Allegiance
POLICE ETHICS: ALLEGIANCE
© Chuck Klein, 2013
Published: 30 May 2013, Law Officer Magazine: http://www.lawofficer.com/article/leadership/test-police-allegiance
Also reprinted: 01 June 2013, JPFO: http://jpfo.org/alerts2013/alert20130601.htm
Here’s a new twist on an old line: Two, fully decked-out SWAT members - a local police officer and a federal agent - are standing guard at a terrorist bombing site. As blue .jpg)
strobes probe, sirens yelp and armored vehicles rumble, one LEO says to the other, “Everyone in the world is the enemy, except you and me . . . and sometimes I’m not so sure about you.”
America is made up of city, village, township, county “local” cops in addition to state troopers and investigators. Added to this protective guard is a growing mix of federal alphabet soupers, e.g., FBI, ATF, IRS, DHS, TSA, DEA, et al.
Recently the Department of Homeland Security has been encroaching (is there a better word?) into local police jurisdictions. This was noted recently by the Western Center for Journalism (http://www.westernjournalism.com/dhs-advances-plan-for-public-safety-drones/#) that said: The DHS, plans to use their camera equipped drones for state-side activities beyond terrorism to something it calls public safety.
Prior to the proliferation of civilian concealed carry it used to be “us verses them” meant carriers of the shield against all civilians. Obviously the shoot-a-cop-at-every-stop never happened. Now, it might not be as clear exactly who “them” is. A significant number of these decent, law-abiding citizens have become “prepers” - not so much because they fear the end-of-times, but more that they fear their own government. In other word, if chaos reigns they are not sure who they can trust – the military, federal agents or the cop on the beat. In the event of a real (or rogue government generated) catastrophic terrorist attack/communications gridlock, where will you be standing? Will you continue to serve and protect the citizens regardless of political, federal LE or military pressure?
Many visionary county sheriffs have taken a very gutsy position of drawing a line-in-the-sand over unconstitutional gun controls. They realize national schemes to register firearms, under the guise of background checks and restricted small arms, is an acceleration of that proverbial slide down the slippery slope. All LEOs might do well to reflect upon with whom they will link arms if the descent continues – or escalates.
We, the local law enforcement community, must resolve to never surrender our intrinsic duty to protect our fellow Americans from all enemies – foreign AND domestic. We owe an obligation to our neighbors (the parents of the kids your kids go to school with) to reassure them of our commitment to serve and protect them from each and every adversary.
Today, we are approaching a can’t-go-back level: When the military moves in, the commander won’t be asking: “Chief/Sheriff/Superintendent, where do you want my troops?” He/she will mandate, “Turn in your firearms and go home, we’re in charge.” Are we, the city kitties and county mounties, to forsake our sworn and moral duties and become subservient?
Suggestion:
Create a board comprised of Sergeant-and-below representatives of local, state, federal and military LEOs plus civilian organizations such as NRA and Oath-Keepers to address issues from the perspective of the parents of the kids our kids go to school with.
Chuck Klein is the author of INSTINCT COMBAT SHOOTING, Defensive Handgunning for Police and other books. He may be reached through his web site: www.chuckklein.com