Trooper Donna Jane Watts
Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Donna Jane Watts who arrested Miami Police Officer Fausto Lopez for speeding on the Florida Turnpike, is now suing 88 police officers and 25 law enforcement agencies as well as the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. She is suing because the officers named allegedly ran her information in the state computer database to find out her personal information. This has caused her to have dry heaves and nausea while performing routine things like checking her mail. She is suing for over $1 million. For up-to-date news accounts of this story, photos and to post a comment, please access the links below:
Florida Highway Patrol Message Board
Hollywood Police Department Message Board
Miami Police Department Message Board
12/24/2012 - FHP trooper: Illegal police searches led to her fear for her safety
09/14/2012 - Miami officer pulled over for speeding by FHP trooper fired from department
07/16/2012 – Speeding Miami cop should be fired, probe says
06/18/2012 – Speeding cop fallout: Margate cops punished for running FHP trooper information
11/17/11 - Miami officer had second thoughts about pulling over FHP trooper
11/15/11 - FHP releases audio recordings of trooper stop
11/14/11 - Miami cop innocent of reckless driving on turnpike, lawyer says
11/10/11 - Threats turn to action in fight between Miami police and FHP
11/10/11 - Miami police chief: It’s time ‘to stop’ cop vs. cop tension with troopers
11/10/11 - Miami police chief disciplines officer for pulling over FHP trooper
11/10/11 - Miami Cop Thomas Vokaty Disciplined for Retaliatory Stop of FHP Trooper
11/09/11 - Who threw the poo? FHP trooper’s car covered with it at his Miami home
11/09/11 - Joe Sanchez’s Car is Covered in Five Gallons of Feces in Gruesome Crime Photos
11/09/11 - New Traffic Stop Mounts Tension Between FHP & Miami Police
11/09/11 - FHP Vs Miami PD; Miami FHP Patrol Car Found Covered In Human Feces And Other Waste
11/09/11 - New video of troopers speeding shows growing inter-agency war
11/07/11 - Tit-for-tat: New video of speeding officers this time targets FHP troopers
11/04/11 - FHP supervisor told trooper to ‘back off’ chase of Miami cop
11/04/11 - Information about police career of officer pulled over by FHP released
11/04/11 - FHP releases dispatch call of officer speeding, officer react
11/04/11 - Officer Pulled Over By FHP Had Driving Complaint In Past
11/03/11 - Reckless driving charge against Miami police officer sparks tension with FHP
11/02/11 - Miami Police Officer Arrested by FHP Trooper – the Full Dash Cam Video
10/31/11 - Miami Cop Fausto Lopez’s 120 MPH Turnpike Drive Caught On Video
10/31/11 - Miami cop innocent of reckless driving on turnpike, lawyer says
10/29/11 – Miami officer arrested at gunpoint, accused of going 120 mph on turnpike to second job
aunque todos tenemos derecho a dar nuestra opinion a veces ciertas personas se eqibocan al juzgar
por que ? cuantas miles de mujeres ninos hombres ,ancianos no mueren por culpa de borrachos inrresponsables? y ademas al oficial de la policia de miami que esa sra exposo sin miramientos alguno lo tratan de super culpar algunas personas .aquien llamamos cuando necesitamos ayuda ?policia policia tratenlos mejor eh que en la ciudad hay miles de personas inrresponsables y malbados y a esos los pocos afortunadamente los defienden un abrazo fraternal a todos los cop
All policeman deserve full respect. If it wasn’t for deputies this world will be in total chaos. One thing I have to admit, a lot of officers I’ve encountered can’t spell! I’ve seen cops smoking marijuana. Isn’t that ilegal? Why do cops get credit for arresting innocent people? Why do officers have to turn on their lights when the light is red to pass traffic andonce they passthey slow down cause nothin really hppened? Why haven’t they taken out the crooked cops out of the force? Well I’m from miami, fl. I wish every good cop the best as well for their families. Thank you for the times I was in need of an officer. God bless you all
#1 How was the female officer to know that the patrol car was not stolen?
#2 How was the female officer to know that the occupant wasn’t a threat?
#3 Even though we all know that badging is one of the LEO perks, do we want to fault the female officer or the offiicer who brings into question the “special handling” all LEO’s expect?
She waited until she saw the officer in uniform, then decided to pull her gun…that’s the difference…
I know! The speeding officer wasn’t doing anything bad, because all cops are above the law!
Cops should never be cited or prosecuted or arrested, because they’re all heroes! Yay!
Good Job to the Fl. Highway Patrol for pulling over the 120 MPH speeding Miami off duty officer.
