Editor’s Note: The following opinion was posted on the Facebook page of Francis Xavier Mulroney, a 37-year veteran of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department. Mulroney is a pen name for the officer. This editorial contains strong language.
Probably gonna catch some heat for this, but here goes…. (It’s kinda what I do for stress management!)
(Excuse the language, in advance, but this is important.)
Per our conversation, as we discussed how to solve this shit, at about 0432 hours, after a long damn weekend, this morning, brother!
I just felt compelled to share some of my thoughts.
(He knows who he is and I told him I’d make a meme out of it and kinda leave him out of it!)
(Note: Posted off-duty and under the First Amendment as political speech is the most protected speech there is and this is dayum sure political speech. I speak for no law enforcement agency, or related group. I speak only for myself as a taxpayer, citizen and property owner.)
That good old First Amendment applies to citizens, who happen to work as LEOs; also, despite what some on the, “tolerant” left allege!
After a rough weekend, and weeks, and months, and years, and now decades of senseless murders of children (committed by children) solely due to the ‘gang’ problem that was long denied by our local so-called ‘Political leaders’ resulting in where we are today.
I’m afraid we are losing an entire generation to this bogus world view.
It’s high time we reach out to the next generation and fix the future now.
Pizza parties, “Call-ins” and ineffective, and unbacked up, threats of, “We’re really, really, really, really, really gonna come down on your a$$es (No! Really! We are really serious this time!)
(We are really, really, really, really, really, really serious this time. Seriously, dudes, as damn shots ring out!)
The BS, “If you don’t start playing nice, or else” mindset has resulted in a City, now spreading to adjacent population areas due this apathy and unwillingness to enforce the law, as written, by the leaders of our largest City.
This is NOT working.
The proof is in the goddamn pudding.
The CPD’s, “No pursuit” policy has increased, exponentially, other LE agencies pursuits since CPD instituted, and advertised, their, “No Pursuit” policy.”
That is giving up, in my book.
We sadly see a gang related murder, aggravated assault, shots fired, escape or assault almost every day.
I read the CPD/HCSO (DO NOT RELEASE TO THE MEDIA) gang violence report every time it comes out every week.
Almost every shooting, and murder, is directly related to a gang warfare dispute.
Then I read a press release from Mayor Berke’s office…
“We have have not had one gang-related shooting this year.”
With all due respect, Mayor Berke? Gonna have to call, ‘bullshit’ on that statement.
(On top of the ‘regular’ domestic violence, rapes, murders, child abuse and other crimes!)
Ever wonder why Chattanooga, Tennessee is ranked as one of the top ten cities for violent crime in the entire nation in pretty much every study? Ranked as one of the top ten worst cities to live in?
No wonder Mayor Berke, and his pitiful administration, has declined to run for any other office as his piss poor record of keeping his citizens safe would be exposed!
When an LE agency is not allowed to lawfully enforce the damn law?
When an LE agency is not allowed to pursue a criminal who chooses to flee from the long arm of the law, as advertised by that LE Agency, and they know they can do so with impunity (At least until they get into the County, or any other jurisdiction?)
When an LEO gets in more trouble for cursing (On a body-cam) a violent, and resisting, offender when that language prevented a “Use of force?”
When an LEO is more afraid of being unrighteously called a, “Bad guy/girl” in the local media, before all the facts are in, than being murdered in the line of duty.
When LE agency personnel would rather, “Look the other way” than risk endangering their career, livelihood, health and their family’s financial well-being than doing their goddamn job?
You tend to get to get exactly what you ask for and the current heinious situation in Chattanooga, Tennessee is exactly what Mayor Berke, and his administration, has asked for.
We sure are getting what THEY asked for, only the regular voter/citizen/LEO are paying the price.
If you demand mediocrity and, “Hands-off” Law Enforcement?
That is exactly what you will get.
And that is exactly why we are where we are.
In the great scheme of things?
What would you do if faced with that anti-LEO conundrum by the, Chattanooga, Tennessee ‘Powers-that-be?’
Anecdotally, after 37 year of doing the law enforcement thing, I have found that about 5% of our population are responsible for 95% of our crimes (both People, and Property, crimes.)
I wonder why the Chattanooga, Tennessee political establishment has chosen to put those 5% of the violent miscreants/gangbangers ahead of 100% of the law abiding/non-violent citizens of our fair City, and now, our County?
My thoughts and prayers, and the thoughts and prayers of my family and friends, are with the courageous and brave men and women of the CPD who are still left and are struggling to get the job done when the only handcuffs, in play, are on them.
No wonder Chattanooga, Tennessee has always been referred to as, “Little Chicago.”
I invite any reader to prove me wrong.
_ Francis Xavier Mulroney
