When police cross the line
When I was a little girl, I can remember my kindergarten teacher telling us that if we were ever lost or afraid to “go find a police officer and they will help you.” Indeed, I taught my children the same, that there is safety and harbor found by seeking a police officer if you need assistance. Police officers have long been held up as the pinnacle of guardians for public safety; risking their very lives for the people they serve: their fellow citizens, neighbors and friends.
However, recent troubled times in our society have led to some incidents where those very same officers have forgotten the role of guardians and crossed the line to become more like warriors, protecting the law at any cost and appearing to forget the ideals of protecting and serving.
The recent case of a local couple, Harrison and Lindsay McLean has left me and many fellow citizens deeply disturbed. The video of the McLeans’ arrest at the hospital where they went to seek medical help leaves me with a feeling of dread, angry and disappointed. I have grandfathers, great-grandfathers and a brother who all served in our military, risking their lives in far-off lands to defend American ideals, and what occurred in this video IS NOT what they fought for. Mr. McLean himself risked his life for these American ideals, and as member of our elite special forces has the training to be feared in hand-to-hand combat. What I saw in this video was NOT a well-trained man intent on harm, but a husband simply pushed to the brink and doing what his ideals forced him to; protect his family.
In general, the police officers serving our local communities are amazing and deserving of our best regards and respect. An 2014 article, “Perspective,” written by Larry E. Capps, M.S., gives the 10 characteristics vital for police officers: Initiative, A Sense of Ethics, Respect and Knowledge of the Laws, Communication Skills, Common Sense, Civility, Service Mentality, Humility, Controlled Temper, and Thirst for New Knowledge. Most of our local officers embody these ideals; we see them on the side of the road helping change tires, fix license plates, taking children shopping at Christmas, comforting scared children after a trauma, and risking their own safety for the safety of others.
Living in Cd’A and having encounters with the best of these individuals at various times has led me to a feeling that we were somehow above the police brutality incidents occurring around the country, that our local law enforcement was better trained, more thoroughly examined before hire, the best there is to offer in the field. Incidents such as the arrest of the McLeans and the vigorous defense of the offending officer by fellow law enforcement shakes the foundation of trust that has been built between local citizens and our police force. What the officer did crossed the line, showed unacceptable aggression and belied the presence of at least eight of the aforementioned ideals of a good officer.
Citizens should NEVER have to defend themselves from an officer who has forgotten where the line of civic duty is drawn. Adding further insult to injury, the vigorous defense of this officer’s actions by other law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office further crumbles the foundation of trust so diligently built by many fine officers.
What occurred that night was unacceptable, and at the very least deserving of de-escalation training and department investigation, a statement of violation of department directives, ANYTHING. Lack of action from the officers’ superiors makes it appear as though these actions are condoned and allowed to be the normal, a dangerous road to take us down under the best of circumstances. This is not the image that our police officers deserve, but as the issue is pressed by an overzealous prosecuting attorney, covered by news media and observed by citizens far and wide, it may well become the image best remembered. What a sad day for Cd’A.
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Tina K. Bothwell is a Coeur d’Alene resident.