Revisiting Police Unions and the Blue Shield Analogy
Police unions need to be illegal. The reason is because so many of these unions have turned into organizations that simply coverup police misconduct. Simply being a crutch that police officers lean on when they stray from departmental standards or violate the law is unconstitutional, that is. Police officers knowing that some police-friendly lawyer and union representatives can get them out of trouble and allow them to not go to jail/prison or lose their job is seriously unethical, as well as un-American. Equal justice is exactly that and perceived qualified immunity is exactly that. Police officers are trained, take an oath to protect and serve, and are supposed to have the utmost integrity because of their duties. Unfortunately, this is not the case these days and police unions are partially responsible for this mess that the country is dealing with now. George Floyd et al. were victims of police union lethargy and corruption, case in point. Police unions are condoning police-based violence and they need to be checked along with the cops who abuse their power.
Other factors need to be considered as well when denouncing police unions. Such as, the money that is used to fund these organizations and their practices, and the lack of unbiased external agencies that should be run by laypeople. First, the discussion about the money. Tax dollars are being spent on providing cops with union coverage. Union fees are usually deducted from police officers’ paychecks, which are, again, provided via tax dollars. So, these unions that protect wayward cops are operating on income that is coming from the public’s wallet. This should piss you off. Your money is financing a group that protects criminal and unethical cops. Second, the internal checking processes for police departments—which are usually made up of other public officials and union staff—are so biased and blatant about their backscratching that using the term “kangaroo court” to describe these commitments is not far fetched. Once more, public money is wasted on these alleged internal watchdog groups. Of this, the creation of an unbiased third parties that are made up of laypeople needs to become abundant across the nation.
The current protesting in the world should include this issue and others. While police violence is the priority—as it should be—the activists and their supporters should be engaging in a calling for overall reforms. Significant police and other law enforcement reforms can happen if the public makes enough noise.
Other factors need to be considered as well when denouncing police unions. Such as, the money that is used to fund these organizations and their practices, and the lack of unbiased external agencies that should be run by laypeople. First, the discussion about the money. Tax dollars are being spent on providing cops with union coverage. Union fees are usually deducted from police officers’ paychecks, which are, again, provided via tax dollars. So, these unions that protect wayward cops are operating on income that is coming from the public’s wallet. This should piss you off. Your money is financing a group that protects criminal and unethical cops. Second, the internal checking processes for police departments—which are usually made up of other public officials and union staff—are so biased and blatant about their backscratching that using the term “kangaroo court” to describe these commitments is not far fetched. Once more, public money is wasted on these alleged internal watchdog groups. Of this, the creation of an unbiased third parties that are made up of laypeople needs to become abundant across the nation.
The current protesting in the world should include this issue and others. While police violence is the priority—as it should be—the activists and their supporters should be engaging in a calling for overall reforms. Significant police and other law enforcement reforms can happen if the public makes enough noise.
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| Photo Credit: Benjamin J. Bolton |
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