Property crimes, although not as reprehensible as crimes of violence, are yet significant wrongs. Theft injures its victims, and undermines civil society. One has no reason to be sympathetic to thieves. Individuals and society benefit from strong private property rights. Whitewater, perhaps more than other towns nearby, has a problem with property crimes, including car…
Police
City, Freedom of Speech, Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Police
The Government’s War on Cameras
by JOHN ADAMS •
Photography and recordings do much to safeguard citizens’ rights and protect honest officers against false accusations. Places in which officials discourage lawful, constitutional photography are ones in which officials not only act outside the law but also imprudently. There will be fewer injustices, and better policing, in a word of expansive photographers’ rights. By the…
City, Laws/Regulations, Police
Whitewater’s May 3rd Common Council Meeting
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s another council meeting tonight, but two political parts of the last meeting stand out. Fees for a Search Firm. There was discussion, and approval, of additional fees for a police search. Approval was the right decision, and the additional cost would have been easier if former police chief Coan hadn’t sought to retain thousands…
City, Government Spending, Police
Funding a Leadership Search
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater’s Police Commission is conducting the search for a new chief, and there’s a request before Whitewater’s common council for additional funding. Information on the request may be found in the council agenda packet, and in a story about the search published last week in Walworth County Today. See, Whitewater panel seeks more money for…
City, Police
The Telling Requirement
by JOHN ADAMS •
There is no more powerful sign during a long-tenured leader’s departure than that, as he leaves, he is asked to sign an agreement that includes a promise that he never seek or return to his old job again. All those many years, all those many grandiose claims of excellence, achievement, and greatness — all of…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Police
Institute for Justice Shines Light on Law Enforcement Slush Funds
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve posted before about the harm to sound law enforcement through ‘policing for profit,’ where the promise of financial gain motivates law enforcement efforts. Fortunately, the Institute for Justice has done fine work exposing the distortion — and lack of accountability — in departments that drift into this bad habit. See, for example, The Institute…
City, Police
Whitewater’s Search for a New Police Chief (Update 2)
by JOHN ADAMS •
At last night’s Police Commission meeting, the Commission unanimously chose a non-resident as interim chief. For an earlier post on the topic, see Simple and Reasonable Compliance with the Law. Simple’s not always so simple, but then years of the wrong direction work a powerful distortion and departure from simple and reasonable.
City, Police
Whitewater’s Search for a New Police Chief (Update)
by JOHN ADAMS •
City, Law, Police
Simple and Reasonable Compliance with the Law
by JOHN ADAMS •
To enforce the law, one must observe the law. Conversely, one cannot credibly enforce the law by ignoring portions one does not like. This principle is so simple and clear that stating as much states the obvious. Whitewater has a lawful requirement that senior city leaders live within the city limits, among them nearly a…
City, Police
Whitewater’s Search for a New Police Chief
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a story over at the Gazette that mentions the departure of Whitewater’s Chief Coan, an amount of money that he may owe Whitewater under contract, and the selection of a new police chief. (That process begins, but only begins, tonight.) I’d be surprised if he doesn’t request to keep the ten thousand; there will…
Police
Radley Balko Talks Police Dogs on Freedom Watch
by JOHN ADAMS •
Police
The Mind of a Police Dog
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Reason Magazine, Radley Balko has a fine article entitled, The Mind of a Police Dog. The subtitle’s a verity: how misconceptions about dogs can lead to abuse of humans. I’ve written before about use of police dogs. They require careful and consistent handling. Small departments, like one in Edgerton that briefly had a…
City, Freedom of Speech, Police, Walworth County
Anti-Union Buffoonery in Whitewater, Wisconsin
by JOHN ADAMS •
I saw an odd ‘news item’ today, about a protest in Whitewater, that supposedly involved monitoring by the police. It was said to be a ‘heavy’ police presence, by the account that I saw. If the account’s true, then that presence is both foolish and wrong. If the account’s false, and there wasn’t really a…
Police
Sheboygan police accepting applications for citizens academy
by JOHN ADAMS •
How a department properly offers a citizen police academy: Applications and more information can be found online at www.sheboyganpolice.com/citizenpolice.html. Applications will be accepted through March 9 and are also available at the department, 1315 N. 23rd St. Via Sheboygan police accepting applications for citizens academy | sheboyganpress.com | Sheboygan Press.