Father Speaks Out
DALLAS - As former Dallas police Officer Robert Powell starts over in a small Panhandle town, his father says he shouldn't have to.
Powell's father spoke out for the first time on his son's behalf Friday, blasting what he calls unfair media reporting.
No doubt you're familiar with what happened in a Plano hospital parking lot last March. A dashcam video showed Officer Powell detaining NFL player Ryan Moats and - briefly - other family members as Moats' mother-in-law lay dying inside. She passed away before Powell released Moats.
The resulting uproar culminated in a public apology from Dallas police Chief David Kunkle, who said he was embarrassed and disappointed by Powell's behavior.
The officer resigned under pressure.
"Rob wasn't being racist," said Bob Powell, the officer's father, in a radio interview on KRLD-AM Friday. "I have been in the situation where I'm trying to get to the hospital because I have some family member that's ill. I've been in that situation several times, and in the back of my mind, I know if I cause an accident it will still be my responsibility."
Robert Powell is back in the news after his new job as patrolman in the tiny Texas Panhandle town of Stratford became public.
His father discussed how his son's experience will affect the willingness of other officers to report questionable behavior. "Because of the media circus that came after this, we've also shown them that if you do turn in one of your own, that the media's going to burn them at the stake."
Nearly every national news outlet picked up the story of Powell's confrontation with Moats. The Houston Texans player and his wife later accepted an apology from the officer.
Bob Powell now has kind words for the NFL player. "I will give Mr. Moats credit; he did not try to use his fame to get out of the ticket."
Robert Powell has worked for the Stratford Police Department since August. The chief there concedes that Powell made a mistake in Dallas, but said he now deserves another chance.
