PAX Centurion - April / June 2016

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • April-May-June 2016 • Page 7 Secretary’s Thoughts: Christopher J. Broderick, BPPA Secretary Thoughts on body cameras See Secretary on page 11 N o one trusts the Police! The Police are doing things wrong! There must be transparency in policing! Police must be video recorded! We have a right to know! Anyone familiar with those and similar positions, rants and rallying cries? I know we have all heard them. Maybe at a call or a community meeting. Maybe on CNN or Fox. Usually there is a recently arrested or detained citizen passionately communicating this. Sometimes it is a close ally or supporter of the aforementioned person addressing this to the officers (or whoever will listen for that matter). Occasionally it is a spokesperson for some community action group that represents the views of his organization (at least they want you to think that represents their views). The fact of the matter is that these “cries” for justice are coming from a very small, although loud, group of people. There is a very large and sadly very silent majority out there that knows the police do things the right way. When we make a mistake they give us the same opportunity to be judged just as they would be judged. They understand policing is a different kind of job. It is a job many of them wouldn’t want to do. It is a job some of them know they couldn’t do. They appreciate that and they appreciate what having a trained and equipped police force offers them. They want to walk through their neighborhoods free of fear. They want their children to enjoy their childhoods. They want to sleep safely at night. They also want the discretion that training and experience gives officers. Well they better raise their voices collectively and consider how much oversight they really want over the rank and file police officers in the community and they better say who they want to have that oversight. Let me throw a couple of hypothetical, very unlikely, would never ever happen scenarios out there and maybe folks should consider how they will feel when the hypothetical, very unlikely, would never ever happen scenario is memorialized for what could be an eternity: The young star of the basketball team, anA+ student just trying to decide which Division 1 school he will play ball for, gets a ride home from school from his friend around the corner. After running a red light, an expired licensed driver and an investigation turns out there is some contraband in the car. The driver does the right thing and takes responsibility. Some would say the young student-athlete in the passenger seat does not deserve to have his 17+ years tainted for getting a ride home. Others may say it is not there choice, or their obligation, to believe the driver and let the Courts figure it out. If this incident is memorialized on tape, the officer who has no knowledge of either party other than this encounter may not be so willing to take a chance. Passing the buck onto the Court may be the safest choice. After six long years of school, John Q Public’s daughter has finally graduated from an Ivy League. At the family celebration that daughter celebrates a little too much. The end result is an argument with her sister that results in a bit of a scuffle. The responding police officers talk to everyone. They find out it is out of character to have this happen. The victim/sister says it’s the first time anything like this has ever happened and she does not want her sister to get in trouble, it’s only a torn shirt and a couple of scratches. Some would say a brief report may be all that is warranted at this point. Peace is restored. Mom and Dad have the situation under control. Auntie Mildred may have jumped the gun calling 911 in hysterics. Others may say it is not their responsibility to ensure the young recent graduate of MIT clears her background check for that job at Raytheon. Passing the buck onto the Court may be the safest choice. A father of three young children is doing what he can for his family. His wife stays home with the babies and he works two jobs. He works construction and delivers pizzas at night. After a tough winter and a bunch of lousy tippers he has a choice to make on March 1 st . He can pay his rent or he can pay his auto insurance and get his registration and license straightened out. He decides to pay his rent and pick up some extra shifts between now andApril to take care of the car. After running the same red light the (possibly) Duke-bound kid from Scenario 1 went through the officer hears all this and believes him. Just so happens the man lives right down the street. Some would say following the man at slow speed for 500 yards and allowing him to park the car would be the right thing to do. No reason to cite and tow. This guy doesn’t need another financial commitment that he can’t meet. Others may feel different about the situation if it is captured forever. Those are just a few crazy, never would happen scenarios. I am sure anyone of us could tweak, rewrite or edit any of the above to some crazy, never happened decision you never ever had to make while working. We know police are all about locking people up and What can BFCU Financial Advisors do for you? • Retirement Planning • Retirement Income Strategies • Investment Management Strategies • Life and Long Term Care Insurance Strategies • Develop a plan to invest for you child’s education • And More Whether your goals are large or small, contact Joe today to schedule a NO -cost, NO -obligation appointment to discuss your individual needs. Joseph F. Shea III Financial Advisor, BFCU Financial Advisors Located at: Boston Firefighters Credit Union 2029 Centre Street • West Roxbury, MA 02132 60 Hallet Street • Dorchester, MA 02124 P 857.220.0152 • Fax 608.236.6008 Joseph.Shea@cunamutual.com Securities sold, advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor. CBSI is under contract with the financial institution to make securities available to members. Not NCUA/NCUSIF/FDIC insured. No Financial Institution Guarantee. Not a deposit of any financial institution. FR-1516956.1-0616-0718