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Police Explain Cruiser Seating For Suspects Save Email Print
Handcuffed teen drove off in police car
Posted: 10:02 PM May 10, 2008
 Last Updated: 4:33 PM May 12, 2008
36 comments
A | A | A

Omaha Police said Monday it's not uncommon to put suspects in the front seat if their cruiser does not have a cage in the back. A teenager arrested and handcuffed Saturday night drove the police car away.

The 16-year-old pulled over near 27th and S streets was taken into custody on a felony warrant. He was placed in the front seat of the cruiser and managed to reposition his hands to the front of his body and slide over to the driver’s seat.

He took off heading southbound on 27th Street before losing control of the vehicle and crashing into a tree. The suspect was taken to Creighton Medical Center with injuries not considered to be life threatening.

Due to his age, the suspect's name will not be released.

Police say it's safer to have them in the front seat because officers can better keep an eye on them. However, if they do fear the person is dangerous, they can request a cruiser with a cage for transport.
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Posted by: Anonymous on May 14, 2008 at 09:55 PM
THAT WASNT NORTH OMAHA
Posted by: Unbaised Reader on May 13, 2008 at 10:29 PM
I am not involved with this at all BUT, Greg must of struck a nerve a little to close to the truth!! If these people are who the say they are on here, that is the Police officers that is a bit alarming on how they conduct themselves. Hey let's get over, the Cop messed up!! And prob won't get much as far as punishment, but let's move on here. Aparently there are people that are not hater (like Greg) I can see his point of view and I don't take it as a COP hater but a more blunt way of showing his conern and strive for a better police force. Can't we all just get along??
Posted by: The Original Cop on May 13, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Dirtshirt! I like that. Never heard that nickname for you guys. Well said.
Posted by: Dirtshirt on May 13, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Greg, thanks for paying part of our salaries. That dollar worth of your property taxes is greatly appreciated! I also appreciate MY OWN contribution to MY OWN salary. I hate when people use the line "I pay your salary" or any similar statement. I pay just as much of my salary as you do, so just stop that irrational line of thinking.
Posted by: The Original Cop on May 13, 2008 at 06:47 PM
One more thing Greg. It's because of your attitude and the attitude of all the other cop haters that we may have to hire people with "BARNEY FIFE (not FIFF) aptitude". Why would the best of the best want to apply to be Omaha police officers when they can go to a smaller department in the area or another department for just about the same pay, less violence, and less political pressure from haters like you. Is anyone really suprised that one of the last times we tested, around 1200 applied, but less than 700 showed up to test and only less than 400 of those even passed. Pretty hard to replace 100 officers when only 400 even pass the first phase of an extensive hiring process. But you just keep spouting Greg and Don Knotts' ghost will be knocking on your door to answer your next call to 911.
Posted by: The Original Cop on May 13, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Greg-Do you even read my posts before you comment? I was not standing up for the officers. I even said someone dropped the ball here. They will likely be disciplined. I was explaining the policy. The kid being in the back seat of a non-cage car would not make what he did any harder. Cruisers don't have bench seats Greg. All he would have had to do is crawl between the seats. The issue here is not the fact that the kid was in the front seat, PER POLICY. The issue is that he was not being watched closely enough. For that, I agree it appears the officers screwed up, and for that they will be held accountable. Perhaps a reprimand, maybe even a short suspension if someone's in a bad mood that day. What are you pushing for Greg? You want to officers to get fired? Not gonna happen. And Greg I work for Chief Eric Buske. The public pays for and funds many things in this country, but it is Buske that holds me accountable for how I lead my officers, not you. P.S.-None of my ofcs. were involved :)
Posted by: b on May 13, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Greg Isn't the age of a adult 19.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM
We do not work for you Greg. get your chip off your shoulder. You are not my boss, and I in no way answer to you. And im sure this officers aptitude is well above yours, so i wouldnt go there on that one. We arent going to risk our safety because of some shmuck like youself sitting in the backseat. What if he had gotten his handcuffed hands to the front and strangled the officer? Exactly. Dont comment on things that are obviously over your head,
Posted by: Greg on May 13, 2008 at 11:21 AM
The Original Cop---Let's see why you would place the suspect in the back seat for just a few minutes??......hmmm, OH YEAH!! to make it even more difficult to do what this kid just did!!! Keep justifying their actions. Nothing will happen to the cops, I will have to pay for the damage to the cruiser, along with the rest of the tax payers, which let me remind you, that you work for. This will just be swept under the rug along with hundreds of other unnecessary accidents that happen in Omaha. Due to the BARNEY FIFF aptitude of police officers this will continue.
Posted by: OGCop on May 12, 2008 at 09:22 PM
