Police and law enforcement

Firefighting used to be one of the most hazardous occupations. Now it isn’t in the top 25. The police are around 15 out of 25 in hazardous occupations. Unlike firefighters, the police haven’t adjusted to technology and the obsolescence they face.

Firefighters now spend most of their time on first responder medical calls. The police have stopped responding to property crimes and are absent for cyber crimes and identity theft. The legalization of pot and some drugs has left police without a major part of their job.

Firefighters for over 40 years have improved their safety equipment and training to reduce risk of injury or death. The police are walking into ambushes serving arrest warrants and responding to domestic violence. It’s like the Hollywood cop movies are training manuals for police officers. Traffic stops and petty crime responses are often escalated into lethal force events.

Police should consider limiting their in-person contacts with the public to reduce risk to both the officers and citizens. Most law enforcement doesn’t require the presence of an armed officer.

Cameras record most public activity including crimes. I recently saw a state trooper pull over a driver for a seatbelt violation. An electronic device could send the driver a ticket. If the driver was unarmed and black, the driver could be dead. Avoiding hazardous situations saves lives and the police need to find a new approach to law enforcement.

Pete Scobby

Newport, Wash.