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That's probably what the people paying their salary (the dear folks living in Brecksville, namely) like to think. Too bad they're not making the world a safer place. Too bad that's not the image that they were projecting this morning. This morning, they appeared to be simply pulling people over for speeding on the Interstate to pump up the money for Brecksville township.
Call me an idealist -- but I think of Police fulfilling the roles that my Father-in-Law, a sheriffs deputy for many years in the 70's, used to fill. In that role, he gave out tickets, sure, but most of the time he was looking to make the world a safer place. That meant helping people in need -- not just cutting tickets for passing motorists.
I don't see the Brecksville cops in that light for a simple reason. On or about 9:06 AM, Good Friday April 10th of 2009, I witnessed them (2 cars) sitting in wait for passing speeders. Oh, and there was that elderly couple, with a flat tire, within eye-shot of both of the patrol cars, broken down on the side of the road.
Yeah, it's hard to have a conversation with them -- but not at all impossible. I did manage to locate a nice email address for Brecksville. I took a couple of minutes to write a nice message to them (repeated below, for your entertainment).
Hello, Just wanted to say that this morning, around mile marker 149 on 77, I saw an elderly couple fixing a flat on their car in the Southbound lane while I was driving on the north-bound lanes. I'm writing you because two of your Police vehicles were in obvious eye-shot of the situation -- and obviously doing their usual duty (my guess: gathering speeding ticket revenue for your township). While I appreciate the safety that this regulatory function of your constabulary brings to the table, I would expect them, in situations such as this, to add some value in the form of community service. Specifically, I was kind of saddened to see them sitting nearby and doing nothing. I see the highway patrol upon occasion, helping others in times such as this. Why not the Brecksville Police? Awaiting your response, Sincerely, --Paul Ferris
I don't expect a response -- if I get surprised, I'll post it here.
Any of my readers in the Brecksville area care to comment on this? How does it make you feel, knowing that representatives of your government (I count the police in this category) are projecting this image for your beautiful township?
-=FeriCyde=-
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2 comments:
I agree with your analysis of how police priorities are skewed (To self-serve and collect, as opposed to serve and protect), but playing Devil's advocate: What if they had asked aforementioned couple if they needed help, and the couple had already declined?
Maybe that happened, Roger. I only had a minute or so to make judgement -- the couple had the trunk open and appeared to just be getting started. At the very least they could be parked behind the car with their lights on to prevent an accidental rear-ending.
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