In short, the petition says the key point, "The safety and legal rights of all people who are stopped by sheriffs’ department employees or seek their help depend on staff who value and respect everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or any other factor." and within is the key word 'depend'. For an officer to hold prejudicial views based on religion, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age or ANY OTHER FACTOR, let alone expound upon them belies the foundation of trust which people look to them for. Yes, it's a 'saint's job' to fill the shoes of an officer - and why we all need to admire and respect our police who must hold such high ethics - but, those who wish to protect and serve must weigh carefully what they are choosing for their profession or not become a police officer, and when they err they must be corrected for it. The commissioners must take accountability for seeing that correction is made. From http://www.theiacp.org/What-is-the-Law-Enforcement-Oath-of-Honor is the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor that is recommended as by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as symbolic statement of commitment to ethical behavior:
On my honor,
I will never betray my badge,
my integrity, my character,
or the public trust.
I will always have
the courage to hold myself
and others accountable for our actions.
I will always uphold the constitution
my community and the agency I serve.
Before any officer takes the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor, it is important that he/she understands what it means. An oath is a solemn pledge someone makes when he/she sincerely intends to do what he/she says.
Honor means that one's word is given as a guarantee.
Betray is defined as breaking faith with the public trust.
Badge is the symbol of your office.
Integrity is being the same person in both private and public life.
Character means the qualities that distinguish an individual.
Public trust is a charge of duty imposed
In short, the petition says the key point, "The safety and legal rights of all people who are stopped by sheriffs’ department employees or seek their help depend on staff who value and respect everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or any other factor." and within is the key word 'depend'. For an officer to hold prejudicial views based on religion, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age or ANY OTHER FACTOR, let alone expound upon them belies the foundation of trust which people look to them for. Yes, it's a 'saint's job' to fill the shoes of an officer - and why we all need to admire and respect our police who must hold such high ethics - but, those who wish to protect and serve must weigh carefully what they are choosing for their profession or not become a police officer, and when they err they must be corrected for it. The commissioners must take accountability for seeing that correction is made. From http://www.theiacp.org/What-is-the-Law-Enforcement-Oath-of-Honor is the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor that is recommended as by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as symbolic statement of commitment to ethical behavior: On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the constitution my community and the agency I serve. Before any officer takes the Law Enforcement Oath of Honor, it is important that he/she understands what it means. An oath is a solemn pledge someone makes when he/she sincerely intends to do what he/she says. Honor means that one's word is given as a guarantee. Betray is defined as breaking faith with the public trust. Badge is the symbol of your office. Integrity is being the same person in both private and public life. Character means the qualities that distinguish an individual. Public trust is a charge of duty imposed