Friday, May 29, 2009
Police officer did his job
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Rick Clark
Clark is chief of the Galax Police Department.
The role of police in American society is sometimes misunderstood; it's accepted that our role is to enforce laws and ordinances, uphold the constitutions of the Unites States and the commonwealth of Virginia. We are also charged with maintaining a safe and attractive environment in the communities we serve while working within the parameters of the law.
I readily admit that having been a police officer for 33 years and a police chief for the past seven has affected the way I view things.
I have followed the news after the arrest of the young lady on the Roanoke City Market for impeding a sidewalk with interest because I am familiar with the reputation that the Roanoke City Police Department and Chief Joe Gaskins enjoy with police professionals across Virginia.
Obviously, Galax is much smaller then Roanoke; however, we share many similarities, including a downtown area that Galax has worked hard to make an attractive and safe environment to encourage visitors.
My officers enforce an ordinance that parallels the Roanoke ordinance and even here it sometimes generates controversy.
I am confident that the Roanoke police officer has arrested numerous people for the same violation without the controversy of this incident.
I have to wonder if the person had been homeless and in need of a bath or intoxicated whether the arrest would have been posted on the Internet or drawn the wrath of city council and the press.
If the organizers had taken the time while planning to be "impromptu" to call either the police department or the city manager's office, I am sure that either office would have explained the requirements and would have given them permission to hold their event.
I have watched the video that is posted online and the actions of the officer. The young lady ignored the police officer's repeated inquiries and attempts to find out what she was doing. He reacted as trained and in accordance with the code of Virginia and ordinances of Roanoke.
I am confident if she had complied with his request for information that the officer would have used his discretion, and she would not have been arrested.
Even if she explained after her arrest what she was doing, Virginia law requires that she be taken before a magistrate after a custodial arrest.
Two simple things that did not happen are the catalyst that caused this incident to happen and then be blown out of proportion. No one notified city officials of their plan and the young lady failed to acknowledge the officer's lawful presence and respond to his inquiries.
Fair and efficient law enforcement requires that everyone be treated equally by the police and that society accepts and abides by the rules. In this instance, the police officer fulfilled his obligation. The young lady who was arrested had to know when the officer approached her that there was a problem with her performance. Her obligation was to respond to the officer's questions.
The mission statement of the Roanoke Police Department states: "The Roanoke Police Department is dedicated to providing honest, efficient and effective law enforcement services. The protection of life, property, and civil liberties for all people in a fair and equitable manner shall be the Department's daily objective."
I am confident that each member of the Roanoke Police Department strives on a daily basis to live up to that standard.
There is always more than one side to every story, but in this case it appears that the press has taken this opportunity to attack a police officer who was doing what he has sworn to do and to embarrass Gaskins and the members of the Roanoke Police Department.
