Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, June 07, 2015

Kinchlow: What If You Were a Baltimore Police Officer?

I have a question for you: If a relative, friend, in-law or neighbor made it blatantly clear that you were not welcome somewhere, and took aggressive steps to make their point, including physical manifestations of their displeasure with your presence, how many times would you make a special effort to visit that place?

I know this may be hard for some to believe, but police officers are human beings. They have been hired to do a job that is, generally speaking, not popular (on occasion) with some people. That job is, essentially, seeing that “we the people” (all) do that which is right and proper as it regards the safety of the public at large. Our reactions, however, apparently differ depending on what aspect of the officer’s job impacts us.

If a thief or mass murderer is apprehended, officers of the law are applauded and congratulated. However, if they “infringe on my personal liberties” (i.e. speeding tickets, improper behavior, trespassing, cursing in public places or beating up a “deserving” spouse), they are “out of line.”

Don’t we recruit, train and dispatch officers of the law for the safety, protection and security of the community? Haven’t we passed laws that apply equally to all for the benefit of all? What is the generally accepted definition of “criminal behavior”? Are not jails and prisons instituted as protection from those who choose not to adhere to the laws of the land? And aren’t the police officers, who are not draftees but volunteers, empowered by us to enforce said laws?

More

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is another liberal progressive agenda item... discredit the police...create conflict & turmoil in the racks. Then throw in some protesting and violence. Then once they have castrated the police force wave wand and usher in a nationalized police force. All this recent nonsense is moving US in that direction.

Anonymous said...

Lmao. Volunteers. This whole story is a joke.

Anonymous said...

4:28 PM

and the police are helping them do that

Anonymous said...

As the police forces have been militarized, both in tactics and weaponry since 911, the "community" has become their "enemy." Who couldn't see this coming between the blue (police), and the gray (civilians)? You can't militarize the civilian police forces without an enemy. It is the root cause of the problem that that they are experiencing now. Their mission has been re-defined. It needs to be re-defined again, if the problems are to be resolved.

Anonymous said...

I thank police everywhere for the difficult job they perform everyday. I am grateful for all of you and pray for your safety daily.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
I thank police everywhere for the difficult job they perform everyday. I am grateful for all of you and pray for your safety daily.

June 2, 2015 at 5:28 PM

Sadly, you are not alone. You people will be boiled alive just as the frog in the pot of water.

Anonymous said...

"As the police forces have been militarized, both in tactics and weaponry since 911," THAT tired old tune again. When are we going to see some of these 'militarized' police you sheeple keep yapping about?? I would have loved to have seen a military reaction to the recent crap in Baltimore.

Anonymous said...


5:56 PM:

If you don't think the armored personnel carrier and AR15's (and God knows what else) don't constitute a "militarization" of your local police force, then you are seriously naive, or just in plain denial.

Anonymous said...

But when some of those very police officers that have been recruited, trained, and dispatched for the safety, protection and security of the community, become a danger to the very people they are supposed to protect; don't the police have a duty to cull their ranks...rather than hiding and covering up for the bad apples that endanger the general population? I have always believed the police are incapable of policing themselves, and outside oversight is required to overcome silent code of the blue. You can blame the media, politics, racism, or whatever else you want, but the media spotlight on rogue police actions is only the result of the police failing to police themselves.

They have a lot of public relations work, and policy reviews to do, before they can regain the trust of the people that they are charged with protecting.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
"As the police forces have been militarized, both in tactics and weaponry since 911," THAT tired old tune again. When are we going to see some of these 'militarized' police you sheeple keep yapping about?? I would have loved to have seen a military reaction to the recent crap in Baltimore.

June 2, 2015 at 5:56 PM

Tired old tune? Go back under the rock you have been living under. I guess you haven't heard about the bill in congress to STOP giving police military equipment and for the police to give it back either.

Are you willfully ignorant or what?

Anonymous said...

If I were a b-more police officer I wouldn't break the damn law in the first place which started this whole damn thing...

Anonymous said...

If you want people to support and respect police, they need to be held accountable the same way they hold us. If they want respect, earn it by being professional, not corrupt, and when they mess up, they get the same consequence we do. Is that to much to ask? How about not shooting family dogs while sicking your trained attack dogs on people. Can we shoot a k9 on site for fear of our lives? No? Then you can't shoot our dogs! It is called equality and justice for ALL. how about that? Respect us, and you will get the same. Treat us like crap, and you will get that.

Anonymous said...

10:46 Do you seriously think an AR-15 is some sort of massive machine gun or something?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
10:46 Do you seriously think an AR-15 is some sort of massive machine gun or something?


June 3, 2015 at 9:41 AM

let us know what you think it is when they shoot one at you

Anonymous said...

Probably a .22, like mine.

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous said...

"As the police forces have been militarized, both in tactics and weaponry since 911," THAT tired old tune again. When are we going to see some of these 'militarized' police you sheeple keep yapping about?? I would have loved to have seen a military reaction to the recent crap in Baltimore.

June 2, 2015 at 5:56 PM"

So true 5:56. When's the last time anyone's seen LE driving around in an armored vehicle.
Also to say that Baltimore's so called problems started after 911 is untrue. The perceived problem started when O'Malley became Mayor in 1999. He implemented Broken Window Policing policies which the black residents called harassment.
So stop saying it's because of "militarization" of police that caused the made up problem because it wasn't and this is untrue and not accurate. If you are going to comment make sure it is about something you know what you are talking about and not just shooting from the hip. It makes those of us who are informed think you are low information and clueless.

Anonymous said...

Not too difficult of a job here in Slimsbury. Eat donuts, text on your phone, sleep behind Giant, harass college kids, pick up shoplifters that someone else caught.

Anonymous said...

It makes those of us who are informed think you are low information and clueless.

June 3, 2015 at 1:40 PM

informed? lol. delusional more like it. if you haven't seen police riding around in MRAPs you need to get out of the basement more often.

Anonymous said...

And I do not! I pray you do your jobs diligently and uphold the constitution.

Anonymous said...

Agreed. Stop by the small town of Delmar and check out the over flow/ motor pool of the military at the police dept.

Anonymous said...

No. But the 50 cal machine guns and sniper rifles are. The tanks and grenades are. Shall I go on?