Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 1, 2007 13:04:24 GMT -5
Homeland security has taken on a greater importance in our modern United States. With incessant natural disasters and our ill-foreseen choices regarding the Iraq war, now, more than even, we need protection. Nationally, our self-defense system is constantly criticized and overhauled; but locally, we overlook the problems with our most relevant form of protection, the police.
Police officers play a vital role in Keeping America Safe. Their duty, clearly stated, is to serve and protect the citizens of this country. Yet too often these terms contradict each other. Why can't the cops who watch over us also care about us at the same time? The two, you'll find, always seem to cancel each other out.
Have you ever been driving, glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed a police cruiser tailing you? Your first reaction? Proceed to fall apart behind the wheel. An aura of fear and paranoia follows cops, not undeservingly. In this day and age, hearing the phrase "Here comes the Fuzz" or "5-0!" scares people far more than it comforts them. "Oh, thank God. The police are here." When was the last time you said that? Why are we so afraid?
This suspicion surely stems from our everyday run-ins with cops. The disparaging looks they hand out at gas station counters. The verbal assault citizens can receive for the smallest of infractions. Their stifling presence can empty once-comfortable bars. Such examples reinforce the notion that police are, in fact, not our friends. Instead, they're simple, sometimes spiteful, authority figures, capable of causing us trouble should they deem fit.
Area police are charged with keeping the peace in Rutherford County. However, in our great nation, you can become a police officer after a mere four months of training. Four months, the length of an extended summer, is all it takes to become an official judge of right and wrong. In such a short time, could you learn half of what's necessary to "serve" and "protect"? Four months, then it's "Congratulations officer, you're free to do as you see fit." Four months and its open season on the public. This surely isn't long enough to instill some common decency, some much-needed people skills, in our beloved fuzz.
Maybe it's the archetypical cop that throws everything off kilter. You remember those kids from high-school, the ones who dreamt off growing up, of bossing their peers around - those in need of a badge so people will listen. Police duty is surely their dream job: carrying a gun, arresting who you deem fit, frightening motorists into driving ridiculously slow speeds. These are all power-hungry traits. A fine line exists between what's fair and what's abuse of power. Defining this line for police officers would help a great deal. Pointing out that this line even exists works as a starting place.
Since American citizens interact with police officers on the regular, then shouldn't we have some say in who's elected as these officers? At the very least, let citizens approve local police training. Do this before cops are given the jurisdiction to carry out their whims upon us.
The longer we neglect to do something, the more this corruption of inexperience spreads. Police officers exist to serve us, not to petrify or threaten us. We the people would like some say in who is going to "police" us, and how we'll be treated while they do so.
Something greater than four months of classroom instruction is needed.
- Brandon Bouchillon
media.www.mtsusidelines.com/media/storage/paper202/news/2007/03/01/Opinions/Police.Not.Qualified.To.Serve.Protect-2749990.shtml
Police officers play a vital role in Keeping America Safe. Their duty, clearly stated, is to serve and protect the citizens of this country. Yet too often these terms contradict each other. Why can't the cops who watch over us also care about us at the same time? The two, you'll find, always seem to cancel each other out.
Have you ever been driving, glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed a police cruiser tailing you? Your first reaction? Proceed to fall apart behind the wheel. An aura of fear and paranoia follows cops, not undeservingly. In this day and age, hearing the phrase "Here comes the Fuzz" or "5-0!" scares people far more than it comforts them. "Oh, thank God. The police are here." When was the last time you said that? Why are we so afraid?
This suspicion surely stems from our everyday run-ins with cops. The disparaging looks they hand out at gas station counters. The verbal assault citizens can receive for the smallest of infractions. Their stifling presence can empty once-comfortable bars. Such examples reinforce the notion that police are, in fact, not our friends. Instead, they're simple, sometimes spiteful, authority figures, capable of causing us trouble should they deem fit.
Area police are charged with keeping the peace in Rutherford County. However, in our great nation, you can become a police officer after a mere four months of training. Four months, the length of an extended summer, is all it takes to become an official judge of right and wrong. In such a short time, could you learn half of what's necessary to "serve" and "protect"? Four months, then it's "Congratulations officer, you're free to do as you see fit." Four months and its open season on the public. This surely isn't long enough to instill some common decency, some much-needed people skills, in our beloved fuzz.
Maybe it's the archetypical cop that throws everything off kilter. You remember those kids from high-school, the ones who dreamt off growing up, of bossing their peers around - those in need of a badge so people will listen. Police duty is surely their dream job: carrying a gun, arresting who you deem fit, frightening motorists into driving ridiculously slow speeds. These are all power-hungry traits. A fine line exists between what's fair and what's abuse of power. Defining this line for police officers would help a great deal. Pointing out that this line even exists works as a starting place.
Since American citizens interact with police officers on the regular, then shouldn't we have some say in who's elected as these officers? At the very least, let citizens approve local police training. Do this before cops are given the jurisdiction to carry out their whims upon us.
The longer we neglect to do something, the more this corruption of inexperience spreads. Police officers exist to serve us, not to petrify or threaten us. We the people would like some say in who is going to "police" us, and how we'll be treated while they do so.
Something greater than four months of classroom instruction is needed.
- Brandon Bouchillon
media.www.mtsusidelines.com/media/storage/paper202/news/2007/03/01/Opinions/Police.Not.Qualified.To.Serve.Protect-2749990.shtml