The ACLU is at it again. This time, the patrons and owners of a local barber shop have complained about the Field Interview Cards that police fill out when they stop people. At question is the point that officers not only gather name and where people live and where they are supposedly going, but identifying characteristics – teeth, tattoos, other physical characteristics and do so, the ACLU claims, without reasonable cause.
According to the ACLU, “That’s not appropriate. The police don’t have the right to do that.”
Fine Mr. and Ms. ACLU. When your home or car is broken into and you carefully describe the perpetrator, we’ll just have to let the police start from scratch. They’ll never know that exactly that person was seen on a silver mountain bike a block from your home 30 minutes before you were robbed.
Or maybe it’ll be worse than that. One of your loved ones is hit by a flying bullet, through no fault of their own. Witnesses in the area give the police a good description, but alas, the shooter has fled. Nevermind that a Field Interview Card would have been filled out ten minutes earlier on exactly the vehicle and gun-wielding driver just down the street. Police would have had the information to link that person to the crime on your doorstep. But – now they can’t because you listened to some people in a barber shop and didn’t even bother to try and reason out why such information just might be helpful.
Do you really want to tie the police department’s hands in the name of “fairness”? Come on! Where’s the fairness to me, plain old quiet citizen who wants the police to have all the information they can get at their fingertips every time a crime is committed? When do you come ask ME if I think my rights are being violated? When can I call your office and complain about YOUR tactics?
I want my rights upheld too! I want the right to full and complete police protection. I don’t care if they know what color underwear I’m wearing since I don’t commit crimes. I don’t even associate with those who commit crimes. I don’t frequent locations where crimes are planned or committed. I want the police in my face, asking what I’ve seen, who I’ve seen and where I’ve seen them. Somebody better start giving them that kind of information, without the ACLU looking over their shoulder taking notes, or our crime problem will continue to be rampant. Or worse yet, vigilantism will begin to take to the streets.
Which is worse – a bit of information that any idiot can note about you like your blatantly displayed tats (but perhaps wouldn’t necessarily write down and therefore would forget when it’s needed), or a group of gun-totin’ untrained citizens profiling and gunning down people they think look like criminals?
I’ll take the NOPD, and their FIC’s, any day. Oh – and I’m in the book my dear ACLU. Any time you want to know whether I think my rights are on the line, just call. I’ll let you know. Right after I let you know that I think you are a sham organization of buffoons who get their jollies from getting puffed up in front of news cameras over invented issues.
