Priorities

We, here at the Goshen Gazette do have obvious beliefs and leanings.   I try to remain a-political in my reporting and editing.  The direction of this country is not good, and I truly do believe the two political parties are not nearly as divided as the people.  With that being said, while we are being played politically, law enforcement is really changing.  Realizing one bad cop doesn't mean they are all bad, and by that same token, one good cop doesn't mean the rest are good.

I post videos that show true heroism on the part of law enforcement and true brutality.  I realize we don't see all the everyday stuff that takes place.  We see the exceptional moments of both extremes.  This past week, an incident occurred in Utah that is completely par for the course by now, but the immediacy of the investigation troubled me.  In other news, however; people are beaten, hospitalized, and even killed by police and some of these incidents are not even investigated until public outcry brings attention.  I'll include links to both articles and simply ask the question.

Which situation should be a top priority of investigation?

An officer asked to be reassigned to a less conspicuous post, rather than join a choreographed motorcycle formation at the beginning of the gay pride parade.  He didn't refuse, he simply asked and was immediately placed on administrative leave and under investigation.  Below is a quote from the department.  This is in conservative Utah.
“We don’t tolerate bias and bigotry in the department,” Jones told another local outlet, KSL.com, “and assignments are assignments.  To allow personal opinion to enter into whether an officer will take a post is not something that can be tolerated in a police department.”   Full story

The link below contains a very sad situation in which a young handicapped man was brutalized.  I was unable to discover if the offending officer was placed on leave, fired, or even named, as the only statement I could find, was that the matter is under investigation.  This is not a new story, and although the report has resurfaced recently, I was still unable to discover how the situation was resolved, or if it has been.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/09/miami-dade_police_beat_up_man.php
This was reported in 2011, so clearly the direction of law and order has been dismal for some time now.

Here's another report to think about, while the town decides if they need to change some policy.
http://www.politicalears.com/blog/9-year-old-girl-arrested-detained-after-running-through-sprinklers-in-own-yard/