ICE agent, what will you tell your children?

“The day a police officer considers themselves only 'Blue' is when they've become lost.” Dr. BLR

 

Many careers attract people based on their job requirements and the challenges they may bring. However, only a few are considered a “calling” that requires specific types of individuals. I am proud to say that law enforcement is one such profession. Not everyone can do it, nor would most even consider it. Enlisting speaks volumes about who you are and how you view your purpose in life.   

The job itself is exhilarating, with no two days ever being the same. The simple fact that you're not always guaranteed to go home at the end of your shift should protect you from criticism, but it doesn't always. Nor should it. Yes, it is a dangerous job, but you signed up voluntarily. So, all that bravado and honor go out the window. You have a job to do, and the expectations are high. The uniform you wear symbolizes a long history of those who established your department, allowing you to follow in their footsteps. 

Like everything in life, professions have beginnings, and the origins of law enforcement are controversial for those who didn’t share a specific skin tone or status. Recalling the origins of policing in America could fill an entire book. Let’s say you weren't white; it hadn’t yet benefited you or people like you. 

For America today, I want to share my concerns about how policing has become a profession that doesn’t serve all communities equally. There are many stories about officers assaulting citizens and the killing of minorities, often by police officers who are white males. For years, these stories were merely hearsay until the rise of cell phones capable of recording video, which could then be uploaded to social media platforms, reaching billions of people worldwide. The mainstream media could no longer control stories or claim they’re fake news. Leaders must now address these issues. That was until the second election of President Donald J. Trump.

Self-described as the most pro-police president ever, President Trump demonstrated this by withdrawing all federal consent decrees against police departments, allowing them to resume aggressive policing tactics. This move also rejected his predecessor's alleged lenient approach to illegal immigration, which Trump argued was hurting the United States—though deportation records don't support this claim, but I digress. Trump’s inflammatory remarks, claiming that Mexicans are “Bringing crime…they’re rapists,” and suggesting that legal immigrants from Haiti were “eating cats and dogs,” further fueled anti-immigrant sentiments.  

I’ve always believed that any dictator can be overthrown through non-compliance by ordinary people, especially those who swear an oath to the Constitution rather than to some wannabe dictator. However, it seems that such allegiance is often based more on race than on moral duty. While painting with a broad brush is not advisable, sometimes you have to call it what it is. Looking at the predominantly white male police forces, their political leanings are no secret. Most police officers are conservative and would prefer a commander-in-chief to have their backs, especially if they are Republican, white males.

To avoid misunderstandings, most people in society say they support the police's efforts to protect citizens. However, they also often express frustration with the heavy-handed and sometimes illegal methods used to enforce the law. A clear example is the immigration issue, which has become a hot topic, with President Trump deploying U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to flood cities—mainly Democratic ones, some would say—with immigration enforcement. Lives have been disrupted, families separated, and many criminals arrested and deported, some to countries other than their own. This is unacceptable because immigration laws are civil matters that must follow due process; however, concerns grow when the U.S. Supreme Court grants the President broad immunity for official acts while in office. To be blunt, the police have been cracking down, and no one is exempt. Still, critics have been watching and expressing concern and shame that this is happening in their name. But while I agree with them, my issue is strictly with the police officers. 

Every day, police officers look at themselves in the mirror before putting on their uniforms to make sure they are the same person who raised their hand and swore an oath to the U.S. Constitution. If at any point they question whether they can do it, they must quit and find another profession. 

I’ve watched many videos recorded by bystanders at ICE raids. They are angry, based on the foul language and vitriol directed at police officers. Many question the integrity of the officers, especially those who seem to be either Hispanic or Black. While it’s understood that police officers must follow orders, what happens when they believe an order to be unjust or illegal? Stand down! Tell your supervisor that you disagree and won’t engage in anything you believe violates the U.S. Constitution. Become a conscientious objector or, better, a whistleblower. Police officers must stand up and stop the brutality. Undoubtedly, they will face retaliation and may even lose their jobs, but when their children ask, “What did you do when all this was going on?” they can confidently say they stood up for justice for all.