Fukushima cop suspended for stealing gasoline

One 20-liter container x 28 occasions makes a theft of almost 300 liters of gasoline @140yen = a theft of 42,000yen and he only gets suspended????

No trip to the prosecutor, judge and no jail time at all?????

"The price of gas had gone up and he wanted to economize"

Things are tough all over, lol.

I contend...on duty 24/7 or not, he has no right to use tax payer money to for personal use. That's a classic definition of embezzlement and stealing.

I agree with Cleo and Utrack that basically speaking a police officer is active 24/7, or that they SHOULD be, anyway (some are not, obviously). That said, I agree with Mr.Dog that this guy should have been canned and possibly imprisoned for what he's done. it's disgraceful to say the least.

MrDog, I think you have a rather - er - simplistic idea of what being 'on duty' means. :-)

Maybe I should tell that to the guys "on duty" outside the train station near my house, or stood outside my local koban too ;)

Although, I shouldn't mock them. They are obviously doing the most important policework they can.

The job of policing does not mean standing about with a stick. March 11 was my SIL's day off, but by 14:50 he was mobilised and he and his colleagues didn't get another day off for yonks. In all that time he didn't stand about anywhere holding a stick, he was too busy being a copper.

And all the respect to him that he deserves.

Maybe it's the ones who are crap at their job who get the stick duty? If you get the chance, please ask him, as I honestly want to know why they think that standing about with a bokuto is going to achieve.

Japan's Finest

MrDog, I think you have a rather - er - simplistic idea of what being 'on duty' means. :-)

The job of policing does not mean standing about with a stick. March 11 was my SIL's day off, but by 14:50 he was mobilised and he and his colleagues didn't get another day off for yonks. In all that time he didn't stand about anywhere holding a stick, he was too busy being a copper.

??men stood outside with a stick? what?

The guys whose job it is to stand about with a stick in front of embassies/koban/etc... If they were "police" 24/7 you'd be able to see them outside their own houses with their stick...

＞All police can't be on duty 24/7, or you would see houses with men stood outside with a stick a lot more.

??men stood outside with a stick? what?

But that doesn't mean it's OK for an officer to diddle the taxpayer out of petrol money. Cops get paid enough and get enough perks that 'economising' on petrol is totally unnecessary. This penny-pinching cop should have the book thrown at him.

Brick shaped books, made of brick.

All police can't be on duty 24/7, or you would see houses with men stood outside with a stick a lot more.

Anyway, to be doing this in Fukushima too. Hundreds of people don't have homes or jobs anymore, be this guy want's to "economize".

The mentality of Japanese police to police in the U.S. is completely different.

And let's be thankful for that.

As for being on duty 24 hours a day - maybe it depends on the section the officer is attached to (can't really imagine a traffic cop prowling around in his free time looking for people parked in the wrong place), but the officers I know are never really off-duty - as Utrack says, if they see a crime being committed they have to act, if a major earthquake occurs they have to mobilise immediately, if a traffic accident occurs in front of them, they have to take charge.

But that doesn't mean it's OK for an officer to diddle the taxpayer out of petrol money. Cops get paid enough and get enough perks that 'economising' on petrol is totally unnecessary. This penny-pinching cop should have the book thrown at him.

A cop is a cop 24 hours a day on duty or off.

Not in Japan. The mentality of Japanese police to police in the U.S. is completely different.

The guy committed a crime, and since he is a police officer, he should have been fired. The guy is lucky to still have a job.

He should be fired and put in jail.

The officer was quoted as saying that he thought of the idea because the price of gasoline had gone up and he wanted to economize.

That's like someone killing a relative and saying they wanted to "economize" on how much they spent on food and heating...

I guess stealing is a crime for everyone but cops. If I did that with a work vehicle, I would be fired and jailed.

Are the attendants guilty of aiding and abetting?

economize........ well I guess free is economizing.......

BurakuminDes; Carefull, revenge can be a dangerous thing.

Why dont they name this filthy grub? I live in fukushima and would love to pay the dirtbag a visit...

The officer was quoted as saying that he thought of the idea because the price of gasoline had gone up and he wanted to economize.

This what I say when I refuse to pay my taxes. Hey, you think I get free fill ups too?

So from what I read being a first response (paid for this) employe grants you extra benefits beyond your contract? Free fuel, bashing random people on trains and making confessions for people...that's a Perk? Zerro tolerance of this behavior has worked in so many countries...Japan is different good cops find bicyicals and get paid to do so. That's it! Don't worry if an alarming number commit crimes or commit suicide at work. Biyciyals are very important. Fuel for his car...not so.

This cop had the gas station attendant fill up his 20 liter gas containers as many as 28 times for a total of 560 liters. (76,000 YEN) for his personal use. The cop quit his job on the same day his papers were sent to the prosecutors on July 29th.

Sorry for that poorly typed post, it's been a long day.

@Utrack - Now I agree with you. In the States it is considered common sense for police to always been on duty, but here in Japan. None of the police I know thinks like this. Difference in culture?

Mexicano -Morally its incorrect, but u agree with Utrack? Makes a lot of sense. Ill bet the last time a Fukushima cop was faced with a life and death situation was when he fell out of his cot in the back room of a koban. Explain to me again why I should pay for a cops gas money to Disneyland? My father was a cop for 35 years and I don't remember him bellyaching about having to pay for his own gas.

Morally this is incorrect, but I kind of agree with Utrack on this sorry, sorry horsefella.

And know one hear posting myself included have to face life and death situations. Cops do more so than anyone else no matter the division they are in. A few yen in gas is nothing compared to what Cops have to do and live with seeing.

Sorry, Utrack, but the police I am friends with surely don't think they are on the job 24/7. If this is a rule, it's the first I have heard of it. And even if it exists, I doubt it is taken seriously by many on the force.

His Salary is paid by the tax payers. An all cops are COPS 24/7. If they see a crime being commited he has to act whether he is on duty or off. Just because he is off the clock he is still a cop and what's a few yen in gas to public safety. It should not even be a crime to gas up his personal vehicle at all.

@Utrack The police officer is traffic division; I doubt they are on duty 24 hrs (or however you described it)...and even if he were, expenses for his personal car should not be paid for by tax money.

Stay on topic please.

Utrack- utter rot. Why should taxpayers pay a cop gas money on top of his salary? And using your logic, doctors, nurses, paramedics etc should all get free gas to drive around all day as they please?

A cop is a cop 24 hours a day on duty or off. They should be allowed to fillup their personal vehicles at the cities expense . In Philadelphia they do it, I've seen it myself but it is at a non discript pump owned by the city and it's next to where the police cars and their personal vehicles get detailed.

@ExportExpert

honey, this is JAPAN....these keystone kops can get away with just about everything.

Now, if the culprit was your average Tanaka Taro, he'll sure be arrested, indicted and 99.9% convicted.

Gotta love the DOUBLE STANDARDS~ =)

Nah... the Japanese are all stoic and wonderful in the face of crisis. At least it's not a MAJOR crime, but it's typical J-cop performance.

Suspended for six months what ? Not dismissed and charged with theft ? WTF?

How come the policeman can do this and not get slammed for stealing is there something amiss with the policing of the police in this country??

Who ever made the decision not to charge him needs to be charged with negligence, this is disgraceful !!

The officer was quoted as saying that he thought of the idea because the price of gasoline had gone up and he wanted to economize.

ROFLMAO....economize...by stealing....great role model he is