El Paso Cop Investigated For Making Traffic Stop With Child In Patrol Car

A viewer said he saw an El Paso Police officer put a child in potential danger and break the law, so he snapped photos with his cell phone.

The viewer, who does not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation, said when he picked up his child from Burleson Elementary last week, he saw the officer, in full uniform, pick up a child, and put him in the front passenger seat of the police car, without a booster seat or fastening his seatbelts. The officer then stopped another parent in a car, and issued him what appeared to be a citation.

“I felt disgusted. These are the officers calling for safety,” said Carlos, who does not want his last name revealed. Carlos took the pictures to the department’s Internal Affairs Unit on Monday morning. The Police Department has started an investigation into any potential wrongdoing by the officer, who they are still trying to identify using the pictures.

Detective Mike Baranyay, a police spokesman said they do not allow officers to make traffic stops while there’s someone else in their patrol car.

“Whenever we’re transporting whether it be a prisoner or a citizen, we do not condone taking police action because obviously now you’re putting that person in danger because you don’t know what’s going to happen during that traffic stop”, he said.

Baranyay said the investigation could last up to six months, but is expected to be completed sooner, since there probably won’t be a lot of witnesses to interview. He said they’re going to uncover if the officer was running a personal errand, which is not allowed while on duty, or if the child was part of a professional call. Baranyay added the front seat of a patrol car is not the most advisable place to keep a child.

“There’s just equipment on those vehicles kids just don’t need access to”, he said.

Under Texas law, children under eight years old or four foot nine, have to be in a booster seat while riding in a vehicle. It’s still unclear who the child is, or how old he is.

Carlos, who said he’s seen the same officer pick up the child in his police car about six times, is upset about the incident.

“For an officer of the law to use poor judgment for the welfare and safety of the child is just astonishing,” he said.

He added he’s glad he reported what he saw.

“I understand that the police department as a whole is not an ugly bunch, but everyone does have a voice and they need to be heard,” Carlos said.

If the investigation finds the officer broke the law or police rules, he could face consequences ranging from verbal counseling to termination, according to Baranyay.