Connecticut cop fired after being filmed berating female driver

2023-01-13

Connecticut cop is fired after he was filmed berating a sobbing woman in an SUV who plowed through an intersection he was manning – and accused her of trying to run him over

James Hinkle was sacked from the Waterbury PD after he was filmed berating a woman who drove past him in an SUV while he was directing traffic
Hinkle had signaled for the woman to stop and banged on her car as it drove past him, cursing at her to pull over her car
The woman was startled by the angry officer, and as she broke down crying and apologizing, he accused her of trying to run him over a week before Christmas
An internal investigation found Hinkle’s actions violated department’s policies, with the police chief slamming it as a breach of public trust

A Connecticut cop was sacked after cameras filmed him berating a woman who drove by an intersection he was manning, claiming she nearly hit him.

Dashboard and bodycams captured the moment James Hinkle, a former member of the Waterbury Police Department, was directing traffic at the intersection of Thomaston Avenue and Homer Street on December 13.

As the officer makes a signal for cars to cross west, an unnamed woman heading east in an SUV drives past the officer, who had signaled for her to stop.

The officer edges forward and bangs on her car as it drives by, yelling, ‘Stop the f***king car.’ He then proceeds to walk after the car, which stopped on the other side of the road.

Hinkle shouts at the woman to pull over at a nearby parking lot as she tries to apologize to him, breaking down in tears.

Hinkle cuts her off as he yells: ‘Sorry doesn’t break it. Explain to my kids why they don’t have a dad a week before Christmas because you’re trying to run somebody over.’

James Hinkle was sacked from the Waterbury Police Department after he was filmed berating a woman in an SUV who drove past him while he was directing traffic

Hinkle had singled for the woman to stop and banged on her car as it drove past him. He cursed at the woman and accused her of trying to run him over a week before Christmas

During the nearly 10-minute video, the female driver could be heard crying as she apologized repeatedly for driving past the officer and insisting that she did not try to hit him.

Hinkle, however, left his post directing traffic to berate her for ignoring the flashing traffic lights and his presence on the road.

‘It’s a bright yellow jacket in the middle of the street,’ Hinkle yelled, referring his uniform. ‘What don’t you understand?’

‘I got two kids at home waiting for me to come home tonight,’ Hinkle shouted. ‘You’re lucky you’re not in handcuffs right this second.’

Hinkle also yells over the woman’s explanation to another responding officer, and when the other cop asks him if he’s hurt, Hinkle answers. ‘Emotionally.’

Waterbury police said an internal affairs investigation ‘determined his conduct, actions and behaviors were in violation of departmental policies.’

Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said: ‘His conduct during this encounter with a citizen of the community is unacceptable and not representative of the men and women serving the Waterbury Police Department.

‘I haven’t seen a case in my 30 years here that’s undermined the public’s trust more than this,’ he told reporters on Tuesday following Hinkle’s dismissal. ‘It really rocks you to the core.’

The driver of the car cried as she apologized for drying past Hinkle, saying she wasn’t trying to hit him. Hinkle cut her off and continued to yell at her

Police determined that Hinkle’s actions violated department’s policies

Hinkle was a member of the patrol division and had been placed on administrative leave before being fired on Monday.

He has been with the department for seven years and will be allowed to file a grievance over his termination, NBC CT reported.

The department’s union said in a statement that it was reviewing the case.

‘The Waterbury Police union is aware that Officer Hinkle was terminated on 01/09/2023 and is currently reviewing the internal affairs report, and the videos regarding the incident with our legal counsel.

‘The union will ensure that Officer Hinkle will be afforded all the due process rights in the collective bargaining agreement.’

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