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Lafayette police chief Paul Schultz is promoting a strengthened obstruction ordinance to punish residents who sling insults and other “abusive language” at officers.
Schultz told a Boulder County newspaper, “Officers have been subjected to very abusive language. This (proposal) gives them a tool. Otherwise, they would have to just stand there and take that verbal abuse.”
Granted, Schultz told the paper that officers couldn’t arrest someone for swearing at them, and arrests would follow warnings and be reserved for “extreme” cases, but what defines extreme?
That’s a lot too arbitrary for my blood.
Insert brake squeal/record-scratch sound effect here – and then dust off the soapbox.
While I believe in treating others with respect, I believe in free speech more.
(And not every person – or every cop –deserves respect.)
Part of the rights assured us in this country is the right to speak our minds, however poorly they may operate.
I don’t support the ridiculous beliefs of racists, homophobes, right-wing nut-jobs and religious zealots for example, but I support their right to say what they believe, no matter how much they may nauseate me.
I support their right because I want the same right extended to me.
This strengthened ordinance, if passed, obviously wouldn’t completely muzzle Lafayette residents, but the “slippery slope” effect concerns me greatly.
And it’s not as though these police officers, suffering the slings and arrows of Lafayette’s sharp-tongued authority critics, can’t change their personal situation.
Every police officer knows that there are people who are going to call them “pigs” and disrespect them at every opportunity. But it remains his or her choice to patrol the city streets every day.
When I was a crime reporter, I was called “bitch,” “vulture,” “soulless,” and many other names I won’t bring up today, but I let it roll off my back.
Did I run to my editor and demand he not print letters to the editor that criticized my articles, or make him screen my calls so people wouldn’t yell at me?
No.
I chose that job, and with that choice, I knew there would be many, many people who didn’t like what I was up to.
So, to the Lafayette police I say: Suck it up, or turn in your badge. If the name-calling is so terribly painful, get a different job. Don’t make the rules harsher because you don’t like it when people say mean or offensive things.
The proposal is expected to be heard by Lafayette city council tomorrow.
