Do We Really Need This?

The recent events of  Lisa Mearkle the Hummelstown police officer have continued to make the role of policemen and women questionable. People tend to think that she acted wrongly in her shooting of David Kassick. After watching the video a few times, after her acquittal,  I think that the jury responded correctly, and she SHOULD have been acquitted of whatever murder charges that were brought up against her.  His actions were wrong, and the way he continued to reach into his jacket, showed to me that she did the correct thing which was save herself.

THAT said, I think that the flaw is with the system, not what she did, or did not do during this altercation.  Over the years, I’ve read opinion pieces, and letters to the editor in various newspapers that seem to have the one underlying response when anything “law related” and how the police handle it is questioned:  “it’s the law”!   Ok, we all get it, there are laws made to keep order, and keep people, places, and things, safe, and orderly. Something I remember reading this past summer or the summer before was the response of a local law enforcement representative to a question by someone in the letter to the editor in which the response was again; “it’s the law”.  Ok, we get that part, but the fact that it seems that the way the laws are upheld , to me IS the problem!

We all understand that if the speed limit is 35 miles per hour, then you SHOULD stay as close to that speed limit as possible!  It’s there for a specific reason, maybe it’s a street where people seem to walk across, or ride, bicycles, or whatever, but safety is of the utmost concern.   If we see someone exceeding the speed limit, most people will yell “slow down”, and most people would be upset.  But do we really need a speed trap?  This seems like more of a money making scheme than a safety issue.  Locally, being in Hershey, we’re exposed to more tourists than you can shake a stick at, and the out of state plates that are abusing our speed laws, and traffic  direction signals is always at an all time high during the summer, with that in mind, do we really need a speed trap on Wood Road in in order to nab an unsuspecting person that’s late for work at the Hershey Medical Center?  I get it, “it’s the law”  but let’s look at where our priorities are! Late for work to potentially save a life or late for the park to spend more money in Hershey? 

In the case of Lisa Mearkle and David Kassick.  Did we REALLY need her to stop him because his registration sticker was past due?  (now forget for a second that he ran) But do we really need a cop to stop us for something petty like that, or the fact that our inspection may have run out?   Sorry, I don’t buy that mind set. Being stopped in order to fine someone for something petty like that is ridiculous!   Why not have a system in place that sends the person a warning letter, or sends them a fine of sorts, (IF that is even necessary?) to alert them to the fact that; “they need to get that taken care of because it’s something that’s in place for registration, safety, etc.”  Rather than putting on the lights, strolling up to the car with that “license and registration” comment, and hassling the person unnecessarily. I’m sorry, it’s probably an oversight, especially in this day and age when you need to do these two things separately than you did 20 years ago!   Remember when you had to have your  registration taken care of, at the same time your state inspection was done! (all in the name of safety) It was easier to keep track of in those days, as opposed to now when you have two separate times in which to do this.  Why doesn’t your car become inspected the day you purchase it, as well as registered with the state on the same day so all of this is finished at once?  Probably in order to hassle you.  But since you DO have this to worry about. Why doesn’t  the police force just take the information down, send out a letter with a warning that you have X-amount of time to do this deed, OR you will need to pay a fine, rather than put those lights and siren on, and pull that person over.  Yeah, we get it; “ it’s the law” and you have that to stand behind, but doesn’t your over zealous-ness of wanting to possibly find something else (in the name of  "probable cause") make that even more thrilling because you MIGHT find something else wrong to either fine us, or arrest us. (unpaid parking tickets, or God forbid the person had a glass of beer with their lunch and we’d need to pass a breathalyzer test)

But back to the case at hand; We never did find out the reason Mr. Kassick ran…was he under the influence of something, was there something he was hiding that he got rid of while he was running, or was he just thinking that if he ran he could get away from a “local cop” and tell his friends about it at the next party he attended?!  He thought wrong, and should have just stopped, and dealt with his wrong doing like a man, if he did, he’d be standing here today.

Don’t get me wrong, we NEED laws, we NEED the laws to be enforced, but I think the big problem is the way they are enforcing them.    Chill out policemen!  You AREN'T cool like the cops on TV, and your over zealous attitudes aren't helping YOUR cause.  We know... IT'S THE LAW, but step back already!!