This morning I read about the local chief of police continuing a probe into practices of the police force he commands. It seems that some officers used pepper spray to make the sleeping bags of transients unusable.
What I find appalling is that the comments, made by my neighbors, seem to find it acceptable to use any kind of force to get rid of homeless people. If the police do it, it must be okay. And anyone who questions the tactics used, are not supportive of the people who have sworn to serve and protect.
I don't understand that thinkiing. Does anyone remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? I was living in Denver, and the top local story at the time was about a theft ring in the Denver police force. Denver cops were actively stealing and selling merchandise and then covering up their actions. The local joke was that all Kennedy had to do to get rid of the missiles in Cuba was to send the Denver police force there to steal them.
I admire people who want to serve their fellow citizens. Certainly most cops are genuinely concerned about the safety of their neighbors. But when it is obvious that some bad practices have lodged themselves into the standard practice of a police force, citizens need to be concerned and demand oversight.
Many cities have citizen oversight committees that review police reports. They head abuses off at the pass. Maybe the entire burden should not be on the shoulders of Chief Camper. Maybe it is time for the city to establish a citizen's oversight committee.
What I find appalling is that the comments, made by my neighbors, seem to find it acceptable to use any kind of force to get rid of homeless people. If the police do it, it must be okay. And anyone who questions the tactics used, are not supportive of the people who have sworn to serve and protect.
I don't understand that thinkiing. Does anyone remember the Cuban Missile Crisis? I was living in Denver, and the top local story at the time was about a theft ring in the Denver police force. Denver cops were actively stealing and selling merchandise and then covering up their actions. The local joke was that all Kennedy had to do to get rid of the missiles in Cuba was to send the Denver police force there to steal them.
I admire people who want to serve their fellow citizens. Certainly most cops are genuinely concerned about the safety of their neighbors. But when it is obvious that some bad practices have lodged themselves into the standard practice of a police force, citizens need to be concerned and demand oversight.
Many cities have citizen oversight committees that review police reports. They head abuses off at the pass. Maybe the entire burden should not be on the shoulders of Chief Camper. Maybe it is time for the city to establish a citizen's oversight committee.
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