Cop Fired For Responding to Officer Down Call

Our 911 dispatchers know up front that if a "Signal 1" (officer shot/down, under fire, whatever the case might be) goes out on the radio - every police officer available (regardless of department) responds to assist. This is the biggest bunch of bullshit. Please do not take this the wrong way. University police officers get a bad rap to start with - most think they are just campus security guards, to include a university's administration. If the administration does not want the university police to pursue a case they tell their police dept to stand down. I know this from first hand experience with Marshall University in Huntington, WV.

This is why employment as a police officer in a PRIVATE university is to be avoided if at all possible. People who run those institutions of 'higher learning' simply do not understand the nature of police work. They are only concerned with the $bottom line in a money making FOR PROFIT institution. They look upon their campus PDs only as a necessary evil, and really don't support their officers at all. Bad treatment, poor pension plans and lack of respect for their officers is the status quo at these private institutions. Little to no union protections in place, and you can be fired at any time, for any reason, with little redress regarding disciplinary issues. No way would I ever want to work for these private colleges.

Just a few things to ponder.......

All Lawmen Remember This;
“ In any meeting with renegades, or desperate outlaws, you must know if there is to be a shooting, you should be prepared to join in the fray with disconcerting alacrity and deadly effect.”
“ For the reason that society could much better afford to lose a score or two of rustlers and bandits, than to sacrifice an efficient peace officer. “
John Clum
Lawman Tombstone Arizona

Never take no for an answer from someone who dose not have the authority to say yes in the first place.

Mike Crager 12-03-2009

Most University Police Departments have the same standards force on them.......Keep it quiet from the public,,,Do not scare the students or the Alum....Be seen and not heard.....Forgive every student Athlete for any indiscretion...No bad publicity leaves this campus relating to the students or staff.

Kind of like in the "70's"when officers got bad raps around the University ie. TSU & Uof H, we had this made into bumper stickers.....NEED HELP?...CALL A HIPPIE...

Hang in there David we are behind you. The Cadillac coffee shop pea brains that are in charge have not a clue about real world. They are out to make themselves look good, and at times, like this idiot that let you go, they fall on their face and get up with ----on their faces. Been there done exactly what you did and at the time worked for someone with the below intelligence that you did. To hell with the idiots full speed ahead, after all I wonder if it were they in the officers down situation, would they want you to leave your post then? Great job, be proud of your actions, and I hope some really neat and real department gives a man of your caliber a job.

With all the acts of violence against police offiicers the last few years, im appauled at Rice University for thier actions taken against this career officer. After coming of one of the deadliest years of killings against police officers, you would think that his "chief" would consider this and the situation before firing him. Lets hope that nothing of this nature happens again where the only available back up is from the university and it causes an officer to lose his life because they are afraid to responded because they may get fired. Shame on Rice University!!!!! Fire the damn chief and the president of rice!!!

Sounds like a terrible decision by the college, I commend Officer Sedmak for going to assist. Thank you, I am confident that you will not have any problems moving on from this.

I absolutely support the idea of firing bad cops. That comes with the responsibility of peace officer. Still, I don't see that the officer did anything wrong, and university officials need to recognize that this is a job that requires quick thinking without panic. Most people couldn't do this job, even with training. In an emergency, you go to the aid of those in danger stabilize a situation. He did what he was supposed to.

Bump rpotter.