Oath of Office…or Political Correctness?

                                                    Jerry Boyd

                                             Chief of Police, retired

                                            LASD FPK 68-71 Sgt 74

                                                exlasd@msn.com

It has been over forty years since I first spoke the words of the Peace Officers Code of Ethics, an oath that I repeated many times during my career and always took seriously.  Call me old school or call me crotchety but I am absolutely astounded at how many of today’s law enforcement leaders, including Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs, have seemingly forgotten the content of the oath to which most if not all of them subscribed.

During my academy training and throughout my career, regardless of rank, I understood, accepted, and preached that my job as a sworn law enforcement officer was precisely that—to enforce the law.  Not just one law, or a handful, or those that I completely agreed with, but all laws that I was duly empowered to enforce.  Of course there were other important duties which, like my counterparts, I performed. Included were such things as giving directions to lost motorists… AAA or the local gas station attendant could do that as well.  Or, listening to the stories told on the street corner by a homeless man…but then a social worker could do that. Or rendering first aid to the injured…..important, but EMT’s and Paramedics were much better at it.

The one duty I as a peace officer could perform, which most others could not, and from which I derived the most pride was removing those who committed crimes from the streets and incarcerating them where they rightfully belonged.  As taught to me by my fine mentors at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and consistent with the Code of Ethics, enforcement of the law was not to be based upon political beliefs…I “will enforce the law”.  The Code of Ethics further states “I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice”.  That’s the portion of the Code current police leaders need to reflect upon.

The Code of Ethics does not say we will only cooperate with other agencies (ICE for example) if it is politically correct or politically expedient to do so.  The Code does not say we will only cooperate with other agencies if to do so meets with the favor of our elected officials and the community.  The Code does not say that enforcing federal immigration statutes is solely a federal responsibility.  Bank Robbery, many narcotics violations, interstate kidnappings and interstate thefts are federal violations as well.  I don’t hear police leaders arguing that they cannot assist other agencies in enforcing those types of violations…but I hear it a lot when it comes to the immigration issue.

To anyone who knows the law it is clear that local law enforcement can be empowered to enforce immigration regulations in partnership with ICE…but to hear some Police Chiefs and Sheriffs talk you’d clearly think otherwise.  Rather than tell the community the truth about illegal immigration, which is their duty, obligation, and consistent with the Code of Ethics, more and more we hear top cops intentionally painting a much less than accurate and honest picture to their constituents.

Make no mistake, my focus on this issue is not based upon racial bias or bigotry.  Far from it.  My belief that local law enforcement needs to become actively involved in immigration enforcement is based solely on public safety.  Police Chiefs and Sheriffs, instead of making excuses why they cannot and should not assist with immigration enforcement ought to be telling the public the following:  illegal immigrants are involved in disproportionate percentages of violent crime; illegal immigrants are rapidly controlling the trafficking of hard narcotics; illegal immigrant controlled drug cartels are becoming increasingly violent---and not just south of the border but here on U S soil; illegal immigrant based street gangs, like MS 13 but certainly many others, rule the streets not just in Los Angeles, Phoenix and other border area cities but now in the  northwest, northeast, and in the heartland of America.

The police leader of yesterday took his/her oath of office seriously.  They told the community facts, not politically correct alterations of the facts.  They did so, consistent with the oath of office, because that is what they had sworn to do.  They did so without political favor and at times their open honesty cost them their jobs.  Knowing the risks (hell we all knowingly took on risk when we pinned on a badge) they told the community what the community needed to hear, not necessarily what it wanted to hear.

The results and effects of adherence to the oath rather than to political expediency are many:  the community is better served; police leaders will once again earn credibility with the troops that work for them; and they may be able to look in a mirror and once again like what they see.  Something to think about.