To clarify, I wasn't saying that the individual WAS on drugs; I meant that he was acting in a behavior that was VERY SIMILAR to someone who was on drugs. Hence my support for law enforcement.

I would NOT run red lights and blown stop signs as recklessly as he did. Although I would probably speed.

When a cop car came up behind me with it's lights on, I would probably stop and explain THEN what was going on: not wait until I got to the hospital.

I have been in this type of situation, so I know what I would do. My concern for a dying loved one does not outweigh the safety of others.

With whom would your compassion lie if when he was was running one of those red lights he broadsided a car and somebody in that car died?

I'm sorry. I have to side with DP on this one. The cop was a prick. If someone is speeding, runs a red light, and then pulls into a hospital; wouldn't you think the cop would realize that there was a medical emergency? What if the dying person was in the car? I would have done just what the wife did; tell the officer the situation and run inside. The driver only became upset after the cop refused to listen. There was no need for the cop to be such a bureaucratic a$$hole.

The Dallas Chief of Police apologized, as he should heve.

I would definately call someone to drive me if I was that upset and Madz was hurt, even if it ment calling and waiting for a cab. Because if I die on the way there - it's not going to be very helpful.

I have been in this situation and had to drive over 600 miles to even get to the hospital - but I didn't drive like a manaic to do so. And I was pulled over on the way home for speeding, and I took my ticket and said thank you as I was obviously speeding and the officer was just doing his job.

Last year in a smaller town near my hometown, a girl and her boyfriend were shot and killed by her ex. Her brother jumped in a car and drove to be with his mom, late at night and obvliously upset, and ended up wrapping his car around a tree and dying. So now the mother has no children.

Ok, watched the video.

I suspect the police is mostly apologizing because it was an NFL player.

If the police officer drew his weapon, I have no problem with that either as he was faced with a car that had refused to stop and then when it did four people appear to have immediately existed the car.

That said, I do not really see immediate belligerence from the driver to warrant the attitude of the patrolman once it was clear he was dealing with people who really were hurrying to the hospital (though obviously he still would not know if there truly was a situation worthy of any hurry, let alone one breaking the law). And also, if it is true that the driver was stopping at red lights before going through them (I couldn't tell from the video but that did seem to be true for stop signs once at the hospital) the I think that would be an indication that you're not dealing with anybody too deranged.

So, my renewed verdict:

1. The officer, I would say initially reacted appropriately but did not handle the situation in a manner likely to defuse matters once it was clear what was being dealt with.

2. The driver also did not do anything to help matters once things got going.

3. If the driver weren't an NFL player I don't think that any apology would have been offered.

4. The driver parked in a handicapped zone and seemed clear no passengers in the car warranted such a spot. So I hope he got a ticket for that.

5. It is kind of weird that the newspaper reporter in the linked article mentioned it was a well attended press conference when the apology was offered but the only media outlet mentioned was Inside Edition. Really?

6. Everybody seemed to have worked hard to make the situation worse than it was.

7. If Disneyphile punches a cop because her mother is dying, despite whatever sympathy I have about her situation she should be punished for it.

If someone acts irrationally towards a policeman, I hope they treat the person the same, regardless of circumstances. Cops put their life on the line and have to be ready for anything.

Even if a chase ends at a hospital, the driver could jump out with a gun and start shooting. You never know.

That's exactly the way I feel about speeders who weave in and out of lanes in heavy traffic, just because they have a few personal issues with patience and want to save 10 minutes, especially with a conscious decision to do so (not under duress, etc.). Same goes for people who insist on tweeting/texting while driving. Their eyes aren't on the road while doing that. Again, that's a needless conscious decision that can end in tragedy.

I just feel that the cop should have shown at least SOME compassion once he was aware of the situation, instead of consistently nagging at the guy.

Oh, and in regards to some other various comments that I read, I also want to say that just because someone is an NFL player, doesn't automatically make them a jerk, as well as someone being a cop automatically make them a saint.

WHAT? Cops not automatically Saints?!?!? What planet are you from???

Nor are they automatically demons. Far too many people jump to that conclusion.

I would go so far as to say that far more cops are good than bad. IMO, the number of bad cops is a VERY small percentage.

And by the same token, we shouldn't judge everyone who is in some other professions - say... like... NFL players.