I’VE DONE SOME RESEARCH LATELY. IN 1970 FOUR CHP OFFICERS WERE GUNNED DOWN IN NEWHALL,CA. ALL WERE KILLED IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION THAT PLACED PUBLIC RELATIONS ABOVE OFFICER SAFETY.
DURING THE 70’S CHP OFFICERS, LIKE MANY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WERE PUNISHED FOR PERCEIVED TRANSGRESSIONS. ALL SOME SHMO HAD TO DO WAS SAY THEY WERE STOPPED BY AN OFFICER AND HE MADE ME FEEL BAD, STUCK OUT HIS TONGUE, ETC.
THE ADVERSE EFFECT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN BE SEEN TODAY. COMMAND STAFF SET AND ENFORCE POLICY THAT HOLD DOWN EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE POLICE WORK. LESS CARS ARE BEING STOPPED. PEDESTRIANS ARE NOT BEING QUESTIONED UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. THE RESULTS CAN BE SEEN IN ANY NEWSPAPER OR TV STATION IN THE COUNTRY. MURDERS AND SERIOUS ASSAULTS ARE ON A ROCKET TRAJECTORY. IF THIS KEEPS UP 2016 WILL, INDEED, BE A BLOODY YEAR.
AS OF THIS WRITING THIRTEEN OFFICERS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY GUNFIRE. THAT’S A 333% RISE OVER LAST YEAR.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO EMBRACE THE CULTURE OF “OFFICER SURVIVAL” AND TRAIN ACCORDINGLY.
THE GHOSTS OF NEWHALL, CA ARE CREEPING BACK INTO THE TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE OF POLICE OFFICERS. WE CAN’T LET THIS HAPPEN.WE MUST NOT ALLOW POLITICS TO TAKE PRIORITY OVER OFFICER SAFETY ISSUES. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CIVIC LEADERS WOULD BE WISE TO HEED THE NEEDS OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS BEFORE INTRODUCING AND ENFORCING ILL-CONCEIVED CHANGES THAT COULD AND PROBABLY WILL LEAD TO MORE POLICE FUNERALS. STAY SAFE, BUCKLE UP AND WEAR YOUR VEST!!