Truth and Consequences
March 02, 2008 |
Bob's Corner
"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
The credibility of the word and testimony of police officers is at the heart of our justice system. If their word cannot be believed, then they are not credible witnesses and their arrests are suspect.
In matters of truth-telling regarding criminal investigations and prisoner custody, we have Englewood officers Scott Jenkins, William Hollenfer and, now, Shawn Bland on one side and Chief David Bowman on the other. Logically, they cannot all be telling the truth.
No amount of taxpayer money or symbolic reinstatements can paper this credibility gap over. Without factually resolving issues of personal and professional integrity, the only sure thing is that the Englewood Police Department will be a confirmed refuge for mendacity -- the source undetermined.
In this light, Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes' equivocation in The Suburbanite (Feb 11) is hard to understand:
Really? Each officer, even a prevaricator? Knowing what we know about the unresolved issues of truthfulness in the Englewood Police Department dating back to when Mr. Wildes was a Councilman, how can we make sense of the Mayor's current choice of words?
Only by rewriting it. Substitute the Mayor's word "politics" with the word "integrity" and the fog is suddenly lifted, making the meaning appallingly clear.
No, Mr. Wildes. There is no time limit on integrity. And your assertion that law enforcement professionals who care deeply about their Department's reputation are just playing office politics is hardly holding them in "highest esteem."
The thoroughness and competence of past and current investigations into matters of integrity in the Englewood Police Department should no longer remain cloaked in the excuse that these are, most importantly, "confidential personnel matters." They are far more than that.
The full disclosure and factual resolution of these matters strikes to the heart of public trust in law enforcement and the intentions, quality, transparency and ethics of our government.
The credibility of the word and testimony of police officers is at the heart of our justice system. If their word cannot be believed, then they are not credible witnesses and their arrests are suspect.
In matters of truth-telling regarding criminal investigations and prisoner custody, we have Englewood officers Scott Jenkins, William Hollenfer and, now, Shawn Bland on one side and Chief David Bowman on the other. Logically, they cannot all be telling the truth.
No amount of taxpayer money or symbolic reinstatements can paper this credibility gap over. Without factually resolving issues of personal and professional integrity, the only sure thing is that the Englewood Police Department will be a confirmed refuge for mendacity -- the source undetermined.
In this light, Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes' equivocation in The Suburbanite (Feb 11) is hard to understand:
I hold each officer with the highest esteem but would suggest politics in any department is not productive," he said. "This must end."
Really? Each officer, even a prevaricator? Knowing what we know about the unresolved issues of truthfulness in the Englewood Police Department dating back to when Mr. Wildes was a Councilman, how can we make sense of the Mayor's current choice of words?
Only by rewriting it. Substitute the Mayor's word "politics" with the word "integrity" and the fog is suddenly lifted, making the meaning appallingly clear.
No, Mr. Wildes. There is no time limit on integrity. And your assertion that law enforcement professionals who care deeply about their Department's reputation are just playing office politics is hardly holding them in "highest esteem."
The thoroughness and competence of past and current investigations into matters of integrity in the Englewood Police Department should no longer remain cloaked in the excuse that these are, most importantly, "confidential personnel matters." They are far more than that.
The full disclosure and factual resolution of these matters strikes to the heart of public trust in law enforcement and the intentions, quality, transparency and ethics of our government.
