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| US Navy Traning Session |
The Special Session of the Oregon legislature is trying to bring about major changes in the way Law enforcement is organized. The law of “unintended consequences” will increase crime and the number of people seriously injured or killed by law enforcement. With the new investigative power being proposed and the fact that Police Unions will have even more power – Who really thinks this is a good idea? Oh yes, the anarchists. The bills proposed look like an Anarchist dream.
HB4201 – Joint Committee to “investigate” police incidents.
For every incident, this pulls major law enforcement players
from across the State of Oregon to investigate any incident of death or “qualifying”
injury of a suspect. On the surface, this
does sound like a good idea. The State Attorney
General appoints a special investigator that can not be part of the department
of the Officer(s) who had the incident against a suspect. This part really does not sound too bad. Though the power of the “Special Investigator,”
an appointee is equal to that of a District Attorney. an elected position. This
bypasses the ability for the public to have sway over who represents us. People want a “democracy” and yet we elect
officials who work to take our vote away.
It would have been better if the “Special Investigator” had to work with
the District Attorney. Then at least “We the People” would be represented. But
the legislature had to complicate things… A lot!
This bill also establishes a “deadly physical force planning
authority” that has the following members – The local Sheriff and the District Attorney
of the jurisdiction where the incident occurred. Not office representatives of
these parties, but the actual officeholder.
Also, a Peace Officer who should be (if available) a designated Union representative.
One of the Police Chiefs In that county,
A “Public Representative” selected by the DA and The Sheriff, a member
of the Oregon State Police, selected by the Superintendent of State Police. A tribal
Law enforcement officer if desired by any tribes in the county.
That means every incident will be examined by not only the “Special
Investigator”, but also the DA, Sherriff, a peace officer (Probably a Union
Representative), a civilian, A state police officer for a total of 5 plus if needed
a tribal enforcement officer. Why the
Special Investigator, The District Attorney, and if needed the local Grand Jury
is not enough, I am not sure. We are
adding yet another layer that will cause more delays. If an Officer is found justified, as will
probably be the case in most incidents, we have just added several weeks to the
resolution, for no real benefit.
This is another crack for things to fall through, and your legislators
are making it happen on purpose.
SB1604 – Gives Unions more power in disciplinary hearings and arbitration.
This bill essentially means the Peace Officers unions can
dictate what punishments are given to Police Officers. When wrongdoing is seen by both the Police
Department and the Union in arbitration.
This may have started as a way to keep officers from some form of double
jeopardy, but the end result is that officer discipline is negotiated as part
of the Union Deal. That is what enabled
Office Chauvin to abuse George Floyd. If
Officer Chauvin had been eliminated from the force after his previous repeated
infractions, Mr. Floyd may be alive (Note; Floyd
Autopsies).
To me, it seems the unions are part of the problem. Officers need the legal protections a union
offers. That is true. But as public employees, the better solution
may be private legal counsel. Maybe there should be legal associations
available to the Officers like USCCA
but for police. Allowing them affordable council. How much are Police dues, and do they get their
money’s worth? Collective bargaining for
public employees has its own problems, raising the cost to “We the People.”
Just look at Cal-PERS or any state where unions run everything.
HB4204 and HB4208 – No more Choke holds under any circumstances and no more non-lethal crowd control methods (Tear Gas and Sound Cannons).
I am grouping these two bills because they both have to do
with non-lethal force. The unintended
consequences of this will be MORE deaths. Not fewer.
Let that sink in for a second. Taking away non-lethal tools?
That means the officers will need to accelerate to the use of lethal force. It is a simple equation.
When dealing with a crowd, the inability to use tear gas and
sound will necessitate the use of clubs, rubber bullets and probably
shotguns. Or we let the crowds rampage. How has that worked for Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis
and New York City?
The death of George Floyd was tragic, but it was the abuse
of the officer, not a chokehold or tear gas that killed him. And I’m, sorry Sonic Cannons are a great way
to disperse a violent group of people. By
reducing the number of choices you increase the odds for the legitimate need
for lethal force. It is that
simple. The law o unintended consequences.
Conclusion:
The police in the state of Oregon are generally well trained
and professional. The number of
incidents in our state, per capita, are lower than most.
What has happened in places that have tightened the cuffs on
officers? New York and other cities “defunding” the police have crime skyrocketing. Our police are Nobel people trying to do a
job professionally. The Women and men of
law enforcement deserve our support, not our scorn.
We have a chance to vote in November. To find representatives that will solve the problem instead of reacting, badly to every whim.
I am considering a Run for the Oregon House Seat 29 In
Hillsboro Oregon.
