The Enforcer

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Seems everyone today questions authority. And everyone questions the Enforcer's use of force to enforce their authority.

Many moons ago, the people ruled that Enforcers could not use a fire hose to quell a street riot. It was actually the court that made that decision but I use the term "people" because the court represent the people. So the Enforcers employed tear gas, which the people also thought was excessive. So the people gave the Enforcers helmets, shields, and night sticks to defend against the bricks and fire bombs thrown at them. And the people charged the Enforcers with brutality when they beat the aggressors with their sticks. Sound funny?

In LA, a bank robber took a teller hostage and placed a gun to her head as he attempted to leave the bank. An Enforcer shot the gun from the robber's hand and took him into custody. The people gave lots of money to the hostage because fragments from the Enforcer's bullet penetrated her cheek. And later that year, a burglar being chased from a victim's home by an Enforcer, ran through a closed sliding glass door, and nearly cut his head off. The people that guy money too, ruling it was the Enforcer's fault. Sound crazy?

A few years later, in Texas, a bank robber shot an Enforcer that was chasing him though an alley. The robber claimed self defence and was exonerated of the attempted murder charge because the people said that the Enforcer would shot the robber first if he had the chance. But he was convicted of the robbery. Believe it?

A suicidal man fell to his death when an Enforcer used a taser to try and save him from jumping off a roof. And another man that was threatening suicide with a gun to his temple, was injured when an Enforcer tried to save his life by shooting the gun out of his hand. The people chastised each of these Enforcers. Comical?

An Enforcer was sent to prison for beating Rodney King into submission after chasing him all over the SoCal freeways. And another time, LA Enforcers were brought to trial because the felons that they were chasing crashed into an innocent's car. Really?

And in Iraq, a military Enforcer was tried for shooting a 12-year old kid that was levelling an AK in his direction. The people expected to let the kid shoot first. And many more are now facing prosecution for interviewing their prisoners too harshly. Pretty nuts?

You might find these stories to be funny, crazy, unbelievable, comical, and nuts. But our Enforcers don't think so. Enforcing is not what it was when I was one. Now days many Enforcers worry more about losing their jobs, or going to prison, than they do about being injured or even killed. And I don't blame them.

What would an Enforcer have to lose if he/she just let the idiots burn their own city, let a deranged person kill himself, or let a felon escape rather that involving an innocent in a car crash. Why not just let Rodney go? Why volunteer for Iraq? Why bother to even question your prisiner? Is this what the people want? I am so glad that I don't make these kinds of decisions any longer, and I pray very often for those that do.

Now, I'd rather be lost on the Lake than found at home.
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