Comments on: Who’s putting kids in danger? http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/03/whos-putting-kids-in-danger/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:00:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: John http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/03/whos-putting-kids-in-danger/#comment-22612 John Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:14:45 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1117#comment-22612 No matter what the cost? No -- it's simply bad policy. The legitimacy of law enforcement isn't based upon its "we can do it because we say we can" attitude. It's based upon a moral authority which, when eroded, calls into question all of law enforcement's actions. Like it or not, law enforcement ought to be held to a higher standard -- otherwise they're just competing with the criminals at the expense of their true purpose. We're all familiar with the "To Protect and Serve" motto. This slogan isn't an accident. Law enforcement's primary purpose is to protect the community -- arresting violators is secondary. Creating dangerous situations (such as purposefully luring drug dealers into areas where children are likely to be present or sitting idly by and watching while drunk drivers zoom off onto the street) doesn't protect or serve the public. It's just stupid and short-sighted. It elevates the "competition with the criminals" above law enforcement's true purpose which is protecting you and me. No matter what the cost? No — it’s simply bad policy. The legitimacy of law enforcement isn’t based upon its “we can do it because we say we can” attitude. It’s based upon a moral authority which, when eroded, calls into question all of law enforcement’s actions.

Like it or not, law enforcement ought to be held to a higher standard — otherwise they’re just competing with the criminals at the expense of their true purpose. We’re all familiar with the “To Protect and Serve” motto. This slogan isn’t an accident. Law enforcement’s primary purpose is to protect the community — arresting violators is secondary. Creating dangerous situations (such as purposefully luring drug dealers into areas where children are likely to be present or sitting idly by and watching while drunk drivers zoom off onto the street) doesn’t protect or serve the public. It’s just stupid and short-sighted. It elevates the “competition with the criminals” above law enforcement’s true purpose which is protecting you and me.

]]> By: Ryan http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/03/whos-putting-kids-in-danger/#comment-22091 Ryan Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:25:49 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1117#comment-22091 I rather like the thoughts of getting scum of the street for a longer period of time. I rather like the thoughts of getting scum of the street for a longer period of time.

]]> By: John http://apublicdefender.com/2008/04/03/whos-putting-kids-in-danger/#comment-21991 John Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:35:19 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/?p=1117#comment-21991 This also reminds me of the several DUIs that I defended in which the officer lurks in the parking lot of a bar, watches the drunk stumble out and get into his car, and waits for him to drive away. Only after the drunk is out on the street, risking the life and limb of other drivers and pedestrians, does the cop stop the vehicle. No sense in intervening and avoiding a dangerous situation if you can't make an arrest, right? This also reminds me of the several DUIs that I defended in which the officer lurks in the parking lot of a bar, watches the drunk stumble out and get into his car, and waits for him to drive away. Only after the drunk is out on the street, risking the life and limb of other drivers and pedestrians, does the cop stop the vehicle.

No sense in intervening and avoiding a dangerous situation if you can’t make an arrest, right?

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