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Part-I
I admired young man and women who put on a Police Uniform after graduating from a Police Academy and go out, putting their lives on the line to protect us. In addition, to face unexpected and unforeseen danger that is lurking around every corner. However, usually without proper training in sensitivity matters about different ethnic groups, different cultures, and people skills the task becomes difficult.
Throughout history, the police were view as “Pillars of Society". They held society together. The police provided the safety margin, “The Blue Safety Line" which keeps society from reaching anarchy.
The United States of America Constitution, guaranties every American citizen equal rights. It describes precisely every person born in this country and those sworn citizen may enjoy the right of freedom. They have the right to pursuit their dreams of worship, free from oppression and false accusations. They have the right to choose to petition the government for a redress of their grievances. They have the right of choice to voice their opinion on matters about the government in their Homeland. No other country in this world guaranties these rights.
In doing so, everyone takes advantage, and as a result, there is abuse of individual’s rights. Creating different standards within society, which effect the citizens and causing great discontent and unrest, often resulting in national disorder.
We live in a society where the standards for the wealthy is different that those of the poor. However, what is most intriguing is that we have standards for the people that are responsible for our protection. The men and women that serve as our protectors throughout our homeland; our Police forces who’s responsibility is to guard our freedom and keep us from harms way and from the criminal, predators that prey on our citizens.
When it comes to equal justice, Law Enforcement personnel are place in a different category, therefore viewed differently. The average citizens are ignorant to most of the laws of our land. However, when it comes to a people that have knowledge of law, the rules change. In other words, they should know better…
Most Police officers are young and just out of High School, some have college degrees, however, they still lack the life experience, which they need which would cause them to be more skillful when communicating with the public.
Police Officers subject themselves to people in communities that are much older and much more educated than they are.
One thought that should come to everyone’s mind, what is it that would motivate and cause a person in seeking a profession that could lead to taking a human life, or loosing his Owen. It is a known fact, that Police Officers have the supreme power of depriving anyone from his or her freedom. When a criminal commits a crime, they bring them in front of a judge to answer for the offense. Judges have a different set of rules that they follow which is different from the ones when they have a trained law enforcement person in front of them.
Communities expected Police Officers to educate as well occasionally detain members of the community for various involvements in violation of the law. The public shows resentment to these actions and it causes problem. It is not the Officers fault; is just the way it is.
The expectation, which the public has about our Police Officers, is that when they respond to an incident they should know exactly what to do. They do. However, there are instances leading them to make mistakes during the call they may be involve which becomes a legal issue. As a result, some may face disciplinary actions because of failure to follow proper procedures getting them into trouble.
When these officers are charge with violations of the law, they do not receive the same consideration or treatment as the average citizen. If an officer of the law commits a crime and subsequently goes to jail, they isolate them from the main jail population for safety reasons. This alone should alert everyone that standards applying to Police Officers are different.
There is a public view about Police Officers, when they commit a crime they are guilty until proven innocent. When it should be the other way around, in preventing these officers from suffering mental anguish, developing a sense of guilt, and eventually becoming dissolution with the job.
This does not happen to the every day average criminal. They have ignored what the public thinks. The average person, who has experience imprisonment many times, knows well how to get by while in confinement for long periods. They have plenty of time while seating in jail to brush-up on all kinds of skills, becoming nickel-and-dime lawyers while filling grievances, spending the taxpayer’s money in seeking retrials for their offenses.
Some instances becoming even better Attorneys, than the ones that represented them. These facts are the reasons our criminal justice idea is in such a shamble.
There is large number of law Enforcement Officers confined to our Correctional Institutions that know their lives are in great danger. The people who are caring for them do not concern themselves with their safety because they know the shamble the whole idea finds its self.
Our country is overburden with crowded jails where inmates are, place four to a cell because they do not have enough room where to put them. In addition, executive bureaucrats responsible for the decisions on equal personnel distribution to keep a balance are not doing their job.
In addition, mammy inmates confined in a limited space become irritated and frustrated; as a result, you have disturbances and riots. Knowing these causes those who can make changes in developing new laws which will bring this to pass are only concern on how much of salary increase they can get the next time around.
Many officers that are, imprisoned today are there because they failed to follow the law. Often using their Police authority for all the wrong reason, causing them to get into trouble and subsequently in jail. Brining a stigma on the rest of officers who must continue the war on crime. However, there are many officers in jail that should not be there. Somehow, they slipped through the cracks or conveniently, no one noticed.
According to Article seven from the “Bill of Rights", No one will be accountable or answer for a crime without enough evidence and an inquiry and indictment by a “Grand Jury". The Courts describe that anyone accused are “Innocent until Proven Guilty". Alternatively, is he?
When an average citizen commits a crime, he or she is innocent until proven guilty. However, when a Police Officer faces the same circumstances he or she is guilty until proven innocent. Having officers suspended with out pay and bringing hardship to the officer and their families.
Whenever there is an internal investigation involving a Police Officer, their lives are place on hold. Suspension can last for years until final determination of their case. Often having their families turn their backs on them in fear of reprisal from the rest of the World rather than stand with them. Further, viewed as outcast and not trusted by citizens in the community they live. Examined by the media causing many to feel robbed of their honor, and integrity forcing many into committing suicide rather than face disgraced.
Any one who thinks that police work is just as you see in the movies has another thin coming to them…
» left by Anonymous (1 year 166 days ago.)
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!
Bring it on, Sir. A marvelous topic please, more, more I am hungry for your articles. You have a good sense for law and order, and a deep perception about the rules of the game in administering justice.
Retired Judge Anthony Marquez, from Madrid, Spain.
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