The Police are the most visible arm of government in the United States today; as such, they are also the most criticized.  With this in mind, Law Enforcement is constantly under siege with a barrage of attacks from divisive politicians and a press that seeming undermines, scrutinizes, and criticizes our every move.

In the divisive politician's zest to be politically correct or for the press to get their lead story about allegations of Police misconduct that are infinitely repeated on TV, the radio, and in the newspapers, they are eroding not only the confidence the public has in Police, but also the confidence the Police have in themselves to properly do the job.

Every Police Officer needs a backup.  The Police desperately need the backup support of both the public and the politicians.  If you do not have that base of support and you turn your back on Police, you have an ineffective Police Department.  Who in turn suffers?  The people in the community.  They are now more vulnerable to become victims of crime.

Where are the heroes?  Why aren't the good deeds of Police more recognized?  Why aren't the acts of Valor, Heroism, and Bravery, that are performed every day, more publicized?

Police work is like performing on a high-wire without a net.  The media is waiting for you to fall.  They want you to fall so they can get their big story of the day.  Police work has little praise and much condemnation.  You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

To the press it appears that we are looked upon as part of some evil empire.  It's so bad that in New York, they hold seminars on how to successfully sue the Police.  It's a growing industry.  Just follow the money trail.  There is even a 500-page book on sale for $130.00 entitled, "Police Misconduct - Law and Litigation".

Attacking Police is all the rage.  Take the Thomas Jones ("damned if you do") case from Philadelphia.  The subject is a wanted a felon on a multitude of aggravated assaults and robberies.  His victims were usually the elderly.  On this day, he resists arrest, steals a marked Police vehicle, leads Police on a high speed chase through a densely populated neighborhood.  He barely misses a congregation of people, continuing to be pursued he thereby jeopardizes the lives and safety of numerous other residents in the community.  When caught, the perpetrator resists arrest and injures a number of Police Officers.  Who do you think becomes the villain in a whirlwind of national controversy?  The Police, of course!

The big story is the sky camera focusing in on the Police apprehension.  The public receives the edited version of the video and the Police get a rush to judgment that labels them brutal and out-of-control on the national news. 

In another Philadelphia "damned if you don't" case, occurred at the pre-Lent Fat Tuesday Celebration on South Street.  The Police couldn't effectively quell the disturbances because of the large crowds that overwhelmingly outnumbered Police.  Despite the adverse circumstances, the Police still managed to contain a riotous crowd from getting further out of control.  The big story that night was:  Where's the Police?  Why aren't the Police taking more action?

The contempt toward Police is not limited to Philadelphia.  In Pittsburgh they had the U.S. Attorney's Office, who is supposed to deal only with factual data, come in and impose an entire Police Department under a Consent Decree based on allegations of brutality and racial bias.  To date, the allegations proved groundless and most of the targeted Police Officers have since been vindicated.  The government, through this entire ordeal, has treated the Pittsburgh Police like a bunch of thugs.  There was never a sense of fairness or due process.  Due process to these U.S. Attorneys was only for the criminals, not for those who put their lives on the line each day.

And the beat goes on.....In New York's Central Park, where outrageous sexual assaults occurred on women.  Police did not respond adequately - Why?  Were they afraid of the perpetrators?  Not likely.  Were they afraid of being second guessed?  Were they afraid of controversy?  The problem is Police are becoming increasingly wary of investigations, law suits, and complaints, most of which are without merit but become a permanent part of the Police Officer's personnel file anyway.

It's no excuse, but Police do not want to be scapegoats for some politicians or interest groups, nor do they want to be headlines in a press that doesn't have to answer to anyone for their oftentimes irresponsible comments.

The Fraternal Order of Police is not about protecting those Police Officers who step on the other side of the "thin blue line", but we're not about to let our Police become whipping boys either.  The Fraternal Order of Police wants to put a stop to any injustices to Police which are a result of actions precipitated by rumor, innuendo, or irresponsible reporting that is unsubstantiated, undocumented, and unproven.  To do otherwise, would lead to diminished respect by the public towards Police.  An existing condition of continued lack of trust and confidence by the public toward the Police and the Police toward the public, could breed contempt toward each other.  These elements, if allowed to perpetuate, would eventually foster the seeds of anarchy.

With this in mind, it's been said that power concedes nothing without a demand.  Respect would be a nice place to start.

Fraternally yours,

MICHAEL LUTZ, PRESIDENT

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