Officer’s father says police ‘should not be free to wantonly violate the law’
“Qualified immunity” protects police officers from civil lawsuits unless their actions violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights. It doesn’t protect officers who knowingly violate the law or are “plainly incompetent.”
A federal appeals court recently reversed a ruling that shielded a Los Angeles police officer from liability in a fatal shooting. The ruling was a narrow 6-5 decision, and the ultimate finding is still in doubt.
I am the father of an officer serving a large city police force. I pray for him every day, for the dangerous situations he may face, dealing with criminals in often hostile environments. Despite high-pressure situations and the split-second, life-or-death decisions he may have to make, he should not be free to wantonly violate the law.
I bring this up, equating it with the apparent immunity given by the U.S. Supreme Court to President Donald Trump. A president may be called on to make life-or-death decisions about war and foreign policy. He may have to make unpopular decisions in the best interest of our country. But, in no way should he be allowed to break the law and be immune from punishment for his actions.
Due process and consideration for the difficult decisions our “public servants” have to make should always be taken into consideration, but no one is above the law. —
Joe Barmess, Pataskala
A costly and unnecessary solution for a nonexistent problem
The Ohio Legislature is considering House Bill 233/Senate Bill 153, which will burden our county Boards of Elections (BoEs) with an unfunded mandate. The law would require the Secretary of State and the county Boards of Election to complete a cumbersome records cross-check using Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle databases to validate voter citizenship. The legislation does not provide state funding for this additional work.
In addition, the proposed legislation deletes the secure drop box at all county BoEs.
Our bipartisan BoE in Licking County works conscientiously, ensuring only legally registered voters cast ballots. This legislation requires them to chase after a very small number of voters with possible address mismatches.
The stated rationale is this will stop voter fraud by adding burdensome proof-of-residency requirements for voters registering to vote, changing their address or voting absentee. Voter fraud is rare in Ohio thanks to already strong voter security laws. After the 2020 election, Secretary of State LaRose reported that of the 6 million votes cast, fewer than a dozen were determined to be fraudulent.
There is no need for the BoEs to be burdened with a costly restructuring of the voter registration system. Nor should voters be precluded from using a secure drop box to cast their ballot.
Tell your Ohio state representative and state senator to vote NO on HB233/SB153.
Diana Beardsley, Granville
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Letters: Police not above the law; Ohio Legislature proposing unnecessary election laws
Reporting by Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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