El Paso Police Department Demotes Sergeant Filmed Arresting Television Crew

There is a story out this week that raises the interesting question: what does it take to be fired as a police officer in El Paso. Police Sgt. Raul Ramirez was captured on television arresting KVIA-New 7 reporter Darren Hunt and photographer Ric DuPont in April. The abusive arrests and use of excessive force by Ramirez appears to be insufficient to remove him from the force. Instead, he will demoted and allowed to continue to enforce the law.

Ramirez was punished for a separate, unexplained incident in November. The department is still investigating the Hunt/DuPont incident.

In this video, Hunt and DuPont were covering an overturned 18-wheel tractor-trailer blocking all three westbound lanes on I-10. Ramirez ran over and began screaming at them — saying that he was going to arrest Hunt. When DuPont pointed the camera at Ramirez arresting Hunt, he screamed “Don’t pull that trigger, boy.”

Ramirez also reportedly threatened nurse Jason Gales who had stopped to help the injured. Gales objected by saying, “You don’t have anyone taking care of him.” But Ramirez reportedly responded “I don’t care, you have to leave.”

For the video, click here

For the full story, click here.