/PG/ Fort Worth, Texas (Signal High) for BadCop.Online —– A Fort Worth police officer was recently fired after using excessive force against a journalist.
A Fort Worth police officer was recently fired after using excessive force against a journalist.
Former Police Officer Matthew Kreuger was among a group of officers responding a hit-and-run call for service on the afternoon of June 23. Police claim someone crashed into a vehicle and then into a building before running away on foot — a seemingly newsworthy event. While investigating the incident, police were approached by Carolyn Rodriguez, a journalist who is known to produce “cop watch” videos in the entertainment district of the city.
There was a brief exchange of words between Kreuger and Rodrigues. Police body cam video shows Krueger threatening Rodrigues, who appeared to be a safe distance away from the police, and certainly not interfering with their investigation. Krueger appeared angry that Rodrigues declined to obey his unlawful instructions. Kreuger then arrested and attacked Rodriguez, 60, with such a degree of force that she was hospitalized.
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Rodrigues (pictured above) suffered bruising in her eye sockets and cheeks, and she was concussed. Her upper lip required stitches, and her elbow and shoulder were forced out of joint. She continued to experience pain in her neck, arm and back. Rodriguez was booked into jail and charged with interference with public duties, resisting arrest, evident arrest, and making a false alarm or report.
You can see the video [here].
When the video footage was made public, Fort Worth Police opened two investigations into the incident, and Kreuger was transferred to a unit without public interaction. Kreuger was dismissed. The department issued a statement, saying “After a thorough review of the Internal Affairs investigation, Officer Krueger’s chain of command determined that the level of force used was unjustified and violated departmental policy … Police Chief Neil Noakes concurred with the chain of command’s determination and terminated Officer Krueger’s employment with the department.”
Kreuger had been with the department for about eight years, in general patrol. It is not clear if any of the charges against Rodrigues will proceed, nor is it known if Rodrigues intends to pursue a civil suit. It is not clear whether or not Kreuger will face criminal charges.
Update. Signal High has confirmed that the same police officer, Matthew Kreuger,was suspended indefinitely from the Irving Police Department in April of 2013 after two internal investigations found unnecessary use of force [here].
What is Contempt of Cop
“Contempt of Cop” refers to an unlawful abuse of authority — when a police officer, or other person in authority, threatens, bullies or manipulates a person into doing something, or refraining from doing something, they have every right to do, or not do. The most common examples include when police prevent people from video recording their actions, when citizen journalists refuse to leave police scenes, when police use force to stop people from constitutionally protected activity.
Contempt of cop allegations net millions of dollars in civil suits every year, and bring serious reputational harm to police departments, as the interactions are almost entirely put online for millions to see.
What is a First Amendment Auditor or Cop Watch
“First Amendment Auditors” are citizen journalists who exercise their first amendment rights in respect to freedom of the press. Some are provocative. Some solicit negative responses from officials. All are protected by the constitution. Citizen journalists have often been credited with exposing wrongdoing and corruption, some cases leading to the dismissal of public officials. They tend to publish their work online where some have gained millions of followers.
Many law enforcement and government agencies have instituted specific training programs designed to stop clashes between citizen journalists who have the right to do what they are doing, and officers and agents to use bully tactics and force their will.
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