The police department needs to hit up the police foundation or other funding mechanism and cage up whatever cars that are on the street that don't have cages. I'm surprised the Union hasn't spoken up. Definite officer safety issue with no cage and transporting any priosner in the front seat. Cages run approximately $350 . Small investment when you consider the expense just in this case. The city is self-insured and will eat this as you won't be able to go after the kid or his absentee parents. Priorities. And just because many of the cruisers on the street are not in the greatest shape, it's still no excuse. You can spend money on some useless supplies, lease space just to lease it, want a police auditor (mayor) na dwant to pay for it (thanks city council for not funding it), but safety in cars, come on.
Posted by: everybody on May 12, 2008 at 08:51 PM
I love how everybody has money. Throw it here and there. Buy a 'cage' for every car. Buy 16 pairs of handcuffs for each person that is arrested. It's a stupid kid. Get over it. He's the only one that is paying the price right now--believe me.
Posted by: to biff on May 12, 2008 at 06:21 PM
i think u must live under a rock...most of the kids i knew getting in trouble...stealing cars, getting pregnant,starting fights & other petty crimes, were the ones who were captain of the football team, head cheerleader kids from privilaged families who felt they wouldnt get caught...with parents who never would have imagined what their child was getting n2. So u can't blame the parents completely they thought they were doing their jobs...what i do have 2 admitt is that the kids with the better situation hide their actions better.
Posted by: Sweet on May 12, 2008 at 05:28 PM
Now his momma can sue the OPD for endangering her boy. Thugs everywhere. No respect for anything. Useless.
Posted by: The Original Cop on May 12, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Greg- I was explaining to you OPD policy for transporting a prisoner in a cruiser without a cage. No the car was not moving yet and no I was not involved in this incident, but why would the officers put him in the back seat for a few minutes just to change him back to the front seat before they start driving? I don't know where your hostility towards me is coming from. I was simply explaining the policy and the officer safety aspect of why a suspect is not put in the back seat of a non-cage cruiser. The officers involved will have to answer as to why the kid was not more closely monitored and they will be held accountable. Obviously someone dropped the ball here, but getting worked up at me for explaining the policy is a little over the top don't you think?
Posted by: Anonymous on May 12, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Greg- I have one comment, people in custody can't be transported in cruiser withOUT the cage because the suspect could choke them if they were able to get the handcuffs in front. It wasn't that hard to figure out. Slow down and comprehend
Posted by: Greg on May 12, 2008 at 11:08 AM
I have 2 comments, 1, goes to The Original Cop, you raised the concern about, if he did the same and would have the opportunity to choke the officer from behind??? Was the car moving?? Were you in the vehicle?? If not then the choking idea goes out the window, if there was no one there to choke then quit making excuses. The 2nd comment I have is for "T", who do you think we should blame then???.....I wish there would be less of this "Quit blaming the parents!!" There is becoming an epidemic of irresponsible parents out there that keep blaming other people for their actions, or they just blame the child. Last time I checked the law makes the parents repsonsible until they were 18! Yeah, I know that could be hard to do, but you know what, you had the child, so you took on that responsibility!!!
Posted by: Biff on May 12, 2008 at 10:49 AM
T, it's not often that the kids who stay in school, have jobs or are active in sports and clubs, and are from intact, healthy families are the ones doing this stuff. Yes, the kids have free will, but the parents are the ones responsible for starting them down the right path, and some parents really slack off in that regard - too busy, want to be the kid's friend, didn't want the kid, etc.
Posted by: Whirly Bird on May 12, 2008 at 02:56 AM
Helicopter? Bell Jet Ranger: 4 million bucks. Maintenance and repair costs: another million bucks, every year.
Posted by: Fake Name on May 12, 2008 at 02:14 AM
To Lori: Being handcuffed in front in only in the movies. So you can take that out of the equation. Either scenario you mention, this kid is still the idiot. He or his parents will pay for the damage to the cruiser in some way. To Anonymous @ 9:38 PM: SWAT armored vehicles are usually paid for with federal grants. Also do you have an idea how many cruisers OPD has? It makes no sense to outfit every one with a "cage". There will always be one available if needed. These incidents don't happen often enough to warrant every cruiser to be caged... Helicopters... yeah, they're expensive to maintain and operate. But there presence is priceless.
Posted by: T on May 11, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Why does everyone blame the parents maybe they did everything they could and thier kids just decide to act out!!!! Stop blaming parents unless you have proof!!All kids are not perfect angels!!
Posted by: Lori on May 11, 2008 at 10:03 PM
If the suspect was handcuffed with his hands BEHIND him, as he should have been, then HE'S the idiot for trying to drive the car with no hands. If he was handcuffed with hands in FRONT...then the officer is the dummy. It says he "repositioned his hands"...if he was handcufed with his hands BEHIND him, then the cuffs need to be tighter to avoid him sliding his arms under his legs.
Posted by: Bob on May 11, 2008 at 10:01 PM
I am a retired Law Emforcement Officer and it was the policy of my organization to hand-cuff with hands placed in the back of the arrested subject. Then a plastic "zip-tie" was utilized to tie the cuffs to the back of the belt, thereby preventing such a thing as this happening. If there was no belt in his trousers, I also had a policy of my own, which was not forbidden by my organization, I would "zip tie" the handcuffs to one of his ankles. In my 25 plus years, I never had a subject get his cuffs around to the front of him nor with the "ankle tie", never did I have one want to run. Maybe I was just luckey.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 11, 2008 at 09:38 PM
