Reforming Law Enforcement: The Corruption Begins with Police and Sheriff Administration

MY TURN--” INTERNAL AFFAIRS cover up more than they investigate. Stop with the nepotism and cronyism and be fair and by the book.

Officers need to be fired and brought up on charges in some cases. DO YOUR JOB. TRUE LEADERSHIP STARTS FROM THE TOP.” 

Law enforcement officers such as the Sheriff and police are PARAMILITARY. If the men and women that serve our country in the armed forces, that put their lives on the line, deter war, protect the United States and defend our freedoms are not unionized, should law enforcement officers be? Well, let us evaluate this. The military is a service, not a job. As a former civilian employee of the United States Department of Defense, I was unionized. This was my job.  However, uniformed officers assigned to the DOD were not. This was their service. Hence the term “Service men and women”.  

FACT: Our law enforcement officers are militarized. (Police and Sheriff’s)

FACT: The use of tear gas in warfare is prohibited by various international treaties. Yet, domestic law enforcement officers are well equipped and ready to use it domestically. 

FACT: The problem with law enforcement unions is that they fight ridiculously hard to protect bad officers. Officers that have shown a history of misconduct through racially profiling, excessive force, brutality, and yes, even murder. People of color experience this more than any other group of people.

Now, keep in mind that there is racism, sexism and discrimination within law enforcement and the officers that experience these acts need union representation. Another fact is that the officers that speak out against their fellow officers’ misconduct are ostracized. Yet, they call themselves a “BROTHERHOOD”.

Am I my brother’s keeper? Instead of Brotherhood, how about DUTY, OBLIGATION and RESPONSIBILITY. The duty to serve and protect ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHINICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION AND GENDER. THE OBLIGATION TO DUTY AND COMMITMENT IN WHICH THEY ARE MORALLY AND LEGALLY BOUND, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PUBLIC SAFETY … YES, IM YELLING!

THEIR ACTIONS SHOULD NOT BE WARFARE AGAINST THE CITIZENS OR RESIDENTS.

(Diedra M. Greenaway, MS/MBA, is a long-time community activist who lives and works in Los Angeles.)

-CW