You can add me to the growing list of ...

[Bull Matrix]

Sorry that happened to you. I dont think you should waste your time and money hiring an attorney though because I dont think you can prove what really happened. If you had some type of recording then you could do something about it, but right now it is just your word against theirs. I have been there and done that with the police  before, so I am just trying to save you the headache. I have a lot of respect for the police, but there are a lot of situations in which they are pissed off easily which is why I dont even question them anymore. The more you question, the more they are going to use that authority against you. The policeman was more worried about you getting worse, so he basically threw you out before you became a threat. That is the way it works sometimes, so next time just move to another section to stand up rather than question the stupid policies. I usually stand up in the patio areas when there are people complainning about my standing during the games.

[WoolyBully]

...and was only standing when quite honestly every person in front of me was standing.

and couple it with this:

more worried about you getting worse, so he basically threw you out before you became a threat.

then I can see how this could happen. It would be pretty difficult to tell someone to sit, when people in front of you are standing as well.

[Henry Jones Jr.]

The pigs who "police" this city are just as bad as the ones who shoot each other in Orlando.

[JrGMan2004]

I have a couple FHP friends that work the games, but they're down on the field, not in the stands so they don't deal with fans, except the ones that try to get down on the field. I'm seeing one of them this afternoon, so I'm gonna bring it up with him and see what he says.

I tell you, this would piss me off big time, and while I doubt trying to sue will help, I would write Auman, McMurphy, all the local TV stations, the AD, CJL, the ticketing office, hell, probably even the President and every other top level administrator that I could find an address or e-mail for.

[Qbanbull]

Here are my suggestions, in this order:

1) talk to an attorney

2) go public

I agree. Issues like this seem to be down played and put aside till the next occurence. It's not so much a question of seeking satisfaction but of clarification. Speaking out on this board was a step now I would inform others in positions of responsibility.

When contacting others make sure it is written and not over the phone. Contact USF Athletics, the TSA, BayNews 9 or whatever news agency you are most comfortable with and even contact the mayors office. Why go through with this? Well, it doesn't seem like a big issue to most folks until it occurs to them. By someone taking the steps to point out an issue it helps the next man/woman down the line. It is shameful that this happened to you and I hope you and your father are well.

[smazza]

... season ticket holders to get ejected for standing.  :'( I brought my handicapped father to the game today which I thought would be easy since I sit in the WC section of 121, I should have known that nothing at Tax Payer Stadium is ever easy. They explained that I would have to move to section 110 in order to accomidate my father's wheelchair. I told them that would be fine and moved as they instructed. When I got to my seats I stood for the anthem and continued to stand for the kick off at which point the people behind me started to yell at me. I at once went and found an usher and asked for clarification since everyone else was standing in front of me. He told me that I may stand as long as the action merited it, I then said so as long as everyone is standing in front of me that should be okay? He stated yes. The people in front of me sat so I then sat and when they stood I stood and everytime I stood the people behind me would yell at me. After Mike Fords second long run in a row we were now in the redzone at which point everyone stood and so I stood which once again led to me getting yelled at. I then turned around and told the people that just because they were fat that did not prevent them from standing and perhaps burning a few calories would not hurt them.

At this point Sergeant W. Sams approached me and asked me to have a seat, which I did. I then asked for clarification of the rule and he told me that I just needed to stay in my seat. I told him that was fine but what is the rule for the stadium? He told me that if someone complains about you blocking their view then you had to sit. I then asked if that meant that all of the people in front of me would have to sit if I complained and he stated, no. I asked how that was fair and he said that those people are not blocking my view, to which I asked if those determinations were made subjectively by the person taking the complaint. He then told me I had to go and had another officer escort me to a holding cell.

Once I got to the cell I asked if I could speak to someone about the policy of the stadium and they told me only if I wanted to go to jail. I then asked if there was anyone I could speak to about Segeant Sams and was told that he was as high up as I would speak to and once again just be glad I was not going to jail.

After I was kicked out of the stadium I did find a friendly helpful cop that told me he would go find my handicapped father and help him to find me. After about a half an hour of waiting for him I began to worry so I once again found another officer and asked for assistance. He told me I would need to speak to someone from TSA. I then went in and met a lady that said someone had just called in about my situation and to her knowledge my dad was still enjoying the game. I told her that I doubted that since he had no way of going to that bathroom by himself and does not like to be left alone. She then said to step outside and she would look into it.

Before exiting the TSA office I saw another officer at the desk and asked if there was anyway to get the information on my inident before I exited. He then made a phone call, told me no and asked me to exit. I chuckled to myself and then waited outside. The lady then came out to me and told me she must have been mistaken because someone was no helping my dad down to the office. I told her thank you and that I would continue to wait outside as instructed.

My dad then came down with a friendly TSA agent that helped him to the door. The man then told me that my dad need to use the restroom and that I could aid him. I then walked into the office and was told by one of the officers that if I took another step I was going to jail. I explained that my dad had to use the restroom and that I was only following the instruction of the TSA official. He told me too bad, I had been tresspassed and could not enter the stadium. I explained that I was well aware of my situation but someone needed to help my father. I then asked if there were any volunteers to hold my father's penis in order to help him use the restroom and seeing no takers the cop allowed me to help my father to the facilities.

After we exited the stadium my dad told me that he had gotten the information of officer Sams and so I called the nonemergency number and asked how to file a complaint about the way policing is handled at Ray Jay. I was then given a number to substation 3. I then called that number and was told that they do not handle that there and that if I had a complaint I should go back to Ray Jay and speak to the officers at the holding cell there. I asked if he meant the ones that would arrest me if I complained and so he told me someone would call me back. As I drove my dad home he told me that the officer said I got kicked out for talking too much to them, not with profanity, not with yelling and not with insults. Just simply asking them too many questions even though I had not been instructed to stop. I really wish they could just come up with a standard for the sitting and standing rule. One that is black and white and could be known and inforced by all, either that or come up with standing and sitting sections of the stadium.

Sorry for the rant but I just missed our last home game of the season and I am left to wonder if I should even renew my season tickets much less upgrade them next year :'(

pathetic but not surprising

once i got the degree i had to go to a big(real) city to live

[pheenix11]

Another thing I don't get is why would they make you move FROM a wheelchair section if your Dad is in a wheelchair?  How is that section not equipped to handle your father's?  Its the WHEELCHAIR section!

Was your Dad able to see where they moved you?

[usfbullcpa]

Write down everything that happened in detail, so you don't forget. Contact Internal Affairs of the agency that the Sgt. worked for, (HCSO, I assume.). 

No, it is TPD in the stadium at our games.

[Guest]

Write down everything that happened in detail, so you don't forget. Contact Internal Affairs of the agency that the Sgt. worked for, (HCSO, I assume.). 

No, it is TPD in the stadium at our games.

TPD has the southern half of the stadium, HCSO has the northern half, and FHP has the field...

[usfbullcpa]

This is like everything else in this world, the truth lies somewhere in between.  Puc's story "I was all ""yes officer, in my esteemed opinion...."" the officer heard " you stoopiddd pig, leave me alone I am just yelling cause I'm drunk"".... and the truth is he was standing up cheering, got yelled at by the people behind him and started yelling obscenities at them.  When the cop showed up he refused to listen to them, got smart mouthed with them, and they took that too far.

I have seen many people taken out of the stadium in the last few years and the police very rarely have to grab them and put them in a wrist lock, or neck lock to move them.  They try their hardest not to touch them, for fear of the lawsuit.

Just curious, how much had you had to drink before this?  (not any I am sure)