SHERIFF'S: Not a cut above accepted norm

I can recall years ago when police officers and sheriff’s deputies were referred to as “peace officers.” No more. Today these so-called public servants are called law enforcement officers. Their job is no longer to maintain the peace, but to enforce LAW. Courtesy and respect for the public they serve are no longer required nor considered necessary. All too often today one can find a myriad of videos on the Internet showing abuses of the public by members of various law enforcement agencies nationwide.

One always hopes their local law enforcement officers are a cut above the accepted norm. It is always disheartening to find that is not the case.

This is what I witnessed the evening of New Year’s Day:

After passing through Rathdrum eastbound on Highway 53 I found myself following a pickup truck with Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department markings, pulling a trailer that had no running lights operating. I called the sheriff’s dispatch number and told them about the problem.

A few miles later we come to the intersection of 53 and U.S. 95. The sheriff’s vehicle moves to the right turn lane to go south, as do I. The signal is red. A sign on a post reads “Stop Here On Red.” Those familiar with the intersection will know there is a dedicated acceleration lane for vehicles turning south onto 95 from eastbound 53.

Well, the sheriff’s truck does not turn. We wait…and wait…and wait. Finally I give my horn a single short toot. The roof mounted flashing lights of the official vehicle go on for a moment then go off. Then the driver gets out and walks in a wide loop into the street and asks me, with an attitude, if there is a problem. My response is “Why are we waiting here?” The officer’s reply to that was, “The sign says stop here on red” with more attitude.

Hmm.

Meanwhile the signal has gone green, and as the officer gets back in his pickup the light goes red again and we waited…the entire cycle, again.

What is the cause of this discourtesy?

I called the dispatch line again and asked for a call from the watch commander. The watch commander politely told me there is no law requiring anyone to turn right on red. Hence since no law requires courtesy to traffic waiting behind you, discourtesy is perfectly OK, especially if you are driving a sheriff’s department vehicle. He also informed me that tooting my horn was against the law. He said use of the horn is only allowed for an emergency.

Hmm, that is not how the law reads. The statute reads:

“The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn, but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.”

Emergency huh? This is the state of our Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

JAY BARBIERI

Dalton Gardens