Stamford police deserve support
We support our police. We often take the officers that serve our city for granted. They perform outstanding services and they deserve our deepest gratitude.
Stamford has been ranked as one of the safest cities in the nation for more than nine consecutive years. The Stamford police are in the forefront of collaborative interactive community policing meeting with neighborhood associations, community and business groups to identify and resolve community policing issues and crime concerns. The police department additionally sponsors youth mentoring programs that include summer camps, basketball leagues, and a female Juvenile Police Commission.
Many of the services go beyond the normal roles of policing to provide safety and security in our homes, our schools, neighborhoods and businesses and promote the welfare of the community.
The makeup of the police force reflects the makeup of the community. The police provide outstanding services investigating domestic violence, elder abuse, harassment and sexual abuse, in addition to criminal activity, narcotics and organized crime.
During the past few days, a group of protesters decided to move into and setup a live-in encampment in Latham Park to protest our police and promote the defunding of the department.
They have made an unsightly and unsanitary mess of the park and are in violation of a number of ordinances pertaining to the use of the park. They have covered traffic signs with homemade signs of their own. They follow their own rules and feel that they are not subject to the rules the rest of us follow. They feel that permits are unnecessary and stated that they have no intention of applying for any, after all, “they are protesting and expressing themselves.” Evidently, protesting is not an activity.
Downtown residents have lost the enjoyment and use of the park and park-based activities for which permits have been obtained have had to be canceled. Neighbors feel threatened and business owners have complained that the encampment does not create an environment
Downtown residents have lost the enjoyment and use of the park and park-based activities for which permits have been obtained have had to be canceled. Neighbors feel threatened and business owners have complained that the encampment does not create an environment conducive to business and public safety.
conducive to business and public safety.
These protesters have indicated they have no intention of participating in the governmental process and may not even be Stamford electors, yet want to dictate to us the terms for what our government should be, what our government should look like and how we should fund it.
We should not be intimidated. Businesses and organizations should not be encouraging disruptive and unlawful behavior and our government should not tolerate such behavior. In Stamford, no one should be above the law. It is outrageous that some businesses, governmental organizations and quasi-public organizations that receive public funds should be allowed to paint political slogans or murals such as “Black Live Matter” in public spaces. Are we prepared to allow the Democratic Party to paint a “Build Back Better” mural or even better, for Republicans to paint a “Make America Great Again” mural? Our procedures, processes and ordinances should be applied equally without discrimination.
Instead of tolerating a menace downtown, we should be recognizing our police for their invaluable contribution to our city.