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I agree that being a police officer is a difficult job, and on any day a cop may be asked to make a life and death decision.  But no person is infallible.  Witness Portland Police Officer Joey Wild who was just sentenced to 6 months in prison for threatening to rape a 14 year old girl among other things. 

The question is how do we oversee and control officers?  The people of Portland want their police force to use less lethal force against children, the mentally ill, and people who are not really a threat.  The police officers don't want Dan Saltzman or the police chief, or anybody to tell them how to do their job.  

When you work for the public, you have to be accountable to the public.  When your boss puts you on paid administrative leave for shooting children and killing the mentally ill, you have to accept that as part of the job.  

Otherwise, who controls the police?

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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I attended the police rally last week and was surprised by the attitude of many officers there.  It seems they forgot who they work for.  In a civilized country, police power is subordinate to civilian power.   The "no-confidence" vote against the city commissioner and the police chief suggest that the cops think they are in charge.  They are not.  The elected political leaders are in charge.

Officer Humphreys killed a mentally ill man.  He shot an unruly 12 year old with a firearm.  If the elected leaders think he should be off the street, he should be off the street.  The cops think they run this city.  They don't.  The people do.   

posted 3 years, 5 months ago
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