Email
I wonder how many people have seen the recent news stories documenting the increasing level of violence that we are experiencing in this country?
On the national level we have the recent killings of the prosecutors in Texas, the rampant gang violence in Chicago, the killings at Sandy Hook, and the mass killing that took place at the movie theater in Colorado. All of these stories were on the same news program on April 1st of this year.
In Albuquerque we had the shooting of an Albuquerque police officer, though you might have missed it as it was back on the “Metro page.” The shooting of an APD officer did not even merit front page news.
People may think that he was “only shot in the leg,” but I can tell you that such injuries can take a physical and emotional toll. One of my officers, before I retired, was shot in the leg and suffered permanent nerve damage.
The criminals in this city are becoming better armed and more brazen in their proclivity to commit violent acts. Our lax justice system in general is encouraging more criminal organizations to move in.
The last graduating class, from the academy, had a mere seven members. How can we expect people to gravitate to police work when there is an unremitting attack upon the honor and integrity of the men and women who risk their lives every day for the citizens of this city? If the criminal will shoot and kill members of the criminal justice system, do you think they will hesitate for one minute to kill an honest, law abiding member of this community?
On the same night of the stories mentioned above, a local news anchor announced gleefully that there was a “new way to make citizen complaints against police officers.” This may come as a shock to some, but the police department receives many more compliments via emails, phone calls and letters than we do complaints.
Can we do things better? Do we make mistakes? The answer is, of course, yes! Until we develop the version of a “robo-cop” depicted in movies, police officers will be human beings who do make mistakes in the split second they often have to make a life-changing decision.
Lawyers, and members of the media, can sit back in the safety of their offices, have a cold drink and dissect in excruciating detail the intricacies of what occurred. Then they can go about destroying the officer’s reputation and honor.
I do believe in an honest level of citizen oversight and control as it is the backbone of our democracy. I do not believe in the vilification of our officers.
It is time for all those people we have worked with through the citizen’s police academy, community groups, charitable organizations, the junior police academies and on a daily basis to make their voices heard and support their officers who stand between them and the forces of evil that are in our society.
If you do not believe that there are such forces of evil, one only has to look at the rap sheets of those we have arrested and have had to use force against. Most have long histories of criminal conduct that would shock you. I will never forget the father who beat his 7-year-old son for not stealing items from a local convenience store.
Let’s not forget the scores of officers who are assaulted every week in this and other cities. To those who come up to police officers and thank them for their service or merely wave – a hearty thank you.
Your support means more than you know!
