The Cafeteria Cops: Two County Sheriff's Break State Law they Don't Like. What a Fine Example for the Rest of Us.

Showing all the signs of a typical conservative reaction, two sheriff's in Wisconsin have decided not to enforce a law recently passed because...well, they just don't like it. I've noticed this about conservative concealed gun advocates, who carry anyway, because they don't believe in our current Wisconsin law.  

WSJ: Some sheriff’s departments in Wisconsin are ignoring a new racial profiling law ... Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth and Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said filling out the new form, either by hand or on the squad’s computer, takes too long, “Don’t tie up my officers,” said Beth, who along with Schmaling directed their deputies not to comply.

These are law enforcement officials who are NOT enforcing the laws…they don’t like. What does happen to a society when our laws become nothing more than something optional, depending on a person’s whims, especially among those individuals who swore to uphold the law?  

Tami Jackson, spokeswoman for the Office of Justice Assistance (OJA), said while there are no penalties written into the law, there is a procedure in Wisconsin law that allows citizens to order a government official to perform a mandatory duty. If the court gets involved and the officials do not comply, they could be found in contempt.  “It was our expectation that all law enforcement agencies would follow the law and participate regardless of their personal feelings,” she said.

Such actions could come back to haunt them monetarily.

She also noted it could affect departments when they apply for state or federal grants, which sometimes take into consideration whether departments honor such requirements.

Still, if you don’t believe personally in the law itself, who cares.

Schmaling said his deputies followed the new law for three days but it was too time-consuming. “I understand we are not above the law,” he said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the law. In fact, I have been sworn to uphold the law. But when it jeopardizes the safety of our deputies in the communities and puts them in harm’s way, we have to take a stance on it.”

Taking a stance is one thing, but breaking the law is inexcusable, especially for our top sheriffs.