Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Our Local Law Enforcement Deserve Better

As a mayor of a town, it is part of my responsibility to maintain a good enough budget to our police department to allow our police chief to adequately do his or her job. As the population grows in our local metropolitan areas, it is inevitable that crime increases also. We, as citizens and as local elected officials, must be willing to step up to the plate and give our local law enforcement the tools necessary to successfully do their job. We need to supply them with the gear to properly handle the dangerous situations they may encounter, the pay/benefits that they more than deserve, and the local community support to allow them to be proactive to crime instead of reactive. As a community, we need to be willing to deal with a pot hole in an effort to divert funds to our police department. In doing so, we make way for increases in starting pay to attract quality new officers, increases in raise opportunities for our proven officers, and adding more resources to better prepare and support our law enforcement as the communities they protect continue to grow.

Right now in Pleasant Hill, Cass County, the state of Missouri, and across the United States, there is a shortage of men and women willing to put their neck on the line to become police officers. This is due to the national movement to tear down these individuals we once respected. Instead of tearing them down, let us be more willing to stand alongside them and supply them with the tools to be successful. We, as a community, need to take an active approach in encouraging our local high school students to want to be protectors of our community. We need more kids to join the police academy and fire fighter school in order for us to meet these shortages. Crime isn’t slowing down, unfortunately. Our society relies on our bravest to serve, protect, and enforce our laws. Let’s foster renewed interest in this field by changing our attitudes today. This starts with you and me.

The next time you see an officer or fireman, take the time to shake their hand and say thank you. These men and women stand willing to give their life to protect yours. It is our duty as citizens to not only make sure they know they are appreciated, but supply them with the resources necessary to be successful. Be the example for others. Remind those around you that these people are just that – people – who have stepped up to do a very dangerous job. They deserve from you, in the very least, human decency. 

I would encourage everyone to come to a citizen organized event at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Pleasant Hill, MO on September 14th, 2017 from 5:00PM to 8:00PM to thank and celebrate all of our local law enforcement officers, fire rescue, and first responders for all the work they do for our community. 

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