Viewpoints
Protecting the community
By Jeff Kemp
June 01, 2005
Wednesday
I've read in the City Police Report in SitNews several times
that Ketchikan Police have observed a person who appears to be
intoxicated get into his/her car and drive away, only to be stopped
by the police a short time later and arrested for DUI. That happened
to a friend of mine in Juneau several years ago. I've always
been curious as to why the police allow a person to get into
the car and drive away if the person appears to be intoxicated.
Why doesn't the police stop the person before he/she gets into
the car and then confront him/her about what they are about to
do? In the latest case, the police "contacted" the
offender after observing him stagger into a liquor store, exit
and then drive away in his vehicle (May 28 report).
How does allowing an obviously
intoxicated person enter a vehicle and drive away protect the
community? What would have happened if the intoxicated person
would have killed someone after they were observed driving away?
I question the judgment of the police when they let this activity
occur. Perhaps they should put aside the satisfaction of an arrest
and be more proactive with protecting the community-at-large
in these types of situations.
Jeff Kemp
Juneau, AK - USA
Related:
Ketchikan Police Report
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