Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich
The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper is reporting that the Illinois State Police secretly worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conceal an FBI electronic surveillance on then-Governor Rod Blagojevich’s campaign office. (See State Police secretly worked with FBI in bugging Rod Blagojevich.)
In discussing the agency’s protective responsibilities, former state police Director Terrance W. Gainer said:
“That’s where some elected leaders get it wrong. You are not loyal to the person. You are loyal to the office,” Gainer said. “Again, policemen are supposed to remember they took that oath and put the badge on. You don’t owe blind allegiance to those elected officials.”
What do you think? Is a law enforcement officer’s responsibility to the law or to the person who appointed him or her? Do you think a local, county, or state police agency should cooperate with the FBI (and other federal agencies) investigating allegations of public corruption among the agency’s elected overseers?
Well I think this is a no brainer. Law enforcement officers are responsible to the law. Second question, an emphatic yes.
Comment by rochereau — May 2, 2011 @ 8:36 am
I concur with Rochereau, no doubt about it.
Comment by Ancientemplar — May 2, 2011 @ 10:22 am
Perhaps the persons that I would like to see answer this question are our local law enforcement agencies and the city attorney and the county prosecutor. From what I have observed from the peanut gallery my guess would be that each of their answers…if they even would answer the question…would be that their duty is to protect the governmental agency, BUT if it is their perception that in order to “protect” the governmental agency from monetary damages or embarrassment it is “necessary” to protect the individual, they would “protect” the individual.
Comment by Happy Trails — May 2, 2011 @ 10:54 am
HT..If any law enforcement officer thinks their duty is to protect the govt. agency, they should be fired forthwith. Law enforcement serves the law. The law protects and insures a civil society. Very simple really.
Comment by rochereau — May 2, 2011 @ 3:59 pm
This reminds me of those times when I see elected officials refer to the government as “we” or “us,” as if they’re representing the government and not the people. That happens all too often.
Comment by Dan — May 2, 2011 @ 4:55 pm
Numbers 4 and 5 have left me speechless.
Comment by Happy Trails — May 2, 2011 @ 7:55 pm
HT, don’t quite understand why you are speechless. I didn’t say that is how it actually (always) is. I said that is the way it should be. The question was, what is your opinion.
Comment by rochereau — May 3, 2011 @ 9:21 am
R-I would be glad to have a cup of coffee sometime to discuss this further. My being speechless was due to having no idea how I could be concise enough in my explanation of my peanut gallery views to post it here.
Comment by Happy Trails — May 3, 2011 @ 2:04 pm