The Oath of Law Enforcement

The assault of employees continues by San Diego's mayor. There is no let up in sight and the writings are on the wall. Can someone stop by the 3^rd Floor of Headquarters and see if one of the Graffiti Task Force Detectives can look into these writings? I can't help but think, based on past behaviors, the mayor and his minions won't use spray paint to boast of the next assault, like the graffiti from Logan or Shell Town gangsters when boasting of their many crimes. Seems the mayor and his staff are boasting of things to come for MEA and Firefighters Local 145. If you missed today's revelation in the Union Tribune; "Benefits for ex-city employees examined" you should take a few minutes and read it.

The disingenuous comments and pathetic argument put forth by the mayor and his minion Goldstone related to "Terminal Leave" is but another benefit under attack. To say "I told you so" is little consolation to the destruction one individual has been able to reek upon a once proud group of civil servants. The mayor; once a police officer, sued to get promoted to sergeant; sued again to get promoted to lieutenant; then promoted to captain; followed by his promotion to deputy chief then assistant chief and then the chief; it is absolutely pathetic and offensive to hear references to him and his time wearing a badge. Over the years we have had police officers go bad and commit crimes; giving a black eye to every man and woman wearing a blue uniform and the badge of a police officer. We did our level best to put on a professional face and work a little harder to re-build and re-gain the trust of the public we serve when these few failed in their oath and promise to never betray the badge, their integrity or public trust. Never has a police officer ever gone as bad as the ex-chief, now mayor. We have had those convicted of murder and rape; so for me to make such a comment is a strong statement of where we are today.

Many of you remember the International Association of Chiefs of Police or IACP. The mayor knows the group and their ideology. The IACP is very high on ethics and honor and promotes agencies re-affirming their oath on a regular basis to keep it fresh in every police officers mind. IACP'S oath, used by agencies world-wide is as follows;

On my honor,
I will never betray my badge,
my integrity, my character,
or the public trust.
I will always have
the courage to hold myself
and others accountable for our actions.
I will always uphold the constitution
my community and the agency I serve.

They follow the oath with definitions of the words in the oath;

Honor means that one's word is given as a guarantee.
Betray is defined as breaking faith with the public trust.
Badge is the symbol of your office.
Integrity is being the same person in both private and public life.
Character means the qualities that distinguish an individual.
Public trust is a charge of duty imposed in faith toward those you serve.
Courage is having the strength to withstand unethical pressure, fear or danger.
Accountability means that you are answerable and responsible to your oath of office.
Community is the jurisdiction and citizens served

I started this post wanting to point out the threats to the rest of the city work force by the mayor. Local 127 SEIU and the SDPOA had "Terminal Leave" stripped from us for our refusal to play along with the mayor's antics during the last round of negotiations. As has been his history, the mayor went all out in his assault on police officers and now blue collar workers for our refusal to kneel and kiss the ring of the master. They have seen the wrath of the egotist and his vindictive and destructive manner when not getting his way. SEIU and the SDPOA had far more TAKEN from them than the other unions who, for whatever reason, bowed and kissed the master's ring and signed contracts. The more I write about this, the more I come back to my thoughts of the "Battle of the Badges." OK I digress again, sorry.

The thing I have learned in my 30 years in law enforcement and just shy of 53 years on this earth, is a person either possesses honor; integrity; character; and courage or they don't. I have learned that a person who lacks honor; integrity; character or courage, NEVER had it and NEVER WILL. In my opinion, a person is born with these characteristics and they are re-enforced by their upbringing. A person who is honorable and acts with integrity, character and courage acts as such when alone or in a group and in all their words and actions. A person who lacks honor is not capable of acting with integrity, character or courage.

The mayor has proven over and over again his lack of integrity and character. His first statements when seeking election to fill Mayor Murphy's seat, told the entire story of the individual who is now the mayor. To refresh; when questioned about his statements and stand on the DROP and SDCERS Benefits and why he jumped on the band wagon rather than tell the truth about these benefits; he replied, "I won't get elected telling the truth. It's politics." He showed his lack of courage and character from the very beginning. He showed his cowardice and lack of character when he admitted his need and desire to perpetuate further lies and miss-truths about employee benefits and the DROP. His true lack of integrity, shown clear for all to see, and yet in San Diego seemed normal and acceptable to voters, who were blinded by a past title and the lore of stripping the civil servants of the perceived, "Cadillac Benefits." Little did people know what they were in for?

The mayor has fostered a culture lacking honor; integrity; character and courage. His actions and words have become a daily attack of workers and their benefits. His true character emits a total lack of integrity; bearing no sign of courage to do what's right; and his ego prevents him from doing the honorable thing and resigning his office to allow the City to try as it will to find a person of honor who acts with integrity; character and courage. There is no hope for this mayor to rekindle or repair his ability to lead this city. He has lost completely the trust and faith of EVERY worker in the City of San Diego. It is a sad time for San Diego; falling further and further into the abyss of hopeless despair. Go back and read the oath of law enforcement and the definitions. This is who we are; who is he?