Yes, they do, and I don't think anyone has denied that. Nonetheless, the St Louis Police Officers Association is unhappy because some members of the St Louis Rams have also made a public expression of their opinions, coming out onto the playing field protesting police violence against the African-American community.
The SLPCA press release is worth a read just for seeing some marvelous PR spin, but warrants a few comments:
1. The individual players involved are not "the Rams" or "the NFL." If representatives of the latter have in fact been contacting the police asking for protection from "violent protesters" off in Ferguson, that does not make the behavior of individuals on the Rams line-up hypocritical.
2. It's clear that the Grand Jury's determination by no means discredited any particular interpretation of what happened between Officer Wilson and Mr Brown, nor did it prove the justice and rectitude of Officer Wilson's actions. At most the most charitable interpretation, it indicated that they felt no criminal charges could be filed against Officer Wilson based on the evidence presented to them. There is a multitude of evidence and argument and sentiment (both founded and unfounded) around the case that have by no means been settled, and pretending such matters to be now beyond question hardly makes the case to the community.
3. I am a believer in unions, including public employee unions, as well as broader "benevolent" and "fraternal" orders. Banding together for mutual support is a good thing. But that doesn't mean I take what they say as somehow gospel.
In this case, the SLPCA's "About" page (http://slcpa.org/about-slcpa/) is worth noting
'The St. Louis County Police Association (SLCPA) is organization designed to protect your rights as a police officer. The SLCPA has the backing of Lodge 15 (St. Louis Area), Missouri State Fraternal Order of Police, and the National Fraternal Order of Police. We are here to protect your rights as an employee of St. Louis County Government and the St. Louis County Police Department. Before you do anything else, ask yourself why you have car, health, home, and life insurance policies, but not a policy to protect you from the legal hazards of being a police officer. Please review our “Member Benefits” and the “Legal Aid” tabs to refresh yourself with the services provided by your Membership in the SLCPA.'
The SLCPA no doubt provides a valuable service to St Louis County police officers, but their ability to provide an authoritative and unbiased judgment on matters involving the police (let alone the moral stance to demand people be "disciplined" for disagreeing wit them) should not be taken as gospel.
4. Needless to say, the folk who have serious concerns over police brutality or about the specifics of this case in Ferguson cannot be simply conflated with "the violent thugs burning down buildings" or "the violent protesters who had rioted, looted, and burned buildings in Ferguson." One can (and, in fact, many do) both disagree vehemently with such violent protests and yet still consider Officer Wilson's actions specifically and a variety of actions by police officers nationally to be deeply disturbing at best.
5. Respect is earned. Demanding it, or calling for "the players involved to be disciplined" and a "very public apology" to be made does not engender respect, it's a call for compliance and obedience.
(h/t +George Wiman)
StL Police Officers Association condemns Rams display
The St. Louis Police Officers Association has released a statement condemning the St. Louis Rams football players who entered the field displaying the “hands up don’t shoot” pose.
