By CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio – On Wednesday, Ryan Speakman, an officer with the Circleville Police Department in Ohio, was fired for releasing his police dog on a surrendering truck driver despite state troopers instructing him otherwise. Circleville police stated that Speakman did not meet the standards and expectations set for their officers, leading to his termination.
In a statement released by the police department, officials mentioned they would not provide any further comments regarding this personnel matter at this time. Attempts to reach Speakman for comment were unsuccessful.
Speakman, who joined the Circleville police department in February 2020, deployed his police dog following a lengthy pursuit on July 4th that involved troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The pursuit ended near the town, and both the chase and the subsequent attack were captured on a police body camera.
According to an incident report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the pursuit began when troopers attempted to stop a commercial semitruck that was missing a mudflap and failed to comply with an inspection. The Circleville Police Department was called to provide assistance in the situation.
The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, a police union to which Speakman belongs, filed a grievance, claiming that he was unjustly fired. However, no further details regarding this matter were provided.
This incident has raised concerns about the appropriate use of force by law enforcement officers and the importance of adhering to established protocols during tense situations.
Truck Driver Attacked by Police Dog During Arrest
A recent incident involving a 23-year-old truck driver in Memphis, Tennessee has sparked outrage and raised concerns about excessive force by law enforcement. The driver, Jadarrius Rose, initially refused to comply with police instructions and later ended up being attacked by a police dog.
According to the Highway Patrol incident report and body camera footage, Rose initially refused to leave his truck and then defied orders to get on the ground. Eventually, he got on his knees and raised his hands in the air.
Despite a trooper repeatedly yelling off-camera, “Do not release the dog with his hands up!” the police dog was deployed by Officer Speakman and attacked Rose, as shown in the video. Rose can be heard pleading for the dog to be taken off him as he experienced pain from the bites. He was subsequently treated at a hospital for his injuries.
While it is still unclear why Rose refused to stop for police, it is worth noting that he is Black and the officer involved is white. In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, Rose declined to comment on why he didn’t stop but expressed relief that the incident was recorded on video. He stated, “I’m just glad that it was recorded. What you saw is what, pretty much, happened.”
Audio recordings of 911 calls reveal that Rose believed the pursuing officers were trying to harm him. He cited feeling unsafe pulling over and expressed confusion about why the officers had their guns drawn. The 911 dispatcher repeatedly advised him to comply with the police and assured him that they were not trying to harm him.
Rose has been charged with failure to comply but has yet to provide a comment on the incident. His attorney, Benjamin Partee, has also not responded to requests for comment. This incident has once again raised questions about police tactics and the use of force, particularly in cases involving racial disparities.
Comments