Here we go again. Another royal screwup by the Capitol Police. You'd think they would have learned from Congresswoman McKinney's slugfest, that there are certain types of misbehavior by members of Congress that require an immediate arrest.
America's beloved Kennedy family has been beset with a number of tragedies. Joe Kennedy, President Kennedy's older brother, was killed in combat during World War II. President Kennedy and his brother Robert were both assassinated. President Kennedy's son "John John" was killed a few years ago in a plane crash. The family has also had a long history of irresponsible misbehavior. Several of the younger Kennedy men have been involved in the use of heroin, cocaine, and drunkeness. Then there was the infamous case in 1969, when Chappaquiddick Ted drove off a bridge, bailed out of the sinking car, leaving Mary Jo Kopechne behind to drown.
Now we have Congressman Patrick Kennedy, the son of Chappaquiddick Ted, nearly colliding with a Capitol Police patrol car before crashing his Mustang convertible into a concrete security barrier near the capitol. He admitted being under the influence of Ambien, a sleeping pill, and Phenergen, an anti-nausea drug. He denied having consumed any alcohol, although the officers at the scene detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, and a hostess at the Hawk 'n' Dove, a popular bar near the capitol, claimed that he was drinking there earlier. In any event, it is unlawful to drive under the influence of prescription drugs. The accident occurred between 2:45 and 3:00 A.M. on May 4th. He claimed he was on his way to Congress where he was needed for a vote, although the House of Representatives had adjourned about three hours earlier.
Supervising officers who came to the scene instructed the first officers NOT TO CONDUCT A FIELD SOBRIETY TEST and ordered them to leave the scene. The "watch commander" then had the supervisors drive the stoned congressman to his home. He was cited for three minor traffic violations. Kennedy insists that he did not ask the officers for any special treatment, while - Whoa, get this! - claiming that he did not remember anything about the accident. So, how can he insist that he did not ask for any favorable treatment when he cannot remember anything? This incident would never have come to the public's attention, except that the Fraternal Order of Police, the union represnting the Capitol Police, registered a complaint with the police administration. As a result of that complaint and the attendant publicity, the watch commander was "reassigned." WHOPEE!!!
Without considering Congressman Kennedy's history of alcohol abuse, cocaine use, assaulting a Los Angeles airport security checkpoint official, and other questionable acts, and not withstanding that he has now checked himself into the Mayo Clinic's drug addict treatment program, did this latest incident warrant his being taken home instead of being jailed? Most definitely not. I have no problem with officers taking a drunk driver home, especially if he has been caught only a few blocks away. I have done so a number of times myself, but never when the driver had caused an accident. And, if a drunk would have come close to hitting my police car, he would have gone to jail, even if that happened in front of his house.
It is obvious that as soon as the supervising officers recognized this "spaced out" congressman as a Kennedy, they did not want him arrested. Would John Q. Public have been given a ride home under the same circumstances? No way. He would have been given a field sobriety test and taken to jail forthwith. Which brings us back to Congresswoman McKinney's assault. Would John Q. Public have been allowed to pass on past the security checkpoint after slugging the officer on duty there? No way. He would have been jumped on by several officers and taken to jail forthwith, possibly requiring some subsequent reconstructive facial surgery.
While members of Congress do have some immunity from arrest while attending and going to and from Congress, there are some exceptions, one of which is a breach of the peace. McKinneys slugfest and Kennedy's crash into an anti-terrorist barrier, both fall under the breach of peace exception. Both should have been arrested immediately. No member of Congress and no Kennedy should be above the law. The Capitol Police look like a bunch of keystone cops from a dysfunctional organization. In this case, we now know what the slogan TO PROTECT AND SERVE really means - DON'T DISGRACE HIM, KEEP IT A SECRET, AND TAKE HIM HOME. Shame on them for dishonoring themselves and for fueling the disrespect many in this country have for law enforcement.
EPILOG: On June 13,2006, Kennedy pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of prescription drugs. In a plea bargain that avoids time in jail, he was placed on one year of probation, ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and to contribute $350 (WOW !!!) - $100 to a crime victims fund and $250 to the Boys' and Girls' Club of Greater Washington, D.C..
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