Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The National Association of Chiefs of Police recently released its 10th annual survey of Law Enforcement Command Officers.
This survey is interesting to me because its results are often out of step with what our government tells us our police officers think.
You've seen it before. After Congress passes a law and the president signs it, there is a press conference. At the press conference, some official-looking national police type guy gets trotted up to the microphone to tell us how wonderful the new law is.
Many times I wonder if that is really the way police officers feel about these laws.
When it comes to gun laws, for example, the government portrays police officers across the nation as very anti-gun. But NACP surveys consistently show the opposite.
The NACP sent 36 questions out to 16,000 chiefs of police and sheriffs across the U.S. About 1,000 of them responded.
Now, I'm sure there are legions of experts in Washington who will refute the results of the survey as inaccurate and skewed because not all 16,000 cops responded. Only the ones who have strong opinions responded, they would say.
But for whatever it's worth, here are a few of the 36 questions asked of the nation's police chiefs and sheriffs and their answers.
Do you believe that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to certain types of crimes? Yes, 90.6%; No, 9.3%; no response, .1%.
Do you believe that any person convicted of heinous crimes and sentenced to death should (after appeals) be executed according to state law within five years? Yes, 97.6%; No, 2.3%; no response, .1%.
Do you believe that in cases in which a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty by a person in the commission of a felony that the law mandate the death penalty? Yes, 95.3%; No, 4.4%; no response, .3%
Do you believe that large-scale contributions made to political parties and those contributions that admit donors to the White House are ethically and/or morally wrong? Yes, 89%; No, 9.7%; no response, $1.3.
Do you believe that law-abiding citizens in your state should be limited by state law to purchasing no more than one firearm a month? Yes, 26.9%; No, 72.1%; no response, 1%
Do you believe that all firearms sold must require a gun lock to be sold with them? Yes, 35.8%; No, 63.5%; no response, .7%
To your knowledge has the 5-day waiting period under the Brady Bill prevented any criminal from obtaining a firearm from illegal sources in your area? Yes, 7.9%; No, 89%; no response, 3.1%.
Do you believe that any law-abiding citizen who wishes to obtain a firearm of the types lawfully sold for recreation or home protection should be able to do so under current state law? Yes, 96.2%; no, 3%; no response, .8%.
Do you believe that the Second Amendment grants any law-abiding citizen the right to purchase a firearm for sport or self defense under your state and federal laws? Yes, 89.1%; No, 8.8%; no response, 2.1%.
Were you aware that as a condition of a three-year grant to hire new police officers that every police department after the three years is required to seek local funding for those positions after federal money runs out? Yes, 87.7%; No, 12%; no response, .3%.
Has your department been granted money from the federal government to hire additional police officers? Yes, 48.9%; No, 50.4%; no response, .6%
Do you believe that employment of law enforcement officers should be based solely on the individual who scores the highest in all tests required by your department rather than affirmative action factors set by federal courts? Yes, 73.8%; No, 24.6%; no response, 1.6%.
Do you feel that movie and television violence has had a negative effect on children? Yes, 87.2%; No, 12%; no response, .8%
Do you believe that the media (print and broadcast) are fair and impartial in reporting of the news? Yes, 9.6%; No, 88.9%; no response, 1.5%.
So that's it. A few highlights from this year's NACP survey.
Take it for what it's worth. It certainly gives a different perspective on what's in the minds of our nation's police officers.
