Police?
Federal agents are impersonating police officers. My take on why that's a bad idea.
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Note: Everything in this post is my personal opinion. If you don’t agree, set up your own Substack. Or, leave me a comment.
Just a quick update today about an issue that’s been slowly working it’s way into my consciousness.
Federal agents are not police!
However, over the last several years I’ve seen lots of footage of federal agents wearing windbreakers with the word POLICE in large letters, often with the agency they actually represent underneath.
I am not a lawyer, but as near as I can tell anyone wearing a jacket claiming to be a police officer when they aren’t one is guilty of impersonating a police officer and should be arrested, tried and jailed.1
What difference does it make? As detailed in this FAQ from the ACLU ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) and other federal law enforcement agencies blazon their jackets with the word “POLICE” to, in their words, allow people to understand that they are law enforcement officers.
To me this is a weak argument. When people think of the police they’re thinking of local law enforcement officers, the folks you expect to show up if you call 911 because you think someone is trying to break into your house illegally.2
It seems to me that if these federal agencies want to make sure people understand that they are law enforcement agents they could print “LAW ENFORCEMENT” on their jackets, to avoid confusion with local police officers.
I suspect confusion is the point though.
I was not there, but from the news coverage I’ve seen Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey was not breaking any laws when he was arrested.
It may be that the footage I’ve seen was edited, but what from what I saw he stopped at the entrance, talked to some folks across a barrier, then turned and walked away smiling.
Then he was arrested in a public parking lot by about 20 armed law enforcement agents3 , one of whom looked like Billy Joel’s ugly younger brother. Most of them were masked, presumably to avoid being identified.
The three congress members tried to surround him to keep the Feds from cuffing him, one of them yelling “do not touch us” repeatedly. The mayor was yanked from their grasp and led off, under arrest. Nobody seems to know what the charge is.
He was later released. He said he was well treated, but in my mind, being handcuffed and detained for several hours in a holding cell without knowing why is not being “well treated”4
This is not how I was taught that law enforcement works in the United States of America.
But these are not normal times in ‘Murca!
From news coverage on CNN Mayor Baraka had come to the new ICE detention facility in his city to consult with three US Congress Members who were there to inspect the facility as part of their oversight duties5, and possibly participate in a post-inspection press conference.
He and the private company who is running this brand new facility6 have been at odds because the renovations to the existing building are likely illegal and need to be inspected by the local fire department, among other local agencies, to make sure they comply with local ordinances.
As mayor he has every right, not to mention a duty, to insist that local building codes and ordinances be enforced.
Unless our current administration doesn’t like it, I guess.
I’m working on another column that may take me a while to finish because it could require quite a bit of research. I hope to have it out sometime next week.
I’m going to take a page from Paul Krugman and start adding a musical coda to my columns.7
Here’s one from the year I graduated high school that’s been on my mind lately. I sang it in Vegas during our Karaoke night last week8:
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Unless it’s late October and they are on their way to a Halloween party, or they’re a stripper at a party for someone about to get married.
Like a federal law enforcement officer without a warrant.
See how easy that was?
Maybe that’s just me.
As they have every right to do, with or without notice.
Unless I forget or don’t feel like it.
I didn’t say I sang it well!