Law enforcement needs to be treated with respect

I am concerned that crime is rampant in our country because there are no longer consequences for bad behavior. I grew up respecting authority and, because of that respect, I behaved accordingly. As kids, we knew that there were consequences for disobeying members of law enforcement. I went to jail once for forgetting that.

I have been following the investigation of San Rafael police officers after an arrest that led to a claim against the city for “life-altering,” “catastrophic personal injuries.” It is commonly believed that there are issues related to police violence in our country and data showing that people of color are treated differently. However, I want to focus on the elements of societal behavior that “set the table” in this situation.

The man was approached for drinking beer in public. It is unclear if he was displaying signs of being drunk in public, but anyone who is proven to be drunk in public should be penalized, as drunks tend to cause problems for other citizens.

Sometimes, when suspects refuse to obey the instructions of law enforcement, officers need to interact with physical force. If a suspect feels the officers crossed a line, it should be shared immediately and handled at the command level.

Based on video of the incident, it appears to me that both parties made some bad choices. I consider this to be a minor incident. To make such a big deal about this is a waste of time and money — simply discipline the officers by docking a few days pay and issue an infraction (with a fine) to the man.

Ruining the lives of two cops will only serve to reduce the authority of the San Rafael Police Department. Law enforcement is the main thing separating good from bad. In the end, it’s all we have. — Thomas A Tucker,

San Rafael