Police need to be better (on the average) than the people they're arresting, right? They should, on the average, be a better behaved than normal folks while on the job, exercising the public trust to enforce the law. When off the job, they should be like us, but still not criminal. "Oh, you're doing 75 in a 65? Yeah, well, no problem." But if you're going to wear the badge, you can't be committing felonies, stalking people, abusing your families, going off the deep end. We need emotionally healthy people exercising power over others.
So, if they commit an honest error and maintained their and the perp's dignity, and are like, "My bad," we should be like, "No, I got you, man." But when they are arrogant, scofflaw-ish, thuggish, or negligent, we should be rightfully, "Oh no you didn't!" On duty, they need to be held to higher standards than the civilians.
How does a police officer act to the suspect who doesn't answer questions? Well, of course they're not going to like it because it gets in the way of their doing the job. How should I act to the police officer who does not offer and does not answer when asked why I'm being pulled over or detained? When I heard the tape today of a black man being pulled over and asking why he was being detained over and over again, only to be met with silence, I can no longer be on the side of this officer. I WANT to be on the side of the police! I WANT to believe that the police officer was being a good, honest person like me! A trustworthy and effective law enforcement program make me feel safe and protected from those who would do me harm. Anything that puts that into jeopardy makes me want to prepare to take my protection on myself, get a gun, and makes me skittish if I'm ever pulled over for some minor infraction (like jaywalking or taillight).
No comments:
Post a Comment