Friday, September 12, 2008

CM PRESS # 484


LIBERAL COP UNION ENDORSES FLOPSY FOLEY

The last time we checked, more than 70% of Costa Mesa police officers don't live in Costa Mesa, yet the Costa Mesa Police Association, the union that represents these officers, is once again trying to influence voters in Costa Mesa with their badges.

According to the almost daily Daily Pilot today, the association's president, Allen Rieckhof, told the ADDP that Foley is "pro law enforcement." LINK


We think that's an insult to tough on crime citizens and politicians of this city and to the many fine police officers in the department who don't let politics get in the way of their duty and who believe that Foley is soft on crime and on illegal aliens.


After Flopsy Foley (alone among the City Councilmembers) refused to sign a letter to President Bush asking that our borders be made secure, she claimed that she was going to send her own "better" letter to President Bush.

As far as we know, she's never sent such a letter. We even asked her about it at the last City Council meeting, and she chose not to respond to our question. We'll keep asking.

Rieckhof also told the ADDP that "[Flopsy Foley is] a supporter of law enforcement. She endorsed our last pay and benefits contract, which she voted for."

Okay, so there's an implied admission that Foley may not necessarily be for good policing or be tough on crime, but that she gives raises and benefits to those she expects will endorse her in the election, as they have in the past. You rub Flopsy's back and Flopsy will rub your back. We get it, or at least we get the purported rationale. But, we don't buy it.

And, here's why we don't buy that rationale for endorsing Foley. What Riechkhof didn't tell the ADDP is that all other City Councilmembers also voted for the pay raise and benefits for the CMPD! So, saying that's why the union bosses support Foley doesn't hold water.

So, what is the real reason that the union bosses support Flopsy Foley? Hmmmm? We can only guess.

However, we wonder what the union bosses say to citizens who believe the police union is endorsing Flopsy Foley because Flopsy is soft on suspected illegal aliens and seemingly wants the cops to be social workers who won't bring suspected illegal aliens to the ICE agent.

And, speaking of this, Mr. Rieckhof, can you explain why the CMPD seems to be bringing fewer and fewer suspected illegal aliens to be interviewed by the ICE agent?

As we reported in CM PRESS #483; in August 2007, there were 50 ICE detainers put on suspected illegal aliens, but in August 2008, there were only 25 ICE detainers. Why the big drop in numbers?

Public service unions should not endorse politicians
This just causes many citizens to distrust their public servants.

WHO REALLY SUPPORTS THE POLICE
It is the improvement minded citizens of Costa Mesa, and their candidates, who really support professional and honest cops who don't let their professional judgment take a back seat to their personal politics and prejudices.

Most of these improvement minded citizens are conservative and patriotic and many have served in the military.

They are the natural "friends" of the CMPD. But, if the police union is going to endorse candidates who are against making Costa Mesa the great city it can be, the support from these natural friends of the CMPD is likely going to lessen. It's just human psychology.

Do we really want some police officers having their judgment affected by which political party someone belongs to or which candidate they support?

Do we want cops to respond more slowly to a home with an election sign for Righeimer, Monahan or Bever in the yard than they would to a home with a Flopsy Foley sign? Do we want to even give this impression, and cause citizens to think this way, whether it is true or not?

We want to think that all cops are professional
When cops play in local politics and endorse people who are soft on crime, it just decreases the respect citizens have for police officers who we all know have a very tough and dangerous job.

And, again, Mr. Rieckhof, check the record. Not one improvement minded citizen or City Council person spoke against pay raises and benefits for good, honest, professional police officers.

Every improvement minded citizen that the CM PRESS knows wants well paid and well cared for police officers and police officer families. We ask a lot of police officers, and we should pay them accordingly.

We don't want cops doing their jobs and at the same time being distracted with thoughts that they're not making enough money or that they don't have proper medical insurance for themselves and their families.

At the same time, most citizens will probably tell you that they don't want any public service unions endorsing candidates in local elections and that when they do so, it erodes public confidence in the public service employees who are represented by those unions.

Congratulations to Righeimer, Monahan and Bever who didn't seek such endorsements.

They get it. They're the real supporters of the many fine CMPD officers who retain their professionalism by staying clear of local politics.

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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.

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