crime

Police officer breaks Rolex wristwatch during arrest; sends suspect repair bill

28 Comments
By RocketNews24

With famously low crime rates and an honest society that returns wallets full of cash, Japanese cops usually have it a bit easier than their overseas counterparts. But while they may have some extra time on their hands, Japanese police officers still are put in the line of danger catching the bad guys and keeping Japan safe.

One officer in Saitama Prefecture was reminded of this reality when he got banged up pretty badly and broke his expensive Rolex watch a couple of years ago while pursuing a man suspected of exposing himself to a young girl. This cop shocked his colleagues and the public last week when Japanese media reported that, after arresting the suspect, the police officer took the man to court and sued for him for damages including more than 700,000 yen to repair the watch.

Back in November 2013, the police officer was investigating an incident in which a man had exposed himself to a high school girl in Hasuda City, Saitama Prefecture. The cop suddenly spotted the suspect who tried to get away in a car and pursued him by grabbing onto the car’s windshield wiper. After being dragged a good distance, he managed to stop the car and arrest the driver.

According to the lawsuit, the officer sustained significant physical injuries and is left with psychological scars from the wild chase and is asking for about 2,500,000 yen from the suspect. And while suing a suspect for damages already shocked his fellow police officers, the cop further surprised his colleagues when he tacked on a 736,560 yen bill to fix the expensive Rolex watch he was wearing at the time.

The suspect’s lawyer has criticized the police officer’s decision to wear such an expensive watch on duty and questioned whether his client should be required pay for its repair. The lawyer also argued that the damages for mental injuries are much too high since police officers should be used to working in a riskier work environment. The cop of course disagrees saying, police officer or not, he was injured because of the suspect he arrested and deserves the full amount.

While the Saitama Prefectural Police Department told Japanese media it wouldn’t comment on the officer's “personal” matters, some police officers anonymously said they were embarrassed of their colleague and had never heard of a lawsuit like this. Many Japanese netizens thought wearing a fancy watch to work, especially as a cop who might have to chase a criminal or two, showed poor judgement and sympathized with police officers who might feel ashamed.

“I’m amazed that a police officer would wear a Rolex to work. What sort of cushy job did he think he was going to that day?”

“Of course this suspect was probably a bad guy, but I’m not sure he’s responsible for this cop’s decision to wear an expensive watch!”

“How did this guy become a police officer without any common sense?”

Source: Yahoo! Japan News

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Policewoman’s posterior produces poetic justice as she arrests man she says groped her on train -- What can $200,000 buy you? A high-ranking Aichi Prefectural police officer, apparently… -- Man sues police after being locked in with a member of yakuza group he was trying to leave

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28 Comments
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Is he really that bad of a cop ? I'm mean he got a hold of the flasher and he did it in a way that most cops would never do because of the injury's or do you know a cop who would hang on to a car like in an action movie ? Looks to me that the only one actually being thankfully is the Girl that got flashed. I mean we are talking about around 25K in dollars here and compared to what some people have suid MacDonald's for before this guy actually have a good reason.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The repair bill is insane. For that money you buy a used Rolex in excellent condition. If the suspect physically assaulted the officer then he ought to pay for the damage he did. Assault and battery is illegal and people who do have to pay for whatever damage they caused. Dragging a man while he is holding on to your car is assault and battery. Plus resisting arrest. Plus dangerous driving.

Consider this.

If I were walking down the street about the usual stupid bicycle rider who is texting while riding at full speed and slammed into me and broke my arm and (heaven forbid) damaged the Rolex that happened to be attached to my arm I'd make sure the miscreant paid for my arm, my watch, any lost income that resulted from the accident and the physical and emotional pain I suffered (I mean from being knocked down, not over the state of my watch).

And I am talking about negligence. This was willful violent behavior by the suspect. My sympathy is with the policeman in this case. Make the pervert pay.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How on Earth can he afford a Rolex Watch on a low J Cop salary? Never mind.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I thought Rolexes were supposed to be strong watches that can take a helluva bashing and still keep working...

Unlike the wearer.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Now that suspect will have to resort to theft in order to pay the cop.

