash cam videos as an official court document. Despite more than a million dollars recently invested in new cameras, the OHP insisted that the records are not in the public domain. After outcry from citizens and pressure from journalists, OHP released the video.
Willing to discuss the Martin incident, West said that the OHP needed to balance privacy for employees and information provided to the public. In response to questions, he said that the OHP has a psychologist on staff, and that support resources are always available for any troopers in need. However, he said that privacy concerns prevented him from specifically commenting on any potential referral of Martin to counseling.
West said that he did not have a time schedule for the chief's decision and release of further information.
During the confrontation near Prague, OK, Martin choked White, as shown above in this video capture. Martin, who turned around to chase down the ambulance after, he said, the driver made a "hand gesture" toward him, wound up in a brawl beside an ambulance carrying a patient to the hospital.
Martin's attorney, Gary James, called Martin, recently home from Iraq, "a hometown hero," while a petition to fire Martin gained thousands of signatures.
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