Readers Respond to “No Consequences”

Jim Glennon’s recent commentary on the protests we’ve been seeing on campuses across the country and the lack of accountability and consequences for unacceptable, often criminal behavior we’re also seeing drew comments from a number of readers. Here are a few…

Carol Green, an officer with a Canadian Law Enforcement Agency writes:

I worked as a campus security officer at a Canadian university. A university which currently has an encampment of protesters who have proclaimed, “We will continue to stand our ground and the encampment will remain indefinitely until the university agrees to our demands and divests from genocide.”

The university supports their right to peaceful protest. When I worked there, I responded time and time again to the unruly and often criminal behaviour of entitled students who if caught, simply waited for the university big-wigs to furrow their brows, wag their fingers and warn against future bad behaviour.

You see, to expel the little darlings would mean a loss of tuition money, campus fees, housing dollars, etc. and would result in more protests of unfair action taken by the university. If the police were involved, the arrested knew that the courts wouldn’t do anything because they are overburdened with too many other more important issues. And so, entitlement became empowerment, as the scofflaws soon realized they could do what they wanted, with the tacit approval of the courts and a university which is putting out more and more whiney, entitled, easily offended and often unemployed graduates.

But who can blame the students? They can go on to become politicians, or reality stars, where their 4 years of learning how to cheat, scheme, swerve responsibility, whine, and lie is rewarded with fame, followers and in the case of Survivor, a million dollars.

Police departments shouldn’t demand applicants have a degree. They should demand that applicants have a moral compass.

Calibre Press reader Steve Cherry writes:

I have been a police officer since 1972. I still work part-time at a community college PD, but my REAL job is teaching criminal justice at a local high school.

I am retiring this month after 24 years in the classroom because the current crop of students are just as described in your article: entitled, disinterested, unmotivated and prefer watching TikTok videos to classroom learning.

And the consequences have disappeared. We have gone from making sure they LEARN to making sure they PASS.

We are creating the kind of “monster” that we now see rioting across the country.

From Retired Detective Sergeant and current Rock Springs (WY) PD Community Service Officer Ken Lorime:

First of all, and most importantly of all, I’m a “Law and Order” personality. I served a total of 39 years in sworn service, and work in a non-sworn support position now. Being an “old man” with quite a number of years of “personal experience” I speak a bit more from those years of experience. I’ve lived through the turbulent 1960s and into the turbulence of today.

Up front, I too am revolted with what is occurring now on our college campuses. At the same time, all too often our college campuses are reflective of our society. Again, I’m speaking from my experiences over the past 60 plus years.

In the 1960s significant social change was taking place in the United States. Changes to the family, experimentation with drugs, racial unrest, the draft, the Vietnam War; all these issues were present in society, and they were most notably addressed on college campuses. Today, we face issues of gender identity, workforce challenges, immigration, continued racial unrest, homelessness, mental health challenges, as well as the challenges of an aging population and a federal government struggling to pay its obligations.

In the 1960s many protests were peaceful and lawful, and some of those were met with violent police responses. Other protests were peaceful except for some agitators, both activist and paid agitators. A similar situation faces our society today. As in the past these protests bring attention to some of the complex issues facing our society. Unfortunately, too often our federal representatives are too busy figuring out how to game the system to make themselves rich rather than addressing these issues before they become crises.

By all means, prosecute those who break our laws, imperil order, and disrupt the functioning of a college, but also recognize that these colleges reflect society as a whole. Remember, the media just doesn’t bother to cover the students going about their classes and activities on campus; they will admit to you it simply doesn’t match their story line, nor does it gain any viewership.

In the 1960s, some of the needed changes to our society, such as the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act might not have happened except for protests which occurred on college campuses. The end of our involvement in the Vietnam War was a result of the growing protests against the war. Overdue changes to how WE as law enforcement were expected to perform our responsibilities came as a result public outcry of the time.

