Budget Cuts for Law Enforcement

Times are hard and have been very trying for many in the recent months. Through it all we must look to the future and learn from the past. There is activity on poor financial investments, layoffs and reduction in salaries. Our job as an Alliance is to see that these issues are placed on the front burner to prevent collateral damage to law enforcement. We have to be the watchdog, to be ready to sound the alarm if things look as though decisions being made are not in the best interest of law enforcement and for the safety of the citizens.

Law enforcement positions and resources should never be on the table for cuts. Cutting law enforcement budgets play into the hands of those who will use someone else’s life, limb and property to benefit their way of life. The citizens and the law enforcement officers first line of defense depends on how committed city and counties are to the safety of the citizens they represent.
Unfortunately in many cases non law enforcement administrators believe they can manage law enforcement entities with very little to no knowledge of the law enforcement profession. Cities and counties like to work off projections, the same way many failing businesses do these days. A projection you can count on is unemployment goes up as well as crime in hard times. Crime does not take a break as law enforcement budgets are stripped. All around the country, governments are showing their willingness to risk life, limb and property because they want to treat all departments within the government the same.

The idea is that you can’t treat a set of employees different than the other. Well, too late on that thought. Law enforcement is required to work in hazardous conditions such as tornados, hurricanes and chemical spills. They are expected to run in and out of gunfire if the situation calls for it, begin CPR as a first responder on scene and pull victims from a wrecked vehicle so they don’t burn or get run over by a motorist who has no clue what’s in front of them. They are required to work holidays and night shifts with no differential pay.

All of their actions are then scrutinized for violations of policy and then state and federal laws. One complaint can destroy a career in the press even when it is proven to be false. How about the legal fees that are paid by an officer who had to hire an attorney because of a malicious or frivolous complaint by a defendant or suspect they arrested for violation of a law? Ask yourself again, Mr. County and City Governmen,t if we treat a segment of employees different? You bet your bottom dollar they do! Don’t let county or city governments tell you they don’t want to treat any employee different.