Situation 1
As a patrol officer, you are only doing your job when you stop a car for running a red light. Unfortunately, the driver of the car happens to be the mayor. You ticket her anyway, but the next morning you get called into the captain’s office and told in no uncertain terms that you screwed up, because of an informal policy extending “courtesy” to city politicians. Several nights later, you observe the mayor’s car weaving erratically across lanes and speeding. What would you do? What is the driver were a fellow police officer? What if the driver were a high school friend?
As a patrol officer, I would follow the law and the department’s policies, regardless of who the driver is. If I pulled over the mayor for running a red light, I would issue her a ticket. If my captain told me that I had screwed up because of an informal policy extending “courtesy” to city politicians, I would respectfully disagree. I would explain that I am sworn to uphold the law and that I cannot give preferential treatment to anyone, regardless of their position.
If I observed the mayor’s car weaving erratically across lanes and speeding several nights later, I would again follow the law and the department’s policies. I would pull her over and ask her to step out of the car. I would then conduct a sobriety test and, if she was impaired, I would arrest her.
The same would apply if the driver were a fellow police officer or a high school friend. I would not let my personal relationships cloud my judgment. I would always do what is right, regardless of who the person is.
It is important for police officers to be impartial and fair. We are entrusted with the power to enforce the law, and we must use that power responsibly. We cannot give preferential treatment to anyone, regardless of their position or status. If we do, we erode public trust and undermine the rule of law.
In the specific situation you have described, the mayor is breaking the law by running a red light and driving erratically. She is also putting herself and others at risk. As a police officer, I have a duty to protect the public, and that includes enforcing the law against the mayor. I would not let my personal feelings about the mayor or her position influence my decision to enforce the law.
I understand that there may be informal policies in place that extend “courtesy” to city politicians. However, I believe that these policies are wrong. They create an unfair double standard and undermine the rule of law. I would refuse to follow these policies and would always enforce the law fairly and impartially, regardless of who the person is.
I know that this may be difficult, but it is important for police officers to stand up for what is right. We cannot allow ourselves to be influenced by personal relationships or political considerations. We must always uphold the law, regardless of who the person is.