As a society, we are at a paradox: while few have confidence the US Congress can solve societal problems, individual Representatives and Senators continue to be overwhelmingly re-elected by their constituencies. With the impact of the drug trade as well as gang and mob activities of the 1970s, US law enforcement needed to become much better armed and adjust our tactics and equipment to address the threats to our communities. Now, with an aging population, and a society addicted to social media, what our communities expect from THEIR police appears to have changed again.

I’m not suggesting that all change is good any more than I am suggesting that violence and property destruction should be allowed. What I am suggesting is that we become aware of the changes that have occurred, and are occurring, in our society, especially with the advent of social media, and recognize that the methods police have used successfully in the past may no longer be socially, or even legally, acceptable.

It is critical that in our profession we not let ourselves be drawn into believing that these protests are “against” us as individuals, or even against our profession. Law Enforcement is simply the easiest target for both the media and the protesters. We are armed and uniformed. Too many school administrations do nothing concerning unrest until it gets out of hand, and then call the police to restore order. When the police do restore order those same school administrators complain the police were too heavy handed in order to facilitate the healing needed on campuses afterwards.

There is an old saying, “If we’d wanted to be popular, we would have become firefighters.” We took that higher calling of being there to maintain peace and order in our communities because in short, nobody else can. Lt Col Grossman reminds us there are three types of people in the world; the sheep, the wolf, and the sheepdog. Neither the sheep, nor the wolf, like the sheepdog. The sheep don’t like the sheepdog as he reminds them of their vulnerabilities. The wolf doesn’t like the sheepdog because he keeps them from preying on the sheep.

Major societal changes are coming at us whether we like it or not. Yet, the Peelian Principles continue to apply. It is critical as law enforcement that we continue to maintain the public trust and confidence. Law Enforcement must respect community values, not insist on what they should be. Today’s unrest comes not from law enforcement not doing its job; today’s unrest comes from politicians not identifying problems and successfully addressing those problems.

It is imperative that law enforcement today continues to step up to these societal challenges resulting from our failing political officials to ensure that society, and the individuals in this society, don’t collapse. We are the last line of defense against anarchy.

David O’Laughlin. Director of Training at the Municipal Police Institute in Massachusetts responds:

I am often amazed at the public’s response to any police action, but especially to the foreseeable response to actions requiring police intervention. The police are not there in response to protests or the stifling of anyone’s First Amendment rights but in response to violence and lawbreaking. The video is self-explanatory and I do not expect to see any public outcry on behalf of police officers across the country who will themselves become injured in the line of duty.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of adherence to the “Rule of Law” in our country and there are no signs of change. The lack of consequences will allow for these and other unlawful behaviors to continue. My inherent thought is: “Consequence leads to Compliance.”

Master Patrolman Nathan Jacobs (ret.) formerly with Ponca City (OK) PD writes:

Very simple. It’s riot season. This happens every 4 years, but that’s a coincidence. The media is trying desperately to find a cause for this season and, so far, haven’t been able to. Remember, just a short time ago “Chicago police fired 96 times at a black man…”. Unfortunately for them the truth came out too soon and that cause died with the suspect. These “mostly peaceful protests” may be this season’s cause.

A NOTE FROM THE CALIBRE STAFF

As we approach Mother’s Day, we want to express our deep admiration for all the mothers who wear a badge and all those who support a son or daughter who does. We also want to thank the mothers who are married to police officers for their service. They worry about and support and defend and comfort their children AND their officer, often with little or no acknowledgement. Today, we acknowledge them. Thank you!

Author Janelle Newton, wife of Wichita Falls, TX PD Sgt. Paul Newton, has written a new book titled Confessions of a Police Wife, which we highly recommend. In it, she and 14 other law enforcement spouses from across the country share powerful insights into the noble, challenging and invaluable role of supporting a law enforcement spouse.

We asked Janelle, who along with Paul founded the first responder support ministry Bridge to the Badge, to talk about her motivation for writing her book.

Here is what she shared:

I wrote this book for everyone. Men, women, old and young, whether they are in a police family or not. I believe it holds something for all of us.

For the law enforcement officer, I want them to read and be reminded that it is an honorable profession – to serve and protect. I want them to know that we see what they do, and we honor them for it. We need them. We appreciate them.

