Was CBS Fair?
By Rick Boettger
The CBS Morning News aired a 5-minute segment titled �
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Thank you, Rick, for this concise summation of the CBS report on Charles Eimers’ death at the hands of the KWPD. Point taken on the Mayors protestations of inconvenient truths exposed. Your last line is a view shared by all of us that love Key West and my hope has been, and still is, that one or more of the officers involved will come forward to clear their conscience. I must submit, as well, there are more “good guys” on the force than otherwise, but this tragedy puts them all in an extremely bad light.
With regard to the alleged KWPD misconduct surrounding the Charles Eimers incident, I can personally attest to having been victimized by law enforcement authorities (not KWPD) on several occasions from showing off to a trainee to creating bogus charges to counter embarrassment from professional misconduct. I have friends who have had similar “super-cop” experiences as well. I have first-hand knowledge of how the system works. It’s clear by the much-publicized saying by one KWPD officer, “You might beat the rap but you can’t beat the ride,” that intimidation plays a major role in police encounters. Notwithstanding, that attitude within the law enforcement community is more universal than local as evidenced by the plethora of videos and stories that abound in media and the Internet.
That being said, my brother was a police officer. I have a unique insight into the childish “nanny-nanny-boo-boo” that officers delight in at their victims’ expense, both innocent and convicted. It’s clear that whistleblowers within law enforcement are ostracized for doing the right thing just as Frank Serpico was in the NYPD. Those who stand on the righteous side of the “blue wall of silence” are victimized by their own, risk their careers (perhaps their own lives!) and are even scorned by the public at times. A sad truth about law enforcement’s mission to “protect and serve” is that some officers just don’t. It’s impossible to tell which ones will adhere to professional standards during any given encounter or those who will press a nasty agenda to satisfy ego or something more sinister.
I am a common, law abiding citizen and seldom have dealings with law enforcement. However, if I extrapolate a ratio from being victimized or not during the experiences I’ve had, I figure I have a 50/50 chance of being treated with respect as opposed to being an enemy of the state. Though unofficial, this is an alarming statistic. Regardless, it is my life’s experiences that determine my opinions and behavior. Consequently, I have learned the hard way that the police are not necessarily your friends. For my own protection, I have now become apprehensive of ALL law enforcement officers. For the sake of the bad apples that are PROTECTED instead of IDENTIFIED by law enforcement, I now treat all encounters with doubtful reserve and a degree of mistrust. This is sad since it is law enforcement itself that has taught me to be so wary, a 180 degree turn from my old-school values in what has become this all-about-me, screw-everyone world we now live in..
When you have a big hammer, everything looks like a nail. When you’re trained to handle criminals, you tend to treat everyone like criminals. Though I respect the tough job law enforcement does and have had laudable experiences with wonderful officers, law enforcement is a two edged sword to the common citizen. There needs to be a balance between how the guilty and innocent are treated by officers. Their judgment thereof is reserved for the courts, not by their “instincts.” I believe that some officers think that, since they are in the business of enforcing the law, they own it, taking “liberties” that will ultimately be protected behind the “blue wall of silence” and/or the municipalities/agencies they represent. This tends to embolden many to inappropriate conduct for which there is no consequence to face.
This hush-hush policy is not limited only to law enforcement. It’s everywhere. It is prevalent in all facets of business, government and society. It’s the NORM. Nevertheless, we all go on looking at our world through rose-colored glasses. We are so bombarded by the ills and evils of our world that we become mentally beat-up and apathetic enough to accept it and turn a blind eye. We circle the wagons around our own little world, not caring about what goes on outside of it as long as no arrows fall on us. However, not making a stand for what is right will eventually come back to consume us. Take heed to that bumper sticker that says, “If you’re not enraged, you’re not paying attention!” Be active, be vocal, and be assertive for what is right. On the other hand, be balanced, be respectful and be open-minded. We don’t live in individual bubbles. It’s OUR world. Let’s collectively make it a great place for all.
Hello, as known from my last name I am the daughter of one of the officers involved. However, I am sided with the author of this article. I am a senior in the Legal Studies academy located in Virginia Beach, VA. I left the island because of the treatment of the public officials. I am composing a senior project focused on police brutality and excessive force in Key West, if anyone has any stories or personal experiences involving this topic please help me help you make Key West a safer place.