August 7, 2009 in Letters

Beware of police power

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People should be afraid of the police. A few are erratic and they all carry guns and other weapons. They have the “disorderly conduct” statute to use if they don’t like the way you treat them. The courts defer to them, “I am inclined to believe the officer,” says the court official or judge a majority of the time. Power over others is powerful.

I don’t think that the “Gates affair” was racist. We now know that the cop lied on the police report, but that is not unusual. No police report is going to show the writer in a bad light. The “thin blue line” supported him, no matter what. Not unusual either.

The arrest of a celebrity in his own house is a bit unusual. The conduct of the policeman was, obviously, a result of him being insulted by words, but is that a crime? He was asked for his badge number. Did he give it? The charges were dropped. Did he know they would be? Of course. He wanted to make that a “teachable moment”!

What are we left with? The police have power over you, and even more so if you aren’t a celebrity.

Bart Haggin

Spokane

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