For the police spouse, I want them to understand the importance of their role, serving and protecting the home and the family. I want them to learn to be intentional in their thoughts and in their prayers. I want them to know they are not alone, but we are part of a vast blue family. I want them to know that they have an immeasurable impact on their spouse’s ability to fulfill their calling. I want to honor the strength of the women who are called upon to sacrifice so much, knowing he is compelled to protect others because God designed him for that purpose.

For the average citizen who doesn’t have bulletproof vests hanging in the closet, I hope and pray that their eyes will be opened. I hope that when they see an officer, they won’t just see a uniform, flashing lights, or a weapon. I pray that they will see a man, a husband, a son, a father, or a woman, a daughter, a mother…a human being who lives every day to make the world a safer place for the rest of us. I want them to see the heart, the home, and the family that is behind that badge.

I want people to understand that while our details may be different, our real struggles are much the same. And in many cases the solutions to our problems are the same. The principles in the lessons I’ve learned as a police wife apply to all of us in our unique walks of life.

For the young men and women who may read, I hope they may be inspired to live a life of service, and to make heroic choices every day. (And maybe even go fill out an application at a police department.) I hope that they will see that life as a public servant may be challenging, but it can also be beautiful and incredibly rewarding. I want them to realize that a life of purpose and meaning is far richer than a life of material wealth.

For those who are older, tired, and maybe discouraged with the deterioration of our society, I hope and pray that they will be uplifted. I want them to see that faith in God, and care for humanity is still strong in our country today…it just doesn’t make it on the evening news very often. But in our homes and out on the streets there are good men and women who are doing the right thing day in and day out all over the nation.

For those in the law enforcement family, who have lost a loved one in the line of duty, I want them to know their loved one is honored and never forgotten. I want them to know that we stand with them and they are never alone.

To all who read these pages, I pray that hope and joy will be restored. I pray that they will see the only way to survive and thrive in this life is through faith in Jesus Christ and the truth found in God’s Word.

I wrote this book because I wanted to do something to give back to Officer Down Memorial Page. I wrote this book because I wanted to share the hearts of many of the beautiful women who kiss their hero goodbye every day. I also wanted to share their organizations and help more law enforcement families find supportive community.

The process of writing this book really began back in 2016. Up until that time I lived a very private and quiet life. I was busy being a wife and mom and I had NEVER made a public post on social media. I kept my Facebook, my life, my family, and my heart as private and locked down as I could. When eleven Dallas police officers were ambushed, shot, and five of them killed at a protest on July 7, 2016, my heart broke and my world felt shaken. It was only two hours from my home, which was way too close for comfort. It hurt because they were our blue family. It hurt to watch my husband put on his uniform, body armor, and walk out the door. It hurt because I felt so very much alone. It hurt because it seemed most people around me didn’t even seem to care.

I had to learn to take control of my thought life to avoid sinking into fear and depression. I also felt a fire ignite inside me that urged me to be silent no longer. I lay in bed wide awake with words forming sentences inside my brain. All night, my head and my heart wrote line after line until I finally got out of bed and sat at the computer to type out “Does Your Husband Wear a Gun on His Side and a Badge on His Heart?” Someone told me it was really powerful and it needed to be made public. So I had to learn how to make my post public…and the rest is history.

Since that time, a non-profit organization called Bridge to the Badge was born with the mission of standing in the gap for America’s first responders. I’ve made many public posts since that first one, and now four books have been published.

Paul and I are not that special, we are not that unique. We are just like thousands of other couples, trying our best to do what is right. We are figuring life out one day at a time, building on the firm foundation of our faith in God. We have needed the prayers of our families to support us in hard times. We have needed counseling to help us navigate very difficult seasons. We have needed to be loved and encouraged by fellow believers to remind us the world is not all dark. We have needed to be surrounded by The Thin Blue Line at times to know we are not alone. The difference that happened in 2016 is I decided not to be silent and isolated anymore. I knew if I was hurting and felt alone, others were too. Nobody needs to feel alone anymore. And I will not be silent as long as that fire in my heart still burns.

That is why I wrote Confessions of a Police Wife.