You Have GOT To Be Kidding Me, Right?

Editor’s Warning: This is MY opinion and MY opinion only. It does not represent the opinions or beliefs of SouthComm Law Enforcement Media, Officer.com or any owner, employee or representative thereof.  This opinion is mine alone.

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This morning has been a great morning. Wednesday, otherwise known as Hump Day, is definitely leaving me feeling like we law enforcement professionals are being royally scr%&#d.  With the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference starting in just a few days (held in Chicago this year because it’s so well known as a crime-free city), I see two announcements in my email inbox that have me not only shaking my head but seriously trying to figure out what is going on.

First, I see the announcement that President Obama is speaking at the IACP Conference.  I’d be trying to figure out why except for the other email notification I got announcing the formation of a new organization, currently comprised of 130 CHIEFS OF POLICE around our country and call Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration or LELRCI for short.  The name of the organization makes it sound like a good thing but when I read what their goals were, it dawned on me that the organization doesn’t sound very pro-police.  Given President Obama’s notorious disrespect and disregard for law enforcement in this country, all of a sudden things start to click.

Straight from their own announcement, the goals of the LELRCI include reforms to reduce incarceration. During the luncheon, scheduled to take place today and then at a meeting at the White House with President Obama, some of those Chiefs will speak about why they believe reducing imprisonment is a vital national goal.

So here’s my conundrum and the source of my frustration:  Why would Chiefs of Police… the alleged leaders of the law enforcement profession… why would Chiefs of Police form an organization with a specific goal of NOT putting criminals in prison?  Hmmm…

Mr. Garry McCarthy, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department is quoted as saying, “Good crime control policy does not involve arresting and imprisoning masses of people.”  Obviously he’s right in his beliefs because, as was pointed out earlier, Chicago is notorious for its low crime rates, right?

Mr. Ronal Serpas, former Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department said, “Our decision to come together reflects the deep commitment among law enforcement’s ranks to end unnecessary, widespread incarceration.”  Now, this may just be me talking, but since when do these Chiefs of Police speak for “law enforcement’s ranks”?  Typically, in my experience, they really speak in support of whatever political agenda their Mayor or the current federal administration wants them to.  I really don’t believe that the average police officer or deputy on the street thinks it’s a wonderful idea to put fewer criminals in jail.

Mr. Cornell Brooks, an avid supporter of this new organization and President/CEO of the NAACP said, “Too many Americans, particularly low-income communities and communities of color, are being torn apart by our overly punitive justice system.”

OVERLY PUNITIVE?

Perhaps Mr. Brooks should take a look at the punishment for crimes in middle eastern countries where amputation, hanging, stoning and whippings are still commonly practiced so he can learn the true meaning of “overly punitive.”  Our justice system has developed over the course of the past 240 years based on the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.  We’re the ONLY country in the world with a system that guarantees an impartial trial by a jury of the accused’s peers.  We’re the only country in the world that guarantees legal representation even if the accused can’t afford to pay for the same.  We have convicted MURDERERS being released on parole or probation after serving as little as two to three years in prison and Mr. Brooks feels our system is OVERLY PUNITIVE?

You know – to all of the members of this organization – I say this:

Law enforcement morale is at a historic low.  Our profession is under attack, both in the media and on the streets, like it never has been before.  A police officer is still dying, on average, every 53 hours in this country.  The mainstream media is crucifying our officers and deputies, convicting them in the court of popular opinion before an investigation is even complete, and warping societal perceptions to the point where law enforcement families are afraid to even be identified as such.

In THIS environment you think it’s a good idea to form an organization that molly-coddles and sucks up to the criminal element?  In THIS environment you think it’s moral and ethical to say that law enforcement imprisons too many people?  LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN’T IMPRISON ANYONE; the court system does.  All we law enforcement professionals do is protect & serve; enforce the law.  And I’d advise you to be very careful.  Your announcement says that you want to change the laws to reduce imprisonment.  When you change the laws enough so that the average police officer is risking his life while wasting his time, barely earning enough money to support his family, you’ll have no law enforcement officers left. What you’ll have is anarchy and a society ruled by the criminals who you can then ask for permission to remain ALIVE.

Again, I shake my head in wonderment.  These aren’t the actions of law enforcement LEADERS.  These are the actions of law enforcement politicians who have lost focus on their oath and abandoned the well-being of the officers they are supposed to be responsible for.  How dare you…