FRom ThE chiEF Continued from page 24 disabled, infants and small children. Like too many other things in our feelgood society today, it’s mostly show and very little go. All of the aforementioned uses of technology have been determined to be legal either under the Patriot Act or because public places are involved wherein there’s no reasonable expectation of privacy. Individually, perhaps none of these things are offensive or inconsistent with the principles upon which this nation was founded. Collectively, they create an atmosphere and an attitude, which is anything but supportive of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Losing Our Way I don’t know about you, but I know exactly why I became a professional peace officer in the first place. It was to protect and serve. To put real bad guys — against whom I’d developed probable cause — in jail. I did not become a cop to contribute to a climate in which the average, law-abiding citizen was treated with suspicion, placed under surreptitious surveillance and made to feel guilty until proven innocent. I especially didn’t become a cop to contribute to that perception/reality based upon a person’s political or religious beliefs. What disturbs me the most is the fact that far too many police agencies have begun to emulate what they see DOJ, FBI, IRS and NSA agents doing. And given the recent track record of those federal agencies, I don’t consider this a good thing at all. While they may be acting in a legal fashion, the tone of many recent federal investigations and activities has been in conflict with the intent of our Founding Fathers. For local law enforcement to copy the federal example is to do the law-abiding citizens — whom we serve — a disservice. My concern is for the potential to abuse and misuse all of the bits, bytes and other data modern technology can collect on our behalf. Clearly the IRS, for example, misused technology for political purposes. Who’s to say local law enforcement won’t be tempted to commit the same sin? With so many so-called police leaders putting political correctness and personal power ahead of oath of office it’s bound to happen. The day it does, the destruction of our constitutional republic is almost guaranteed … and law enforcement will have aided and abetted it. Not my idea of protecting and serving. * Questions, comments and suggestions for future columns can be sent to Jerry at exlasd@msn.com. 40 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • NOVEMBER2013
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