IN MOST, IF NOT ALL CITIES, THE PRACTICE OF PROACTIVE POLICING IS FADING FAST. STOP AND FRISK IS A TERM THAT I FEAR MAY BE LOST TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF POLICE OFFICERS. THIS PRACTICE HAS A LONG STANDING AND UPHELD ROOT IN THIS CONSTITUTIONALLY GROUNDED ACTIVITY. (TERRY vs OHIO)
MANY OFFICERS TODAY ARE RELUCTANT TO USE THIS TACTIC. BY DIRECTION OR BY THEIR OWN VOLITION AND ADMISSION HAVE DECLARED AN END TO APPROACHING AND CONFRONTING A SUSPECT. THEY DON’T WANT TO BE THE NEXT FACEBOOK “VIRAL” SENSATION. IN REALITY, WHO COULD BLAME THEM.
DE-POLICING HAS TAKEN HOLD OF POLICE OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ADMINISTRATORS ARE DIRECTING OFFICERS NOT TO STOP VEHICLES FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE TYPE OF STOPS CAN AND SOMETIMES DO, LEAD TO THE ARREST OF VIOLENT CRIMINALS. CASE IN POINT…TIMOTHY MCVEY, YOU KNOW, THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBER, STOPPED FOR NO LICENSE PLATE AFTER THE BOMBING. THIS STOP REVEALED MCVEY TO HAVE A CONCEALED WEAPON. UPON THE AGENCIES WORKING THE BOMBING AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE PIECES THEY KNEW RIGHT WHERE TO FIND THE CULPRIT…IN THE SLAMMER. THANKS TO AN ALERT OKLAHOMA STATE TROOPER DOING HIS JOB.
EVEN THE NYPD, PERHAPS THE MOST RESPECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE WORLD,
HAS BEEN GIVEN NEW MARCHING ORDERS. THE MAYOR, WHO HAD TO TELL HIS CHILDREN HOW TO ACT WHEN CONFRONTED BY POLICE, HAS HALTED THE STOP AND FRISK PRACTICE.
WILL CRIME RATES SPIKE? WILL THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT RULE THE METROPOLITAN AREAS? WILL BODIES PILE UP AS THEY HAVE IN BALTIMORE? ONLY TIME WILL TELL. LET US HOPE THAT A REASONABLE COMMON GROUND CAN BE FOUND AND THOSE WE TASK WITH THE BURDEN OF ENFORCING THE LAW OF THE LAND CAN FAITHFULLY AND JUDICIOUSLY PERFORM THOSE DUTIES.
STAY SAFE!!