Speeding Dallas LEO hits, Kills 10-year-old on bike

[stinger11]

Police Say Speeding Cruiser Struck, Killed Boy | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas Police Face Fallout Over Video Showing Child Killed

A family outraged after Dallas police released the dashcam video of their child's death said Friday that while the video needed to be seen by the public, they were shocked that the department did not notify them beforehand.

The Dallas Police Department released on Thursday a chilling dashcam video that captured the view from a police cruiser as it struck and killed 10-year-old Cole Berardi as he was riding his bicycle last week.

Cole's family said they saw the video for the first time on the news.

"Our darkest our, our most horrific hour was presented on television, before it was presented to us," said Brett Inman, the child's stepfather.

Cole was crossing Belt Line Road in southeast Dallas when he was struck by Senior Cpl. Michael Vaughn's patrol car.

"I think it is important that at some point it was released for everyone to understand the gravity of the situation," Inman said. "I would have preferred that we had the opportunity to see it as a family, as opposed to having to watch our son in his last moments on television."

Warning Disturbing Video: Dashcam Video from Cruiser

Before releasing the dashcam video on Thursday Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle warned that it is "very, very difficult to watch."

On Friday afternoon, the Dallas Police Department said they tried to notify the family that they were releasing the video, and they were referred by the family to talk to their attorney. According to the police department, the call was never returned.

Investigators said Vaughn was going 72 mph, more than 30 mph faster than the speed limit. He did not have any emergency lights or sirens activated.

"We do not want our officers speeding, violating any traffic laws unless they are doing it with red lights and sirens on," Kunkle said.

According to Dallas police policy, officers can only go 20 miles faster than the speed limit with flashing lights and sirens. In school zones and residential areas, officers must follow the posted speed limits. The only exceptions are when another officer's life is in danger or during a pursuit.

"I just want to make sure there is no confusion is about what our policies are," Kunkle said.

Vaughn, a five-year veteran of the department, is currently on restricted duty while the incident is being reviewed.

Police officials have yet to decide what punishment, if any, Vaughn will face in the incident. Criminal charges are also possible. Kunkle said the fatal crash has changed Vaughn's life "forever."

[stinger11]

Just to add my feeling, to the matter. Personally I think the officer was at fault but so are the parents. That kid should not have been out there at all at night, with no one else, with no reflective gear, etc. The officer was clearly breaking the law and local policy and I would hope he is held accountable to the fullest measure of the law.

[category4]

While there is no excuse for the officer traveling that fast without lights and sirens, I have to ask where were this boys parents? Why was he out, alone, on his bicycle after dark on a 4 lane highway?

I feel bad for everyone involved in an incident like this. Had the officer been going at a manageable speed, or if the boy had not been out unsupervised on a major highway after dark on his bicycle things may have been different. There's blame for everyone on this one.

[mswlogo]

Is this recycled news? The Video Clip shows a date of over a year ago.

[jem58]

Is this recycled news? The Video Clip shows a date of over a year ago.

This is an old story it happened about a year ago, very sad situation, and the child was on his way home. LEOs can speed around looking at their MDTs talking on their cells and its no issue. It just gets swept under the rug. Mean while there are parents with no child, that is just so unfair.

[Radar]

Just to add my feeling, to the matter. Personally I think the officer was at fault but so are the parents. That kid should not have been out there at all at night, with no one else, with no reflective gear, etc.

Internet search says City of Dallas paid $250,000 damages (maximum allowed).

On another note, I have a real problem with people saying that something like this is the fault of the parents. Often those who say this are not parents at all, and have no clue about raising children. Other times, it is parents who try to put their children in a cocoon and guarantee them a safe existence, protecting them from all harm.

There is a good country song about this:

We were born to mothers who smoked and drank
Our cribs were covered in lead based paint
No child proof lids no seat belts in cars
Rode bikes with no helmets and still here we are, still here we are
We got daddy’s belt when we misbehaved
Had three TV channels you got up to change
No video games and no satellite
All we had were friends and they were outside, playin’ outside

Chorus
It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world

School always started the same every day
The pledge of allegiance then someone would pray
Not every kid made the team when they tried
We got disappointed and that was all right, we turned out all right

Chorus

Bridge
No bottled water, "WE DRANK FROM A GARDEN HOSE"
And every Sunday, all the stores were closed

$250,000 is a very bad joke. We live in a police state. Isn't that why we are here? In rebellion to ridiculous laws?

Food for thought: Yes, the officer is at fault for speeding without lights on. But isn't that what members of this forum do all the time? And how much reaction time did the officer have? Less than 2 seconds. And can anyone fathom his pain as well? What if he had not been in a police car, but instead had been in a Corvette with a V1 and LI?

If anything, this video should be a reminder to us of what can happen by speeding in the wrong place, at the wrong time, under the wrong circumstances.

[Nothegger]

"... 10 year old Cole Berardi got no warning."

Yeah, well he got a heck of a lot more warning than the cop ever did. At least you can hear the car and see the headlights very clearly in the dark. The cop never saw/heard a thing before it was too late. I don't expect a 10 year old to fully understand this, but trying to cross a four lane highway in pitch black dark where the street lights are out, with no marked crossing or anything, on a bicycle with no lights (is this even legal, I know where I live it's illegal to ride a bike with no lights after dark), reflective markings, helmet or anything is a REALLY bad idea. 40 mph is enough to kill/cripple for life a person, especially if we are talking about a kid on a bicycle vs heavy police cruiser with push/PIT bumper.

We all did stupid things when we were kids, we just got lucky to get away with them.

[Donut Patrol]

WTF is a kid doing in the MIDDLE of the road in the middle of the night??????? While the cop certainly could use a slap on the wrist, it could happen to any of us. The ones who if not dealing with the loss of their child should be punished is the retard parents....

[Nothegger]

WTF is a kid doing in the MIDDLE of the road in the middle of the night??????? While the cop certainly could use a slap on the wrist, it could happen to any of us. The ones who if not dealing with the loss of their child should be punished is the retard parents....

x2. Exactly

[Radar]

"... 10 year old Cole Berardi got no warning."

Yeah, well he got a heck of a lot more warning than the cop ever did. At least you can hear the car and see the headlights very clearly in the dark. The cop never saw/heard a thing before it was too late. I don't expect a 10 year old to fully understand this, but trying to cross a four lane highway in pitch black dark where the street lights are out, with no marked crossing or anything, on a bicycle with no lights (is this even legal, I know where I live it's illegal to ride a bike with no lights after dark), reflective markings, helmet or anything is a REALLY bad idea. 40 mph is enough to kill/cripple for life a person, especially if we are talking about a kid on a bicycle vs heavy police cruiser with push/PIT bumper.

We all did stupid things when we were kids, we just got lucky to get away with them.

Ditto.