A Dallas Cop Who Shot Himself in the Leg Says His Bosses Keep Calling Him 'Gimp'

A Dallas Cop Who Shot Himself in the Leg Says His Bosses Keep Calling Him "Gimp"

By Eric Nicholson Thu., Jan. 3 2013 at 11:00 AM

Note to self: DO NOT TWIRL.

It was in March 2011 that the insults began. Sgt. Demetrick Pennie, a 13-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department with a debilitating leg injury, says that's when his supervisors in the communications department began taunting him with names like "Gimp" and "peg leg" and the "one-legged general," which, when you think about it, are some really lazy and uncreative taunts.

Worse, Pennie says, he was abruptly transferred to the jail, an assignment widely considered by officers to be a punishment. At the jail, he was forced to walk up and down stairs, was denied a nearby parking spot and generally received unfavorable treatment because of his disability. Pennie's repeated requests for the department to make reasonable accommodations for his injury were denied, and his superiors retaliated by launching an investigation that resulted in confidential medical information being leaked to his colleagues.

That's all according to a lawsuit Pennie filed against the city in November. In its response, the city denied his allegation, saying Pennie's bosses "acted in good faith within the scope of their official duties." Besides, the city argues, it's immune from lawsuit under rules that protect cities from claims of workers compensation retaliation.

If you're wondering how Pennie lost use of his limb: According to news reports out of Houston, he was visiting family there in February 2003. One night he and a relative were sitting in a car parked on a residential street in northwest Houston. One report says they were "examining" the Colt .45; another says they were "twirling" it. Either way, the gun fired, striking Pennie in the leg. He was taken to Ben Taub hospital for treatment.

With Pennie in the car that night was a bottle of pills that Houston police later determined to be ecstasy, which three out of four drug enthusiasts agree goes terribly with gun-twirling. There don't seem to be any follow-up stories indicating that charges were filed, but Pennie's continued employment with DPD suggests that he was never convicted of anything.

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bytemass

Good thing it missed his crotch or they'd be calling him "Shorty".

JM64

Oh, forgot to mention, Pennie was not charged with a crime, apparently. Likely there was insufficient evidence or he was given some 'professional courtesy'. One charge that would have been a slam dunk prosecution is 'stupidity'. Alas, that isn't a crime in the penal code...

Mother Nature does regard it as such, and sometimes requires those guilty to forfeit their lives...

JM64

As a gun enthusiast and fervent believer in gun safety, I think Pennie's 'accident' was incredibly stupid.

As a trained 'professional' he was quite aware of what is appropriate when handling firearms. He obviously broke several of the primary rules of gun safety, paying for the experience with an apparent permanent limp. At that, he came out ahead, considering the range of possible outcomes.

As to his present job and working environment, if it is intolerable to him, he has the option of quitting, which would result in having to get a real job, or he can sue his employer.

ramblingbling

1 Like

@JM64 How smart can a dude named Demeterick really be?

MikeWestEast

What is about civil service jobs that makes personal animosities the source of very petty insults? In most private jobs, calling an employee Gimp would immediately get you terminated or eliminate any promotion opportunities. We saw the same thing over in the Fire Department with those hostile workplace lawsuits. While it may be open on whether damages are appropriate and where the blame lies, it is clear a lot of people there spent way too much time screwing each over for the sole pleasure of screwing someone over. In the private sector, people get raw deals, but it is lost always about money.

TheCredibleHulk topcommenter

Gimp? Peg-leg? C'mon, guys! Just one more piece of evidence that cops are inherently un-funny.

"Hop-along" is at least a little catchy.

roo_ster

1 Like

He was the only one in the car professional enough to twirl a Colt .45 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKjYlpex4OM (never gets old).

If he had survived the Colt & ex twirling, his next trick would have been twirling the Colt .45 pistol and the Colt .45 malt liquor, simultaneously.

Just remember, the anti-2nd Amendment crowd thinks only the Officer Pennies ought to have guns in our country.

ruddski

1 Like

How inappropriate, they should be calling him "Dumbass"

FEDUP

Another damn MORON cop!

scottindallas topcommenter

the name calling is to be expected, but the other issues are indeed troubling if true. His very employment after the X-shooting, and the failure of the city to make reasonable accommodation, if, he is to be employed.

bob_elb

2 Like

"ecstasy, which three out of four drug enthusiasts agree goes terribly with gun-twirling"

Pretty funny. :)

Brian Nesbitt

1 Like

@bob_elb zod help me but i actually agree. this is the one bright spot in a career of mediocrity. nice job, eric!

Myrna.Minkoff-Katz topcommenter

1 Like

The cops treat each other like shit. No wonder they love to beat on innocent citizens.

MushMouth1

his supervisors in the communications department began taunting him with
names like "Gimp" and "peg leg" and the "one-legged general," which,
when you think about it, are some really lazy and uncreative taunts

Ok, how about Paladin?