A Dallas policeman pulled over NFL player Ryan Moats and his family, on their way to see Moats's dying mother-in-law one last time, and held them for 13 minutes as he leisurely wrote the traffic ticket mere feet from the emergency room door.

Moats, his emergency flashers going, blew through a red light near the hospital and was pulled over by Officer Robert Powell, a three-year member of the Dallas police department. Moats hurriedly explained the situation, but Powell refused to let the family inside the hospital. Moats's wife then attempted to tell Powell what was going on, only to have Powell draw his gun. She pleaded with him for a moment more, then ignored him and went inside the hospital with her great-aunt.

The two women sent out hospital personnel to verify the situation, but Powell still refused to allow Moats and his grandfather-in-law into the building, preferring to take his time writing a traffic ticket instead. When the two men were finally allowed inside, Moats's mother-in-law had already passed away. This account is based on video footage from Powell's in-car camera. Powell has since been placed on paid administrative leave, and the police department has issued a full apology.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/032609dnmetcopstop.3e9c080.html

Question: Was Powell in any way justified in his actions, even initially? Are situations like these connected with the profession (thinking of the Taser-happy Spokane police here), or are they connected only to the individual?

---

---