Taking
Responsibility
By
Richard Hannibal, Retired Police Sergeant
I begin this article
with a quote
from President Ronald Reagan:
"We must reject the idea
that
every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the
lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each
individual is accountable for his or her own actions."
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We are a nation of laws that must be enacted wisely, and enforced
fairly. Without the rule of law, we would revert to survival of the
most brutal. We would quickly deteriorate to living in caves, huddled
around fires in fear. An exaggeration . . . I think not. Just look
around the world at the countries that ignore the rule of law. Is that
society a place where you want to live?
In order for the rule of law to prevail, we need three elements. The
first is an intellectual, prudent approach to the introduction of laws.
The second is the unbiased enforcement of the law. Then comes personal
responsibility to live within the law, or change it.
Like many Americans, I am sickened, frustrated, and fatalistic about
our broken political system. I consider myself non-partisan and refuse
to rally around any banner on the extreme left or extreme right. We
must judge each challenge in our society based on fact and what is best
for the nation, not what's best for a particular political party or
religious tenet. We can achieve this if intellect prevails over
hysteria, greed, and self-interest.
We have the individual responsibility to fix our system. Let's start by
electing legislators who adhere to the sacred trust given them rather
than their own empowerment. I am amazed at the poor quality of
politicians that run our country. Many would not pass a simple police
officer applicant's background investigation. Moreover, if they did,
some commit crimes while in office and yet they are re-elected. It's
been said that, "In a democracy we get the kind of government we
deserve." It is time to increase our expectations and demand more.
Once our legislators enact a law, fair enforcement is the next
challenge. In 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there
were 780,000 police officers in the United States. That is around 245
per 100,000 population. I speak with the background of a 31-year police
career. We have the best law enforcement profession in the world. Sure,
there are blemishes, but until we get sterile, robotic cops, we must
deal with the human kind.
The requirements to be a
police
officer are more stringent than any other occupation. Yet, a few bad
ones get through the process. These are the ones who make the headlines
and cause the good ones to cringe. In spite of the media hype, they are
a microscopic minority in a huge group of caring professionals.
I know how powerful our police could get if they are not under constant
scrutiny and control. I welcome this responsibility of every citizen.
While the police have a responsibility to the sacred trust, we citizens
also have a responsibility. We must wait for impartial investigations
of police wrongdoing and rely on judicial follow up. We must resist the
urge, inspired by outside agitators, to riot and set fire to our
communities. We are better than that!
Individuals and groups must take responsibility for their actions,
while ignoring those who profit from giving people reason to avoid
their responsibilities. Unless there is a mental deficiency, all adults
know the difference between right and wrong. When they do wrong, they
do so with full knowledge of their wrongdoing and deserve to pay the
penalty of impartial law. Only then will we end our downward spiral
into life that none of us wants to live.
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