Another Cultural Dilemma, By Roger Behra

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 283

Another Cultural Dilemma

By

Roger Behra


America’s culture keeps taking one hit after another. This time it is happening in Orange County, California, and it is very serious in nature: Increased Police Misconduct. It has got the natives very nervous.

When Kelly Thomas was born in 1974 to Ron Thomas and his wife, Kelly was the lovable apple of their eyes. There was no doubt. Thirty-seven years later, on July 10, 2011, Kelly Thomas was savagely beaten on a street at the hands of six Fullerton, California policemen that caused his death. It was a very brutal beating of a man who was not resenting, in broad daylight, witnessed by several people, and recorded on tape. It does not look favorable at all for the Fullerton policemen as the publicity has been extensive nationwide. It has put the spotlight on police behavior in general and specifically in Fullerton and throughout Orange County, California. Citizens trust and expect police not to be above the law for any reason.

Police on duty have been seen to wander slowly across several lanes of traffic without using their turn signal. They have been seen with no flashing lights to casually turn left up over the curb and grassy meridian to head in another direction as they make a 180° turn. They’ve recently been on trial in Orange County for asking for and receiving sex from women instead of getting a ticket. They’ve been charged with driving DUI while on duty and DUI driving off duty that damaged several cars. They watch pornography on their vehicle computers. Police have been on trial and convicted of following a waitress to her car and raping her. They park their patrol cars in handicapped parking places and other no parking places. These are not simply isolated cases. And how about all the cases that do not ends for public consumption?

The great lack of respect in general for policemen stems from the know facts the police put themselves above the law; that rules are made for others and not for them. And then there is the fact police chiefs cover up many misbehavior events. All of this has become very frequent, and it has caused a certain cultural dilemma.

Meanwhile, Kelly Thomas is sex-feet underground-forever. Kelly’s family is heartbroken. They want justice for the senseless killing of their son. All the indications are that justice will prevail. But don’t count on it in our modern culture. The careers of six Fullerton policemen, their police chief, and the Fullerton Mayor are on the block and under heavy scrutiny. But the worm always seems to turn in favor of the police, especially when careers are on the line.

R. B.
10-21-11