Opinion

Letter: Police should own up to abuse

Posted May 15, 2015 6:22 am

I believe that the unrest caused by several incidents involving police is due to a widespread perception that certain police officers have abused their police powers.

I also believe that certain police officers have abused their power in several instances. I think it is time for police chiefs and other administrators in charge of managing police forces to acknowledge that the job of police officer is one that can attract the sort of person that is interested in having a position of power that they can abuse.

This is not to say that all people are attracted to the job for that reason but it should be acknowledged that some are, and I don't think it is a minuscule percentage.

Acknowledging this should then impact how complaints of abuse are investigated and documented and disciplined.

Yes, false accusations can and will be made but the police chiefs and administrators have to be smart about this and realize it is important to weed out police officers that have a tendency to abuse their power. It has to happen to re-establish trust of and respect for the police.

I think most Catholic Bishops learned a similar lesson.

John Captain

Antioch

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