THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Police

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Boy there is a hot subject now days. My first thought is that these people in law enforcement are invaluable and do an incredible job with low pay and high risk every day they work. Most all of them are some of the most incredible human beings on earth. And then you hear the news or see a video and it makes you wonder how some police are interpreting the law. Just like society I’m sure there are some police with some views of groups or individuals that is less than what might be acceptable to most.

Baltimore police Inner Harbor patrol. Photo by Mike Hartley

Baltimore police Inner Harbor patrol.
Photo by Mike Hartley

But on the other hand I don’t know how they deal with the daily things they do see and experience without becoming jaded in one or several ways. Incidents of recent shootings that hit the news seem to defy common sense or decency from law enforcement. Then you see an officer killed at a simple traffic stop so where is the balance. Do they approach every car with their hand on the gun or the gun drawn? From a citizen perspective I’ve had an officer walk up with his gun out. And it’s not a comfortable thing. But if I were an officer myself I can’t say I wouldn’t want to do that for self-protection at every stop.

Then there are the expectations of the job that go far beyond what they are trained to do. They walk into so many difficult situations like domestic disputes and dealing with the mentally ill who have been put out on our streets which is another failing. Then there are those that are under the influence of serious drugs and are totally unpredictable and incredibly strong and dangerous.

All I know is that we should see what works well, where community policing has worked. Was there something in the way policing changed that helped in any of our communities? How about applying those lessons nationally so we have a consistent approach to it.

We should all know by now that there are bad people in every facet of life. Beyond the truly evil individuals who don’t respect life, we have many in business, in healthcare or insurance, in government, in media and yes in police that just aren’t right either. And every other profession not mentioned. But the good part is they are such a minority that we move on and progress despite them. But progress is hard when we don’t weed them out or make them accountable when wrong things happen regardless of it being a law enforcement person or business man.

I’m tired of seeing rich people get sent to a country club for robbing many for huge sums and a guy shoplifting for a meal gets the big house and more time.

Our laws need review. Our justice system and penal system needs a serious look. We need to stop letting the violent sons of bitches out of jail. But we must break the cycle at other levels. Families need to be more of a unit. Opportunities should be available for everyone. And if your lazy ass doesn’t want to work, then its your own fault. But if you want to work and are not provided that opportunity then we all fall into the cycle we are in which is crime and poverty. We need to take care of our mentally ill and not put them into the streets and get help for those twisted soles and keep them away from guns.

Again I have great respect for law enforcement. As long as they respect me also. And we can see that is where its breaking down between people before encounters even start. And that means trust has been eroded and that is a very dangerous thing for both sides.

And we can’t expect politicians to solve this issue. It takes all of us as a society working together. If your under the illusion that Hillary or Trump are going to fix this your living in a dreamland. Help balance out a officers day. Go up, introduce yourself. buy him/her lunch. Tell them to pass it along to someone in need. Remind them most people are decent. Because their day is filled with dealing with those that aren’t.

Author: Mike Hartley

With a lifetime and a half in the Newspaper industry I'm preparing for my retirement career as an Artist, Writer, Photographer and Video content provider. I'm a proud father of two wonderful children and I'm still married to the first girl I fell in love with and probably only one that would have me.

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