I’ve been on this planet almost 40 years now and I’m proud to say that I have never once had a run-in with law enforcement. I’ve been subject to the odd vehicle checkpoint, was a witness in some court proceedings, and had to call the police at a couple of past workplaces – but I’ve never found myself in the sights of a cop who wanted to cuff me and throw me in the back of the paddy wagon.
I have friends and relatives on police forces, knew almost every member of the town police by name back in my hometown, and have had some really good experiences with the RCMP both in and out of uniform since I moved to Moncton ten years ago. That’s why I’m increasingly bewildered at the number of people who profess to “hate cops”.
The situation in Ferguson, Missouri last week is bringing a lot of bile to the surface because of the acquittal of the officer who shot and killed Michael Brown. Officer Darren Wilson was found not guilty of murdering Michael Brown because a jury of twelve decided that Officer Brown had just cause in discharging his firearm in the act of self defense. Officer Wilson was allegedly struck by Mr. Brown – a suspect in a nearby robbery - and an attempt was made to wrestle Officer Wilson’s firearm away from him.
While many will point to racial tensions in the area as the cause of this incident, I’d like to skip over that whole hornet’s nest for a moment. I’d just like to know how anybody in their right mind could ever think that you’re going to get away with both striking an officer and making a play for his gun. Put aside all the cries of racism and police corruption and put yourself down on Main Street in Moncton. You’re walking down the center of the road and an RCMP officer flags you over and tells you to get out of the street.
Do you a) take their advice and get over on the sidewalk or b) reach in through the window to strike the officer and decide that it’s a good idea to steal their gun while you’re at it?
If you chose option ‘b’, congratulations – you’re likely going to get shot.
The whole Ferguson issue can’t be boiled down to that simple of a summary, but it seems like the media is just sensationalizing this beyond all rational limits. It’s accomplishing nothing other than making many of the citizens of Ferguson look like a living crime wave and generating ammo for those who are just looking for more reasons to loathe the ‘five-oh’. I watched almost 20 minutes of CNN footage where the crowd chanted expletives in the background aimed at police, and people thought it was great. That helps no one.
When I was growing up, the only people who had issue with the police were the ones who were always getting in trouble. My Granddad always used to say “If you want to avoid trouble with the cops, don’t break the law – it’s pretty idiot proof”. Today, though, because of wing nuts like United States conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, entertainment that glorifies police/citizen confrontations, and a culture that thinks that we should be able to do whatever we want (because we’re all beautiful and unique snowflakes), police have become a popular target for scorn because “they’re trying to persecute us, man!”
Give me a break.
I’m not saying that all cops are great people. Like every other lot in life, they have their share of bad apples. Right now, there is a large movement just outside my home town to expose the truth behind a crime that happened almost 25 years ago where evidence points to a teen boy having been beaten to death by police officers. There are jerks on every police force, I would wager – much like there are awful doctors in every hospital and rotten teachers in almost every school. You don’t see anyone torching a town over malpractice or bad grades, though.
I have a great distrust for anyone who has great anger towards those whose job it is to protect us. The events of this past June in Moncton would point to my feelings having some merit. I’d be the idiot my Granddad referred to if I thought that there were no ‘bad cops’ that put on a badge every day with the intention of just going out and making life difficult for people - I just don’t believe that they’re anywhere close to the majority.
Whether it’s Ferguson, Missouri or Moncton, New Brunswick, I believe our police forces deserve far more respect that what they receive. They’re mainly a group of guys and gals trying to make a living doing a very dangerous and often thankless job.
What do I know, though? I’ve never fought the law.
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