Re: No Time For Blind, Unquestioning Support.
On Tuesday, February 24, we published a column by Today Media editor Mike Archer on the current crisis faced by the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) and the reaction of Mayor Henry Braun and Councillor Dave Loewen to the news.
The column caused a bit of discussion on Facebook which we thought we’d like to share with you and encourage you to add your voice to the discussion.
February 24, 2015 at 8:29 am
Enrique Rempel Says:
The police and our justice system for that matter are always in a no win situation.
They are required by the law to follow certain regulations and procedures while the criminals are educated on those same procedures but are not bound by them. As a result they have a HUGE advantage. So we blame them when criminals are not caught, get off on technicalities etc. when they do step out of the guidelines and manage to get convictions we criticize the methods.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe they should stay within the rules, we have them for a reason. Having said that, I fit is my family that is being hurt but the criminals, I want them dealt with and I am ok with some short cuts. They are placed in an impossible position of never being able to be “right”.
Though I was one of the first to comment on the support shown to the police by identifying the difference on how they are presumed innocent until proven guilty vs how there was a lack of public support for homeless when they are being investigated (who deserve the same presumption of innocents), I am not sure if I would say it is blind support.
You work with people day after day, literally laying your life on the line for people that criticize you when you do well and criticize you when you do poorly, I think it is natural to say that I stand by you until the investigation is complete. Not only do I think it is natural I think it is healthy. Our police force would not be a force if they fell apart every time allegations were made. They need to stand by each other for all our sakes.
Having said this, if they are found guilty then they need to treat them as they would with any criminal and not just give them a slap on the hand.
My issue is not the support shown when the investigation is in progress but rather how things are handled once a guilty verdict is brought down. That is where our system often falls so short.
Reply –
February 24, 2015 at 8:34 am (Edit)
Mike Archer Says:
Valid points Enrique. Thanks for raising them. I take issue with the idea of shortcuts. I’d rather they just obey the law when enforcing it. Who decides when short cuts are OK? You or I could be next.Reply –
February 24, 2015 at 1:27 pm (Edit)
Enrique Rempel Says: I agree with you Mike. My words were “if it was my family being hurt, I would be ok with some short cuts”. I think the feelings are always different when we are personally affected.
Eg: a man molests my daughter and the difference in him going free or paying the price is a warrant that wasn’t filled out properly isn’t justice in my eyes. We have way too many criminals on the streets because they can afford better lawyers who turn our justice system into a contest of who can manipulate the law better instead looking at guilt or innocence.I agree there has to be a line and that line should be the law.
Having said that, to the point of support, it is very unbalanced. I did not see either stand up publicly with the homeless when “manure” was being dumped on the homeless. Not saying there wasn’t support but at the time it wasn’t like this. That is an issue I have.
Everyone should have the same support, regardless of standing and your article is well taken in that fact.
February 24, 2015 at 11:03 am (Edit)
Meghann Coughlan Hernandez Says:
Dave should come spend a week in my neighbourhood. Wonder how long he’d last.
From Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=772425169477226&id=447088788677534&comment_id=772436496142760&offset=0&total_comments=1
February 24, 2015 at 1:26 pm (Edit)
Bruce Anderson Says:
looks like the new mayor is just as bad as the old mayor they both knew what was goin on and turned a blind eye, whats the new mayor gonna do when the fed’s start ripping the APD apart and charging the cops with breaking the law, is he gonna stand by them, of course he will
From Facebook