Beliefs

How come, when an officer crosses the line with one criminal he is fired and prosecuted? But, when many of the officers cross the line, they are excused?

How about applying that logic to everything??? How about applying to officers responding to calls where they come out and threaten and mistreat the Citizens that called them? How about applying that logic to the officers stealing evidence.. oops um.. I mean borrowing evidence from suspected criminals.

I never condone misconduct. However, It appears that there was some overreaction. The officer here was being somewhat proactive with this young criminal. He already, had other incidents with this criminal. Including one where this young criminal had beaten the crap out of a "security guard" at the school. So I guess the officer was supposed too politely ask this criminal to "pretty please, leave the grounds"

If we all knew the whole story here. We would know why this officers was reacting this way. I do fault the officer for one thing. When the criminals grandfather came to the school and pleaded with the officer prior to this incident, to not arrest him. The officer should not have cut the criminal a break earlier in the day and had the criminal arrested. This is about all I really blame this officer for. He should not have cut this criminal a break the first time. Had he arrested him, the officer would still have his job. Cutting these criminals breaks when they commit crime. Only leads them to believe that there isn't any accountability for their actions. Beg and promise they won't do it again, and they will be ok to return and do it again.

So this officer who may have been actually one of Flint's finest looses his job. Because he cut this young criminal a break. I believe that is what got the officer bent out of shape. The criminal promised not to come back and his grandfather promised he would make sure it happened. Had the Grandfather called the officer ahead of time and told him his criminal grandson was on his way back to the school. The officer would have had time to think about what to do. Instead of reacting out of an emotion. He was betrayed. That's a powerful emotion. I don't cut no one slack when they betray me. So while it is wrong. I don't believe he should have lost his job over it. Possibly some discipline. But, not his job. But, this administration doesn't have a clue want discipline is. Shown by the Police Departments complete lack of Moral and Discipline brought on by just plain poor leadership..

Andrew Gauthier has been charged with assault

By Taryn Asher

FLINT (WJRT) - (07/12/06)--Wednesday night there was an exclusive look at a former Flint police officer beating a teenager caught on tape.

It all happened back in April. Andrew Gauthier, a liaison officer for Flint Central High School, was charged with assault after a school bus surveillance camera captured him striking a student.

Gauthier refused to talk, but the tape of what happened that day speaks for itself.

The tape provides the clearest look at the 15 year old who was caught on the school bus surveillance camera, walking onto the bus parked next to Flint Central High School.

As students were boarding the bus, police say Gauthier found out a student who didn't even go to Central and was not allowed to be on school grounds -- let alone a school bus -- got on the bus and that's when Gauthier took matters into his own hands.

"You may want to close your eyes and ears for a minute," Gauthier told students on the bus.

Gauthier struck the 15 year old and pushed him into the window as he screamed profanity.

"Do you hear me?" Gauthier said on the tape. "Don't come back to this school bus no more. I kicked your (bleep) out. The other day you won't be assaulting anybody again. Do you hear me? Don't come up here no more."

You can hear the bus driver tell the students to stay out while Gauthier continues to rough up the Schools of Choice student.

"The police officer had earlier skirmishes with him being on the property but still he crossed the line and when you cross the line as a police officer you have to pay the price and he has," said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.

Because the teen was not injured, Leyton charged Gauthier with assault. As a result, the 16-year veteran of the force was fired from the Flint Police Department.

Gauthier eventually pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge and earlier this week a judge sentenced him to probation.

"There is no justification for a police officer crossing the line," Leyton said. "I think he would be the first one to tell you that I think he said in court he regrets it but perhaps he was on that beat a little too long."

The Flint Police Officers Association has filed a grievance to get Gauthier's job back. Chief Gary Hagler says right now there are no plans to rehire him.