He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent
hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE was a list of grievances
against King George III, one of which concerned
his royals agents. They acted with impunity. Writs of assistance—general search warrants—were
used whenever and wherever they pleased.
American
police have forgotten that they take an oath to uphold the Constitution, not
swear allegiance to a monarch. Yet they act with impunity granted through what
is, supposedly, “qualified immunity.” In
fact, they are akin to the King’s royal agents.
The Fourth
Amendment defines a police officer’s job and must be known by heart: “The right of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and
seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable
cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Unlike writs of assistance, warrants are limited. They are about responsibility.
The President, the Vice President, Governors, Lt. Governors, Mayors, and their Cabinets; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, and their counterparts in the States; members of Congress, Legislatures, County, City, and Town Councils can all be questioned by the public and the press. But civil servants who are peace officers cannot? And if they are, the response, at minimum, is intimidation?
A return to basics requires qualified candidates, those with the discipline to do the job because they know the job. Thus, recruitment must change. An application to a police academy is not enough. Possible trainees have to make it through boot camp first with Rangers and/or Special Forces drill sergeants. They cannot be DOR—DROPPED ON REQUEST. If they pass, then the application shall be reviewed for acceptance.
(c)2020 Marvin D. Jones. All rights reserved.
