"Police officers are infused with the power of the state; the power to take a life in pursuit of justice; power that is all too easily abused."
- Commander of the Internal Affairs Division from "The Rookie" Season 3, Episode 1.
I have consistent conversations with people about how Law Enforcement is no longer what it was.
Much of our laws have become complex, overbearing, and built on the concept of generating revenue over justice.
This is a problem.
Not just for me, but for everyone.
If you think about it logically, you notice that crime is really high, but not because of criminals. Rather, because good people get fed up and resort to their own means.
It’s been a while, but I spent some time watching classic TV with my grandparents, way back when. My grandmother used to watch shows like “Matlock”, “Father Dowling Mysteries”, and “The Andy Griffith Show”.
Especially “The Andy Griffith Show”.
(If you haven’t seen it, you’ve had 50 years to catch up.)
Anyway…
I really liked Sheriff Andy’s approach to most things. He would check the rifles, which were never secured, do the paperwork, read the newspaper, and wait for someone to request his presence. When he was requested, he took his time to find the equity in every situation.
I realize it was all scripted, but the wisdom in the way he handled things was useful, even 30 years later when I got around to paying attention.
Until recently, I didn’t completely recognize the biggest lesson. I’ll explain.
Sheriff Andy had a deputy, Barney Fife.
Barney was a bit excitable. He carried a gun, which Andy didn’t, and one bullet, in his shirt pocket.
Sure, it was a gag. Usually a hilarious gag, but it wasn’t too far from the mark. Barney really needed that extra 30 or 40 seconds. He waved that empty gun around with the booger hook up on the bang switch far too often.
The two characters were usually diametrically opposed. Andy the wisdom and reason while Barney was the excitable train wreck.
I remember one episode. Barney pulled over Gomer for making an illegal U-turn and Gomer took issue with it when Barney did the exact same thing, in their official car. Barney insisted he was immune to the ticket and Andy made him write himself a ticket. Twice.
This is law enforcement, or rather, this is keeping the peace.
When the law applies to all, equally, it is beneficial to society. Sheriff Andy was a Peace Officer. He knew his job was to keep the peace and did so the best way he could.
The show ran from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968. It wasn’t filmed in a world where forensics was a developed science and police standards training wasn’t required. Instead, they built the show on their community.
Why am I talking about this?
Many of my posts are critical of Law Enforcement. I’ll even call them “road pirates” to their face, as my right to free speech allows. There’s a distinct difference between a Peace Officer and a Road Pirate.
You need an example, I can tell.
Another TV show had the opposite; a bad Sheriff with a good Deputy. The Sheriff was elected through ballot stuffing by the guy who was in charge of Hazzard County.
Yup… I’m talking about Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane and his Deputy Enos Strate.
Ol’ Roscoe ran revenue generating scheme after scheme. He was a definitive road pirate. Enos knew it was wrong and would let things slide. Actually, if Boss Hogg wasn’t keeping Roscoe elected, Enos would have been Sheriff.
There’s other examples in our pop culture too. I won’t bore you with my continued assessment.
Regardless, we’re talking about government agents, who are supposed to help their communities, but are often weaponized by poor policy and worse laws instead. They are paid for by money forcefully taken from you, and the worst part is that they pay taxes too.
So... let me be clear. I would support Sheriff Andy. I can’t support Sheriff Roscoe. I would vote for Deputy Enos. I would disarm Deputy Barney. I sustain Peace Officers and investigators. I condemn Law Enforcers and road pirates.
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