To Whom It May Concern, This is regarding the female officer that arrested the Miami officer for speeding. I think she is to be commended. She did what she took the oath to do she upheld the law.She did her job with honor and integrity.And I must add it’s about time.Many police officers here in South Florida it seems have forgotten that oath. The police here in our area are out of control.Female officers giving rectal searches to males on the side of the road while male officers stand there and laugh, harassment,submitting false traffic tickets,using racial slurs,speeding, reckless driving. The list goes on and on. Even reporting them to IA does nothing but cause your family to be harassed.The people of South Florida need someone to get control of the various police departments here. Instead of upholding the law they feel they are above the law. I know there are good and bad officers but it seems the bad are many and the good are few. My family and I at one time had a great deal of respect for police officers. Now with all we’ve seen and heard down here we fear them more than the criminals. That is not how it should be.As I write this I fear what the backlash will be but I must because something has to be done for the sake of all of us.
I was stopped by a Metro Dade Cop in Uniform coming out of work for speeding 5 miles over the limit,. I was not mad for the ticket i was pissed that the offier called my ID fake, There are a few police officer that go beyond there call to duty.
I am a citizen and Browrd County resident and I am appalled by the nerve of this FHP trooper disobeying her supervisors orders to stop the pursue of this Miami Police cruiser speeding. Although it is unsafe to drive at the alleged speed the trooper had to exceed that speed in order to catch up to the cruiser thus creating double the hazard, then to exit her vehicle with her gun pointed at a uniformed officer and taking his gun and handcuffing him from a marked police unit should earn her a suspension or firing. This is not how fellow officers are to treat one another in the public or in private. I think the proper thing for her to do was back off as instructed record the cruisers number and give it to her superiors that would then PRIVATELY contact the Chief of that department for internal review and or redress. Pointing a gun at and unarming a uniformed officer is a CRIME much worst than reckless driving.
The most disgusting thing about this whole ordeal is that. ALL LAWS OF LAND SHOULD BE ABIDED by “NOT” excluding anyone. How will the bad guys, know how to respect the laws, if the officers are not upholding. With that being said The city of miami officer, was on his way 2 & off duty job, doing 80 miles per hour, which is NOT a FELONY. She was doing 120 miles to catch up with him, & she raised her superiors on the air, and was specifically “ORDERED” to fall back on the pursit. SHE HIGHLY DISREGARDED her command, and I’m not an officer, however, as brothers in sisters, that swore in the same oath & creed. THIS LADY DREW HER WEAPON, on another officer in full uniform, and his marked squad car. My question to her, what was your point? It was totally disrespectful, and he needs to comply with his punishment to pay for his finds, and she need to be reprimanded for unlawfully removing his badge without the CHIEF OF MIAMI POLICE OFFICER, giving her authority to do so. The both were wrong, but she went above & beyond the call, and the community is outraged of her unnecessary behavior. WHERE IS THE RESPECT LADY? Do you have some sort of personal vendetta? Where is the Love for your brother, as an officer? You both are out dealing as a community server to protect, and prevent crime, and “YOU” committed a major one. Both state of “FLORIDA” officers, and it went national, and know one is your favor.
You know what? I am going to go buy a police uniform and steal a marked patrol car.
WHY? Because then I can do whatever I want. I can speed and not worry about a damn thing. Now that this has all come about, it will give me the right to piss on everyone.
They wont stop me NOW! Everyone is in fear if they 10-50 a marked unit.
If it was JOE Citizen, they would still be in jail.
If the car WAS stolen, and it was someone impersonating an officer, and the Trooper was not prepared for that with her weapon drawn, this would have totally gone in a different direction.
What makes COPS above the law? Does wearing a badge give them the right to do whatever they want?
We should fear criminals and not law enforcement, but I think I fear the law more than i do your common thug.
This is a total disregard for the public that officer lopez swears to protect. The next time I am late for my job i will speed in excess of 120 mph and dare you cops to pull me over and if you do pull me over and ticket me you had better have this much anger against your fellow brother……the cops of today make me sick….you are bullies and you don’t even know the constitution….your brotherhood is over the constitution and that makes most of you dangerous…..thats why a sheriff is more respected for his power because his oath to the people is hinged on his performance…..i think that most pd’s need to be disbanded and the sheriff needs to take over.
As a retired New York State Trooper and a current Police Officer (Det) in Virgina, I was appalled at the actions of both officers. The Miami Officer was most likely authorized to use his police vehicle to travel to an off duty security detail, but traveling in the 90′s, and never realizing an officer is behind you in questionable. We all know, that at those speeds he is outrunning the siren, and may not have heard the Trooper. However it doesn’t excuse the reckless in an out driving at those speeds because of his tardiness. On the other side, the Trooper handled it in a terrible manner. She did not use good judgement, when speaking to the other Officer who was clearly in some type of uniform. She claims that she thought the police car may have been stolen, and if that was the case, what kind of officer safety was used in the stop (no backup, no felony stop, must have assumed if it was stolen that the suspect would have access to a firearm in the vehicle, going hands on and handcuffing a male that is armed with no help)? I believe she suspected it was an Officer. She even called in a speed of 120 mph plus, which their seems to be some clear question to. I clearly think they were both wrong. I take pride in this profession, and think there is a place for Officer discretion, and I have never written another Officer in 24 plus years. For the public reading this, I do not agree that we should be above the law either. But there is more than one way to skin a cat, and we have enough people out there that hate us and the profession we represent, so if we do use discretion and choose not to write a fellow officer, that is our decision (what perks do your jobs have that we don’t ? – free flights, free dinners, etc.). But you also have a point when someone is clearly that aggresive. Tough call, but she most definitely over reacted in an unsafe manner.
