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| Rice University Office David Sedmak - Photo courtesy LinkedIn |
That officer has been identified as David Sedmak.
It was back on May 7th when two Houston police officers found themselves in a shootout with a suspect at the downtown Greyhound bus station.
After one of the HPD cops was shot another officer got on the police radio and called for back up.
Sources tell the Insite Rice University police officer David Sedmak was on duty near the school and decided to respond and drove to the scene downtown.
We now know two Houston cops were shot but survived. The gunman, according to the police department, took his own life.
So what happened to officer Sedmak after the incident that lead every newscast in town? He was fired by the Rice University Police Department.
Members of the Houston Police Officers' Union are outraged at Rice's action. Ray Hunt is the vice president of the police officers' union. He says, "if Rice officers are in trouble we'll respond with back up and I'd expect their officers to do the same."
Hunt says what officer Sedmak did is an example of what Mayor Annise Parker called for when she ran for office back in 2009. It was during the campaign when Parker indicated she wanted law enforcement officers in the Houston area to work together because of a shortage of HPD officers.
Some say it appears Rice may not be interested in that citywide collaboration when it comes to officers backing up their brothers in blue.
The school issued this statement to the Insite:
"As a matter of policy, Rice University does not comment on personnel matters. However, out of respect for the Houston Police Department, we want to clarify that David Sedmak was terminated from the Rice University Police Department for dereliction of duty. Sedmak left his post when only two other officers were on duty and failed to notify his supervisor of his whereabouts for nearly an hour, which could have endangered the safety of our students and campus."
UPDATE: Rice spokesman B.J. Almond sent the Insite an email insisting Officer Sedmak was fired for leaving his post and not assisting HPD cops.
Almond also says the record reflects there is cooperation between the Rice Police Department and HPD.
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I've been a police officer for over 28 years in Houston. Rice P.D. says Officer Sedmak used bad judgement. When an officer hears that other officer(s) are in a life and death struggle, your instinct is to get there and help. Maybe he should of done different. I know his actions are understandable.Shame on Rice P.D. management for forgetting what it feels like to be on the line. Chief, if you think that Officer Sedmak used bad judgement or over reacted to the circumstances, have you not just done the same thing. Do the right thing and hire Officer Sedmak back, and use this as a learning experience for everyone in your department. If you rule by fear, you'll always have to fear those who still work for you. Thank you for all those occasions that your officers have assisted us. Please give Officer Sedmak a second chance, because it makes us just sick that he has lost his career over this.
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