Like someone else said, that cop's career is over. His department is probably going to cough up a megaton of money, too.
I skimmed the article because I'm a little short on time but, in the police academy, we were shown video after video about officer liability. One video that stands out in my head was one of an officer heading to a crime scene. He had his lights and sirens on and blaring. He rode through an area with a posted speed limit and he was going much faster than that limit (can't remember what the limit was.....). Anyway, he killed two people. His career was over. Hell, he may have been arrested. I can't remember. If he wasn't, it was because officer's get a small amount of protection based on their intent--like shooting someone because they thought a gun was involved. This situation looks like recklessness on the part of the cop. Cops have to adhere to the same laws as everyone else.
If anybody was arrested, it was to keep the peace, I'm sure. I remember going to a scene where a man died after falling from a speed boat and getting hit in the head by the propeller (so many girls in bikinis--it was the sexiest crime scene, ever!). Anyway, the guys son showed up. He was insane with grief. We had to keep the scene clear for the paramedics safety. The guy said, "I don't care what's going on. Ya'll are gonna let me see my daddy!!" I had to jump between this guy and EMS and calm him down QUICK or he was going to be arrested. Not charged, just arrested for his safety and the safety of emergency staff on the scene.
Sometimes, it's not easy being the authority.
