An interesting dilemma has come about all over America, which is most certainly affecting my family, and also affecting the safety of yours. As the Federal Government goes broke, so do the the State and Local governments. With no money to pay their people, they are choosing to cut down on Law Enforcement.
Many would think that it is a rash decision to cut out community safety over road improvements or parks and recreation. The truth is, for the last several years, they have been cutting out everything but Law Enforcement.
Local LEO’s have been living on next-to-nothing for at least the last three to four years. Cost of living has gone up, their paychecks have stayed the same. No raises, no pay for overtime, and very little incentive to stay in the field. But now it is getting really deep. With money taken from retired LEO’s to pay our teachers and entire police departments being laid off, were are headed down a frightening path.
Just this past month, the entire police department of Alto, Texas was given walking papers and their citizens were told to buy a gun and bolt their doors. An entire graduating class of Missouri Police Academies were given a “Congratulations; now you’re fired” speech. State Clerk’s offices are laying off employees, and county Sheriff’s offices are running off of budgets from 2007 and skeleton crews.
What does this mean for the American people? Total pandamonium, “wild-west” mentality, and martial law may be what you are thinking. But chaos is part of what got us here in the first place. Can we look to the Great Depression for answers? Somewhat, but this is a total new era. We have become an Urban society, and it will be more difficult to recover from such a blow. Since that time we have become so dependent on our government, that we have forgotten how to take care of ourselves and others.
A small town of seven hundred people may not need local law enforcement. But there are several larger cities that will crumble under the weight of such a thought. There are places where gang violence and drugs reign supreme, these places cannot afford to lose what little control LEO’s have. There are underlying, internal thoughts within us all that keeps us in check, even if only slightly, when you consider enforcement if you get out of line. It is what keeps prisoners from taking over prisons. Four hundred to thirty are great odds for anarchy, yet prisons maintain control. It is what keeps a correctional trustee from snagging the purse of the clerk when it is next to the garbage can they empty.
So the next time you see an Officer on the street, shake their hand and pat them on the back. Call your mayor’s office and your county commissioners and let them know you support local law enforcement, and offer any solutions you may have. Just know that before long, law enforcement may be strictly a voluntary service, and Officer Smith may need a helping hand for his family.