A Hero?
New Orleans Police Superintendent P. Edwin Compass III resigned yesterday, after four weeks in which the police force corruption was exposed in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. "I served this department for 26 years and have taken it through some of the toughest times of its history. 
Every man in a leadership position must know when it's time to hand over the reins," Compass said at a news conference. "I'll be going on in another direction that God has for me."
As the city slipped into anarchy during the first few days after Katrina, the 1,700-member police department itself suffered a crisis. Many officers left New Orleans, deserting their office and responsibility. Others were filmed apparently joining in the looting that broke out in the absence of an effective police force. Two officers Compass described as friends committed suicide. "It's a sad day in the city of New Orleans when a hero makes a decision like this," said Mayor Nagin, who appointed Compass in mid-2002. "He leaves the department in pretty good shape and with a significant amount of leadership." Mr. Nagin's words mean little. Many times scoundrels are called heros as they are flushed down history's toilet of oblivion.
I believe it has become obvious that Mr. Compass not only lost control of New Orleans, but also control of his own police force. Over the past few weeks we have seen his officers walk off the job and leave town, turn to blatant crime themselves or choose suicide. To be sure, there are heros on the police force of New Orleans. Mr. Compass himself, however, violated the second ammendment, as well as the fourth ammendment. This classifies him as one who turned to criminal activity. While at the very least condoning these violations of the Constitution, Mr. Compass called officers who walked off the job cowards. Then, when a hot bright light was shone on his activities, Mr. Compass turned in his badge and walked off the job. Thus he joined those who he labeled cowards. I do not wish him suicide, but I would not feel the loss if he chose it.
Here in Louisiana, we have a word for a person of no honor, who bleeds society and then turns tail, one who is lower than a coward. Scalawag. Mr. Compass is a scalawag.
Every man in a leadership position must know when it's time to hand over the reins," Compass said at a news conference. "I'll be going on in another direction that God has for me."As the city slipped into anarchy during the first few days after Katrina, the 1,700-member police department itself suffered a crisis. Many officers left New Orleans, deserting their office and responsibility. Others were filmed apparently joining in the looting that broke out in the absence of an effective police force. Two officers Compass described as friends committed suicide. "It's a sad day in the city of New Orleans when a hero makes a decision like this," said Mayor Nagin, who appointed Compass in mid-2002. "He leaves the department in pretty good shape and with a significant amount of leadership." Mr. Nagin's words mean little. Many times scoundrels are called heros as they are flushed down history's toilet of oblivion.
I believe it has become obvious that Mr. Compass not only lost control of New Orleans, but also control of his own police force. Over the past few weeks we have seen his officers walk off the job and leave town, turn to blatant crime themselves or choose suicide. To be sure, there are heros on the police force of New Orleans. Mr. Compass himself, however, violated the second ammendment, as well as the fourth ammendment. This classifies him as one who turned to criminal activity. While at the very least condoning these violations of the Constitution, Mr. Compass called officers who walked off the job cowards. Then, when a hot bright light was shone on his activities, Mr. Compass turned in his badge and walked off the job. Thus he joined those who he labeled cowards. I do not wish him suicide, but I would not feel the loss if he chose it.
Here in Louisiana, we have a word for a person of no honor, who bleeds society and then turns tail, one who is lower than a coward. Scalawag. Mr. Compass is a scalawag.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Labels: New Orleans, News, Politics
posted by Xavier at 5:28 AM
1 Comments:
Superintendent Compass put the law enforcement officers in a tough spot. I wonder how many (if any) police officers abandoned their duties because they did not agree with being ordered to violate the rights of the citizens. Thinking about what happened after Katrina, I often wondered how I would react to being ordered to force myself into peoples homes and take their property (if I were a police office/national guardsman, etc.) I know that I could not do those things, so what would I do? Ignore those orders and carry out other duties until the pressures from superiors to violate people rights caused me to resign? I don't know, I am not a cop, but it sounds plausible. Compass may have forced his officers with morals out of the police department!
Post a Comment
<< Home