And now, instead of admitting the mistake, they compound it by thinking they can just ignore ordinances they asked the Council to pass. Interesting.
So, I was lambasted for not supporting the police in their foolish ideas to not respond to burglary alarms (verified response ordinance). The first mistake they made was applying this policy to both homes and businesses. They quickly changed their minds and only applied it to businesses – the first time they decided to ignore the law instead of working to get it changed. Then, a few years later, they decide they made a foolish decision, but instead of coming back to the council to fix the ordinance they urged us to pass in the first place, they quietly declare us and our ordinances a minor technicality for the second time.
I admire the audacity, but ordinance passed 14 -3 (I was one of the three against). We now have a law that the police feel like they don’t have to follow, that doesn’t seem like a good example to be setting. I know they are the police, but how can they just ignore laws they asked us to pass? How many other laws do they in their infinite wisdom decide are not worthy of enforcing or following? I know police are supposed to exercise discretion in individual circumstances, but are they supposed to wholesale ignore laws?
I suppose, it is the Common Council’s fault in a way since we have fostered an environment where they believe they can just ignore us. However, at some point, why bother passing laws if the police will just do what they want. By the way, where is that report that Chief Wray refused to give us on budget night. Still waiting . . . . . four months later.
