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 Common Sense (EDITORIAL)by Patti Sewall, Editor of PEACEKeeperThe pages of this issue are filled with photos of recent memorial services honoring fallen heroes of law enforcement, the ceremonies remembering the brave warriors who lost their lives in the battles of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong. I look at the photos of the California and national memorials and I am amazed at how many people attend to pay their respects to these heroes. Thousands of people turn out to say a prayer, shed a tear, or comfort a loved one. But then think about how many lives are impacted by the murder of just one law enforcement officer. Then multiply that by 165, the number of peace officers killed in the line of duty last year. That's an awful lot of lives interrupted. That's far too many widows and orphans, far too many reasons to listen intently when common sense whispers in your ear what is right and what is wrong. And while these families and fellow officers stand together with bowed heads to mourn their losses and remember their loved ones, just a melancholy drum beat away violent crime is reportedly on the rise, and Supreme Court judges are siding with those who think lethal injection is just too cruel a fate for a convicted murderer. And I read where a district judge in the midwest refused to send a 5-foot-1 convicted sex offender to prison because he thought he was too small to survive in prison. This was a man who had sexually assaulted children, but the judge didn't consider him to be "a hunter" who deserved prison time. Go figure. Misplaced priorities, I guess. When did it become so easy to destroy the lives of others? When did society lose its grasp on common sense? Back here in our little corner of the world, just before this issue was to go to press, contract negotiations between the state and CCPOA representatives had just begun. However, about 18 minutes into the first day of negotiations at CCPOA headquarters, the state suddenly walked out. Seems they scare easily. All our negotiators wanted to do was to videotape the negotiations process to avoid repeating any past misconceptions and finger pointing. The camera doesn't lie, you know, which may explain the state's hesitation. The state found the idea of a videotape offensive (and perhaps a fl y in their ointment) so they walked out. So much for good faith. You'd think they'd welcome our effi ciency and effort to lend credibility to the process for everyone concerned. So much for common sense. After attending two emotion-filled memorial ceremonies in the last month for the 165 brave law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2005, CCPOA officials are that much more committed to enhancing the profession for their membership through serious negotiations. At no other time in recent history has the situation been so grave, with regard to overcrowding and staff safety within California's correctional institutions. And common sense will tell you overcrowding jeopardizes public safety as well. So common sense -- and their neighbors -- should tell the Department's representatives to sit down and pay attention. While the good vs. evil and right vs. wrong conflicts may never go away in our society, here's some common sense advice to the state to help streamline the contract negotiations: We're not the bad guys. Unfortunately, CCPOA has had to become an expert at fighting that stigma over the years. And if history has taught the state anything, it's that CCPOA isn't afraid to fight when necessary. And that's just what we intend to do. With common sense on our side, we're going to continue to fight for what's right -- on behalf of the professional men and women of Unit Six, as well as for public safety.  Print This PageBack to Volume 23, Issue 3 Back to PEACEKeeper Main Page |