To move towards another related issue though, what is the problem with the communications provided to the Florida Highway Patrol. I think that if I were in charge of their department or if they have a union that represents, the posted video would be more than enough evidence to push for a revamping of their radio procedures. How many times did dispatch attempt to contact the Trooper with no response? That should have given rise to more of an officer needs help scenario, instead of a supervisor worrying about whether the stopped Officer was wearing a uniform or not. Especially at the time, since she had provided the wrong tag (plate) number of the vehicle she was stopping and it came back on something other than a police vehicle. To many attempts at contact with no success, to long for backup to get to her. Maybe they were on another channel getting cars to her, but I sure didn’t hear any concern about that.
Does this suprise you. I’m on the job in New Jersey. The first thing we were taught in the academy was: ” Whatever you do in life do not get pulled over by the Florida Highway Patrol or the Virginia State Police, because they both do not honor a badge. They don’t even honor a badge from their own states”. The sad thing is this is not the first time of hearing story of no ” Profesional Curtesy ” from this these agencys or the lack ” Brotherhood “. It seems like they forgot or never taught that we are a family, and the only people we have or can count on is each other. Most importantly is Yes we are our brothers keeper.
So you’re advocating the belief that cops are above the law? That’s pretty courageous of you, wait, this is an anonymous comment on a single website. NO one cares. That said, no cop should be above the law, none.
SO NOT TRUE! We could debate this till she wins her million dollars! Sworn 27 years, I was pulled twice last year on the Florida Tpk. 81/65 and Sawgrass Expwy. 78/65 and both times treated with total respect for the Thin Blue Line. Remember now, I was not in a marked unit going 120MPH bright lighting cars in front f me and jumping lane to lane. I was in fast lane and one time taking my 85y/o father to the doctor. Lets face it, “tinning” is a job perk. I received a GSW to my left leg many years ago and watched Jack Greeney bleed out at Churches Chicken. We are in this job together and Watts did not obviously feel that way. In her 69 page law suit she claims she could never work the road again cause she would never be able to depend on back-up! I would be concerned too, but bottom line is I could not sit back and let some a**-hole beat on a fellow cop, male or female, regardless of whether she crossed the thin blue line, she has to live with her actions, the same way former Miami Officer Fausto has to live with his. It’s Christmas and I promised my wife there would be no Police talk today! Merry Christmas to all.
This incident is a disgrace.
This female officer should have never disobeyed the orders to back off.
However, she should not be blamed for drawing her weapon and handcuffing him til he could be properly identified. Speeds in excess of 120mph, if it were not a police officer on the receiving end, 95% of all LEOs making the stop would draw and treat it as a felony stop. This vehicle could have been stolen. She has no idea who is in the car. Clearly another officer should know better, right?
The MD officer ignored her siren/lights. Even if the siren could not be heard, that is the purpose of deck lights, dash lights, grille lights, mirror lights, etc. The whole reason why PD vehicles have so many lights is to be visible and combat the statement “oh, I didn’t see you back there officer”.
LEOs do need to depend on each other, from the same force, different departments, and different agencies. The general public does not understand the truth of the job. Officers do need to rally together in support. Sometimes we also have to receive the uncomfortable truth as well. This also means that the “Brothers in Blue” are held accountable, and officers do not turn a blind eye to improper or illegal behavior.
I find it disgusting that many of my brothers and sisters in Law Enforcement are spouting the statements they have. You are not above the law. There are situations that are privileged and required, where the law does not apply when on the job. This MD officer was out of line driving those speeds, while off duty, and in a public provided vehicle, to another job. Those speeds are reckless and a danger to the public, despite having training to drive at high speeds. We meet those speeds when we have to, not when we FEEL we should.
The “brotherhood of LEO’s” does not come before honor of the law.
Cops are assholes that’s why I’m going to be a Firefighter!
Yeah do that , also when someone breaks into your house, call fire department.
I wish FHP would be as aggressive enforcing speed and improper lane change laws on I275 in Pinellas County
It’s amazing how some people here are slamming the trooper for doing her job. The idiot Miami cop was doing 120 + & not stopping.
Show me the Florida State Statutes under Reckless Driving, does it state that law enforcement personnel are exempt……How about Speeding?
Anyone ? Anyone? Didn’t think so……..
Keep in mind that this particular officer has a track record of speeding in excess of 100 mph on an almost daily basis (273 times in 2010 alone). It was his speeding record, coupled with this instance on the turnpike with the trooper that untimately caused his termination.
People that are proven wrong sometimes turn to misdirection……The bottonm line…he was caught violating traffic laws…period. Cop or no cop, he needs to pay for it.