Idiot cop wearing a rolex on duty. Get a G-shake nex time.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maybe it was a present. I don't see why it matters one way or the other.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm going to be that person. How did he afford a Rolex on a cop's salary? A friend of mine dropped his (¥3m value) and it cost ¥400,000 to repair, so a ¥700,000 repair bill would mean it was a seriously high-end model - perhaps a Yachtmaster or Datejust with diamonds.

Yeah, heaps legit... How many Yaks paid you off, mate?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Considering that the perp was trying to kill the cop, I would say the request to pay for the watch repair is justified.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I thought Rolexes were supposed to be strong watches that can take a helluva bashing and still keep working...

So much for all those ads in National Geographic.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This also raises the larger question of whether police officers should even be allowed to try their hand at suing suspects in civil court for damages that the police and government insurance have refused to compensate them for.

Don't forget that he's also suing for psychological damages from the chase. The rolex is just icing on the cake.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Criminal vs Idiot.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

He'd have to show proof of authenticity. If he couldn't I would make the case that it was a knock off and that he was trafficking fake goods. Might work.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Fair enough. I hope the beast has to pay up.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

How did this guy become a police officer without any common sense?

lol! I guess whomever asked this question has had few run-ins or experience with Japanese police.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

More interested to know how he could afford it, and wear it to work? Co-workers might be embarrassed about him for a bag full of reasons. He obviously could afford to get it fixed, now he just wants compensation?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If it passes, what's stopping every Police officer from wearing hundreds of thousands of dollars in various items and suing every person they see?

Maybe their meager salary? I bet most cops are wearing low end Casio or Seiko watches.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Obviously this guy has no idea what duties are required of a real cop. He probably thought it would be a cushy koban job.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Throw this case out. He was stupid to wear a Rolex on duty. Leave that material stuff at home.

I would only agree with the guy's suit if it was his wedding ring. I'm sure officers are advised NOT to wear wedding rings to work but some people won't take their wedding rings off. A G-Shock is more suitable for his line of work. G-Shocks aren't always cheap btw.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Crazy. Grabbing onto the wipers of a moving car? Dare say this officer has watched a few action movies in his time.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ridiculous. This suit should be thrown out of court due to reasonable risk attributable to their jobs. If it passes, what's stopping every Police officer from wearing hundreds of thousands of dollars in various items and suing every person they see?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

(Da)Saitama...

So what, he is just one of the many Saitama/Chiba people without sense of style. Probably wore his LV wallet sticking out of his right back pocket (as per inaka regulations) too. Crocs on days off. Perhaps those Adidas jump suits with gold stripes on them. No big deal.

Sounds like a person not fit to be a police officer. What business does a guy like this have wearing a watch that requires repair costs for ¥700'000? Much less while on the job? And Rolex? Not only is he lacking in good judgement, he also lacks in style. That ought to be an offense, no? Mmm, the HR department in the NPA hire some fine people...

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

“How did this guy become a police officer without any common sense?”

Worth repeating.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I was sure this wouldn't be a simple Rolex watch story but would instead have a deeper meaning and provide a window into Japan's societal problems. Thanks for raising the shade.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A law enforcement officer knows what he is getting into when he/she signs up for it. As an former MP, I knew exactly what I was getting into by the end of training. It was my choice to pass or fail. If a cop suffers from mental sickness from a job related incident, they have psychiatrists on staff to deal with those matters. The flasher is a you know what but if this guy wins the case, it'll be open season for other cops to start suing suspects and criminals for the same reason. And Wow, as cops are paid with my taxes, and are able to buy a Rolex, then I guess I'm in the wrong job! Can't say I know any cops in the states that can afford a Rolex on a government salary.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The J-cop seems extra litigious. I wonder if he's spent a lot of time in the US. I suppose if he has to sue someone, a pervert is as good of a target as any.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

So people shouldn't drive Mercedes, etc., for same reason?

ALL the cops should wear Rolex! If criminals don't want to pay for repairs, they can stop acting out! It's the criminals doing wrong, not the cops wearing Rolex!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Wear a G-Shock and quit whining.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

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