OPINION:
Two weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s congressional website ran with this headline: “Republicans support law enforcement. Democrats are still hung up on ‘defund the police.” And that may very well be true.
But just as Democrats need to stop accusing all police of racist behaviors whenever a Black man is arrested or apprehended, Republicans need to stop their knee-jerk insistence that, whatever the occasion, police can do no wrong.
Let’s remember: Police are government employees. They’re tax-paid. They’re servants of the people. And like all servants of the people, they’re supposed to serve and protect — not just the people, but also the Constitution.
That doesn’t always happen.
So when it doesn’t happen, it’s important to call it out, both as a consequence and, hopefully, as a course correction.
For example: A male family member in Georgia was just given a lesson in “How to Destroy the Fourth Amendment” by the Columbus Police Department — specifically by three in Constitution-busting crime. The incident started over an inoperative third brake light, guided by Georgia Code, Section 40-8-26.
From there — taken in part from the official complaint the family member subsequently filed with the police department — this: Police asked why he was sweating — and were told because the car’s air conditioning was broken and it was 90 degrees. Police asked why he had cash in his wallet, which they noticed when he produced his driver’s license — and were told because some of his work is cash-based. Police asked if he had any drugs or guns in the vehicle — and were told no. Some of these questions were asked, necessitating answer, several times.
Police then strangely announced they were now going to conduct a “special operation,” without further clarification, and told him to get out of the car — and when asked why, he was told because they said to get out of the car. Police asked if they could search his car — and he said no. Police told him to place his hands on the police vehicle while they searched his body and clothing — twice — and told him to take off his shoes.
Police then asked more questions about the car and about drugs and about guns. A Columbus Police Department K9 officer suddenly drove onto the scene and began to circle his dog around the car, and then said the dog “gave an alert” — ostensibly, to the possible presence of an illegal substance. Police then used that supposed “alert” to enter the car and conduct their own search.
Note: Police gave no reason as to their suspicions that led to the presence of the K9 dog.
All this took place in a parking lot of a gas station, where curious store customers watched and gawked as they passed by.
And in the end — this is what happened: Nothing. Police found no drugs. Police found zero guns. Police found nada illegal substances, or illegal anything at all. The officers simply issued a warning for the offense of “Brake Light/Turn Signal Visibility Requirement.” Whatever that means.
All Americans should be outraged.
Here’s why: At no point during the entire 15-20 minute stop did police ever indicate any suspicion of drugs, guns or other illegal substances to justify their search of the vehicle or person. They didn’t mention smells or odors or odd driver behavior; nothing. At no point was consent for the police to search ever given. At no point was anything illegal discovered. So why the unauthorized searches?
And what’s even more interesting is that a few minutes later, this same trio of police had pulled over another driver, a female, and were conducting the same sort of search on her person and car, as she was spread out on the patrol vehicle; as they were treating her to the same humiliation in front of passersby. Is this what they do in Columbus, Georgia? Is this how police operate at the Columbus, Georgia, department?
Treating citizens as criminals while searching for their supposed crimes doesn’t seem proper police etiquette — or constitutional law.
Legally speaking, police need justification to search.
Police need consent or warrants or some sort of probable cause that justifies searches in the absence of consent or warrants.
And if America’s towns and counties and cities are full of departments with the same type of rogue police as seem to inhabit the Columbus, Georgia, department — the kind who think they have no need to uphold Fourth Amendment protections to the people, primarily because they think nobody will hold them to account; primarily because they think their work is so important that any means they choose will justify the ends — well then, America is in trouble.
This is the stuff of tyrannical states.
Truly, it’s the stuff that led American colonists to break with England and subsequently take up arms against the British soldiers the despotic ruler sent to kill and control them. Think on that.
Think on America’s 250th.
It’d be great to celebrate by booting the stupid “defund the police” slogan from the public consciousness once and for all, and with it, all the politicians and activists who scream such insanity.
But arrogant police are a cancer. The unconstitutional acts of a few can destroy the reputation of entire departments.
And it’s well worth remembering that supporting police does not mean turning a blind eye to their offenses against civil rights and to their scorn for the Fourth Amendment.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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