Regarding Police

We need to hold those who are in power to a higher standard. It’s too easy to excuse unacceptable behaviors with an, “Eh, I probably would have done the same thing.” Maybe we would. But that’s also why we’re not in charge of nuclear missiles, writing laws, or pulling a gun on a civilian who might have done wrong.

So I suggest an electronic record of complaints against police officers, much like the federal background check on civilians purchasing firearms. After a certain (low) number of verified complaints against an officer, perhaps 3, that officer is fired and blacklisted from ever joining another police force. We don’t permit civilians with violent offenses to own guns – why on Earth do we allow police officers?

Additionally, more minority youth should be encouraged to consider joining the police as a viable career option. When officers work side-by-side with each other, and the police force reflects the demographics of the neighborhood they patrol, there would be less instances of racially-motivated injustice.

Police officers tend to band together, as students of a higher calling, and their work is important and merits such devotion and brotherhood. But the call of justice demands the integrity to recognize and prevent a fellow officer from committing injustices under the shield of fraternity. The vast majority of officers recognize this – it is time and past to remove those who do not hold themselves up to the standard.