police are not "your" employees

The police in an incorporated city do not “work for you”, they work for the city.  They are not beholden to you in any regard.  Their job is to enforce local laws as directed by their employer, the city.  You do not “pay their salaries”, you don’t.  You pay taxes, which are spent at the discretion of your elected officials, according to the laws of that city to, theoretically, serve the needs of that city, as determined by your elected officials.  Keep that in mind the next time you meet up with a police officer.  You are not “their boss”.  If that was true, no one would ever be cited or arrested.

What’s your role?  Pay your taxes, and vote wisely for your elected officials.

Should a civil servant act in a courteous, intelligent, knowledgeable, compassionate, honorable, expeditious manner, according to the scope of their employment and the laws of the community?  Certainly.

Do they owe you anything more than that?  No, in my opinion, they do not.  Take it up with your elected officials and their delegated management if you have a complaint, not with their employees.

Have a peaceful day.

Please show your support for your local Police by lighting your house entry blue January 2-4, 2015.

the thin blue line

It saddens me to hear otherwise logical folks spewing hate for the police in general, because of the acts or perceived acts of a few.  I know of no group of people (police, doctors, students, retailers, farmers, soldiers,  etc..) who are composed of perfect people and every group of folks contains people who make mistakes, purposefully or otherwise.  I know of no person living on this earth who is perfect, who has never done something wrong, or who has never made a mistake.

During my short time as a Sheriff’s Deputy, I witnessed mistakes, bad judgement calls and blatant stupidity on the part of brother LEOs.  I also witnessed heroism, compassion, kindness, generosity and sacrifice, far more of the later than the former.  The average Law Enforcement officer is underpaid, overworked and walking the line in one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs on this planet.  The average Officer does this willingly, purposefully and will put his life in harms way for you on a daily basis, and ask nothing from you in return.

Yes, we all have the right to form our own opinions in this country and the right to peaceful protest.  That right was won for you by the men and women of the armed forces and is protected and guarded for you by the men and women of Law Enforcement in your community.