If the OPD can afford an armored car and helicopters why cant they afford more cages. The city has another damaged cruiser that we will have to pay for,I'm sure he has no auto insurance to cover it. When he goes to court the judge should give him a fine big enough to cover the damage or his parents since he is a JUVINILE.
Posted by: The Original Cop on May 11, 2008 at 05:21 PM
To RM and C- Not all cruisers are equipped with cages and as I mentioned before policy dictates that a suspect in a non cage car goes in the front seat. If the suspect was in the back seat with no cage and was able to get his cuffs in front of him, there would be nothing stopping him from choking the officer from behind. The type of crime involved has no bearing on whether not a cage is used. For the most part you go with whatever cruisers are there. If a suspect is combative and no cage car is on scene, the officers will request one specifically.
Posted by: RM on May 11, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Shouldn't suspects be placed in the back seat also get rid of the law that prevents the names from being released or change it to maybe under 14. We should know who these little criminals are.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 11, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Was/Is that 16 year old just a(another) dumb, stupid, ignorant juvenile delinquent whose disrespectful criminal ways caught up with him because he wouldn't obey his parents & listen to good sound advice & counsel? Or, was he just another hard-hearted evil loving ways teenager who has been on a path of self-destruction for quite some time & was indeed out-of-control ? The latter pretty much speaks for itself. Yes, you have to wonder where his parents were & how responsible or irresponsible they've been. Most parents get tired of coming off as & appearing as `control freaks & they give up. Do they give up too easily? Fact: Alot of parents are just plain scared of their OFF-spring. A teenager has to be pretty darn mature these days to recognize & understand WHO truly loves & cares about them. Not just who provides food now & then & some spending money. Living at home? Might not cost a penny. Obeying parents & God's still small voice? PRICELESS! Watch & pray. Happy Mother's Day!
Posted by: The Original Cop on May 11, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Dave- There are no bars inside the cops cars. In a cruiser with an enclosed back seat, there are bars on the windows so the suspect does not kick out the windows, but it is a safety hazard and against policy to handcuff someone to any part of the car. The police department does not use waist changes or shackles. Sometimes is the suspect is kicking and fighting they may "hobble" his legs, which involves strapping them together. This suspect was likely not combative at the time he stole the car, or else he would have been in a "caged" (enclosed back seat) cruiser. Policy dictates that a suspect being transported in a non-cage cruiser is in the front seat so he is not behind the officer. If there was any neglect by an officer is regards to monitoring this suspect, it will be identified and the officer/issue will be dealt with.
Posted by: to: on May 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM
to channel 6: I like how on the newscast you start this story something like a traffic stop gone tragically wrong or something to that effect. My defintion of something going horribly wrong in the world of OPD would be an officer not going home. Really don't care about a car so let's really think about our priorities and not try to sensationalize a STUPID story. thanks!!
Posted by: Mary O. on May 11, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Again. It never ends. Maybe the next generation of parents will learn lessons from what too many of this generation are doing to their kids. God, morals, discipline.
Posted by: kaitlin on May 11, 2008 at 08:26 AM
if you read the article he was handcuff and placed in the front seat.. That police officer is just asking for trouble.. If this child stole a car once and he knows he is in trouble what is stopping him from doing it again. he needs to get a good punishment not just a slap.. but also he needs some rules to follow i imagine he grew up with no disciple at home so he doesnt understand right from wrong..
Posted by: Bill on May 11, 2008 at 05:42 AM
What a creep! I'll bet his parents didn't even know where he was. Yes, there should be bars in the cruiser to prevent this. Also, why not shackle them when they are in custody? Whoops, the bleeding hearts and ACLU nuts would not approve of this!
Posted by: Tom on May 11, 2008 at 05:19 AM
Move Over Houdini! Omaha's got another escape artist in the practice. When are the COPS going to start using waist chains to keep those arrested from stealing Police Cars. Maybe this car will be in the next auction. "one owner, stolen only once."
Posted by: Tort Shyster on May 11, 2008 at 04:16 AM
JMD is likely rushing to sue the police.
Posted by: Dave on May 10, 2008 at 10:34 PM
They should cuff ALL criminals to bars on the inside of the cop cars. Now I am sure the ACLU or the piece of crap criminal will be filing charges for police brutality considering he stole the car and was in police custody. Too bad the criminal was not more seriously hurt.
Posted by: J on May 10, 2008 at 10:23 PM
So, what level of "Grand Theft Auto" has this scenario?
Posted by: Hopey Hope on May 10, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Maybe this little thug will be paralyzed for life, we can only hope.
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