# DC Police bring a gun to a snowball fight **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 20, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965 "2009-12-20T17:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/21 "2009-12-21T05:57:54Z")
He defended them with rocks? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/22 "2009-12-21T06:00:10Z")
> [@SanibelMan](#): > > Police are investigating. Sure they are. Why don’t you give them a chance to blow off the investigation before you accuse them of blowing off the investigtion? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/23 "2009-12-21T06:01:47Z")
The guy seriously over reacted. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/24 "2009-12-21T06:15:42Z")
There may be evidence yet unseen, that might change my mind. But as it stands now, this guy should have neither gun nor badge. Rocks?..maybe OK. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/25 "2009-12-21T06:41:37Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There may be evidence yet unseen, that might change my mind. But as it stands now, this guy should have neither gun nor badge. Rocks?..maybe OK. After a while, dudes who throw snowballs at strange passing cars often turn to rocks and even bolts in their “snowballs”. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/26 "2009-12-21T13:30:11Z")
Yeah, you gotta stop these things before they (wait for it… waiiit for it) snowball. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/27 "2009-12-21T14:56:03Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There may be evidence yet unseen, that might change my mind. Such as, the officer was traumatized recently when his girlfriend’s offer of a “snowball” was NOT AT ALL what he expected? ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/28 "2009-12-21T15:06:19Z")
True story–my dad got arrested as a kid because he was throwing snowballs at passing cars (this was the late 50s) and one of said snowballs was apparently icy enough to shatter the side window of a passing car. Bad luck it was the police chief, worse luck that said chief knew Grandma from church (but Dad didn’t recognize the car), so he got his ass seriously busted for that. All that aside, the hipsters were assholes if they were throwing snowballs at cars but the guy in the hummer was a giant douche who should have his gun taken away for being an idiot with it. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/29 "2009-12-21T15:34:24Z")
People who drive Hummers should expect people to throw stuff at them at all times. The snow on Saturday was as powdery as possible. There’s no way one of those snowballs could have hurt anybody’s car. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/30 "2009-12-21T18:30:34Z")
> [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](#): > > The snow on Saturday was as powdery as possible. There’s no way one of those snowballs could have hurt anybody’s car. Not even with a rock or bolt inside? Or a chunk of ice? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/31 "2009-12-21T18:38:18Z")
Wow, that the subject title is pretty misleading, if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/32 "2009-12-21T18:40:04Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] After a while, dudes who throw snowballs at strange passing cars often turn to rocks and even bolts in their “snowballs”. [/QUOTE] Often? Got a cite to go with that? > [@DrDeth](#): > > Not even with a rock or bolt inside? Or a chunk of ice? Well that’s the second time this thread that you’ve trotted out that straw man. Any evidence at all that this was the case here? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/33 "2009-12-21T19:14:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not even with a rock or bolt inside? Or a chunk of ice? What about a bomb? Or anthrax? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/34 "2009-12-21T19:21:13Z")
Well, the whole “they could have \_\_\_\_ in the snowballs” is a bit over the top, but I was raised to never throw anything at a car. It’s rude and just plain dangerous. I mean, yeah, most snowballs are pretty harmless, but let’s be on the safe side here and not do something that could distract or harm the driver of a moving vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/35 "2009-12-21T19:26:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > What about a bomb? Or anthrax? And what if it wasn’t in a snowball but in an envelope? ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/36 "2009-12-21T19:56:38Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Wow, that the subject title is pretty misleading, if you ask me. Really? You didn’t think it was slightly clever? At all? Oh well. I’ll try to be more literal next time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/37 "2009-12-21T19:58:23Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > What about a bomb? Or anthrax? When I was a kid it was razor blades. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/38 "2009-12-21T19:59:28Z")
Each snowball thrown at a car is a separate felony assault. Absurd, but true. The cop is faced, in his version of the story, with multiple felony assaults committed by a group of ten or more people. He can’t determine, a priori, that the assaults were harmless. He’s within his rights to draw his gun. No question. It’s not brandishing a weapon because he is a police officer responding to a safety hazard and numerous felony assaults. Was it a smart thing to do? Hell no. Is he allowed to do it? You betcha. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/39 "2009-12-21T22:16:32Z")
Okay, so I expressed some sarcastic doubt that the D.C. police would investigate this. But they have, and they have [issued a statement:](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/the-district/dc-police-chief-laniers-statem.html) > [@](#): > > ``` > As Chief of Police, I wanted to respond to the many messages received to our police listserv groups last night in reference to the off-duty police officer’s actions on last Saturday. I have reviewed the video clips and heard from the public. It is very obvious to me that the officer pulled his service weapon in response to the snowballs hitting his vehicle. I have no doubt about this, nor has the officer denied the accusations. > > **Let me be very clear in stating that I believe the actions of the officer were totally inappropriate!** In no way, should he have handled the situation in this manner. We have taken swift action by placing him on non-contact status until all the facts are gathered and discipline is handed down. > > This officer’s conduct, in no way, reflects the training and the standards we hold each officer to at the Metropolitan Police Department. During the course of this horrendous snow storm, our officers worked hard and made many significant arrests for drug and burglary crimes, as well as gun recoveries. What is so disturbing is that, up until this incident, I had received several messages of thanks from the many people our officers assisted when their cars became disabled in the blizzard conditions. So it does not sit well with me that the negative actions of one officer has become “viral” during a time when so many officers have done so much good. > > I can assure you that we do take this matter very seriously and will handle it appropriately. > > The video clips and the number of witnesses willing to come forward have proven a point I have reiterated, you are the additional eyes and ears in the community and your feedback in solving criminal complaints are crucial. > > My office is receptive to this kind of information. I encourage all residents to remain active in our fight against crime and to know that at MPD, we believe no one is above the law. > > Cathy L. Lanier Chief of Police > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965/40 "2009-12-21T22:17:26Z")
Imagine if snow were actually falling on his shoulders---- there’d be no way to keep up with all the felonies being racked up! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-police-bring-a-gun-to-a-snowball-fight/521965.md?page=3)