Gordon Graham
Category: Law Enforcement
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for all my friends in law enforcement who carry a badge or other agency-issued ID.
Our badges are a symbol of the public’s trust and act as evidence of our authority to enforce the law.
That’s a big deal, folks. Using these credentials to avoid responsibility for our actions is hypocritical and can have serious consequences.
Try a quick internet search for “cops flashing badges.” You’ll see story after story about officers who were terminated or disciplined for inappropriate use of their badges. Is the price of a traffic citation really worth losing your job?
Agency badges and department-issued credentials should never be used to avoid personal responsibility or gain a personal benefit. They should only be displayed for legitimate or authorized purposes.
It’s one thing to let the officer conducting the traffic stop know that you’re armed. While this enhances officer safety, using your law enforcement credentials to avoid an arrest or citation is purely self-serving. It also puts the on-duty officer in a bad position.
And law enforcement officers who grant so-called “professional courtesies” are just as much at fault. The law is the law, and it must be equally applied. The public rightly expects us to enforce laws in an equitable manner and we took an oath promising to do so.
And let me be perfectly clear. Keeping the badge inside your wallet next to your driver’s license so that the officer who stops you will conveniently see it isn’t acceptable either. If you really want to avoid getting a ticket, set the proper example and follow the law. If you happen to fall short, accept the consequences. Your integrity and the reputation of your agency shouldn’t be compromised because of a momentary lapse of judgment.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
