If one flower has a noxious odor does that mean that ALL flowers smell bad? It would appear so if one adheres to the statement made by Shannon Jones that “Cortez police officers are dishonest” (Sept. 13).
Jones alleges that officers “continually pull over the same vehicle and never cite anyone for the stated reason for the stop.” I wonder, is Jones the driver of this same vehicle or another driver who repeatedly violates the law? If either is the case then I agree that the driver who does so should be cited.
However, one of the most important tools law enforcement officers possess is discretion. In many cases an officer has the choice of issuing a citation or of making an arrest. If the officer feels that a warning will suffice, why impose a more severe punishment?
Jones further states officers have “blatantly lied” about the arrest of a man on a scooter and that following his arrest they “have continued to attempt to enter private property and look through car windows and have not once been able to provide a search warrant.”
I can’t comment on scooter-man’s arrest as I have no personal knowledge of the facts of the incident – as Jones evidently does – but I do know that law enforcement officers are not required to have a search warrant to look through car windows or to enter a private residence in certain situations.
And as for Jones complaining about “abnormally high bonds,” they are set by a judge, not law enforcement officers!
It is true that there are bad apples in all barrels – teachers, doctors, lawyers and law enforcement officers – but you don’t throw out the whole barrel because of one or two bad ones. The vast majority of individuals in these professions are hard-working, dedicated people.
The law enforcement establishment is under attack throughout our country, which is evident from Jones’ letter. We should all remember that while all others run away from danger, law enforcement officers run toward it and that the shield they wear on their chest is not bullet-proof.
Tom Butler
Cortez
