In the aftermath of the horror that rocked the nation last week in Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas, Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell did something very stupid. The 23-year-old posted a graphic illustration online depicting the murder of a police officer, and although he took the post down almost immediately and issued an apology, he’ll likely never live that original act down.
Understandably, the local police union was irate. Can’t blame them. And I can even see why Stephen Loomis, the president of Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association, wanted more than just a “store-bought” apology from Crowell.
But wanting is one thing, while demanding is another. Apparently, in Loomis’ world, those lines are blurred.
And thus this is an actual quote from a man who represents public servants charged with protecting and serving the people of Cleveland:
I will pull Cleveland officers, sheriffs, state troopers out of First Energy Stadium this season if he doesn’t make it right. You’re a grown-ass man, and you claim you were too emotional to know it was wrong? Think we’ll accept your apology? Kiss my ass.
This one is simple. Loomis is overstepping. He should by no means have the right or ability to pull officers from a detail which involves serving and protecting 67,431 taxpaying citizens because he’s offended — regardless of whether he’s justified in being offended — by the repulsive yet totally legal actions of one party.
Hell, even if that entire stadium were anti-police, even if every member of the Browns posted that picture, the Cleveland Police should be required by law to protect those who pay their salaries (i.e. everyone in attendance) by working each and every Browns home game.
Loomis’ ultimatum was a slap in freedom of speech’s face. The police should not possess the ability to opt out of protecting the people simply because they disagree with what they’ve said or done. It’s that simple. And yet we have a power-drunk union leader carrying on as though he’s commanding his own personal, privately-financed army. Loomis doesn’t own the police. The people own the police, and not all of those people are good people but the police should not get to decide which law-abiding citizens they want to protect and which they want to neglect.
It’s un-American, and it’s a shame that because in this example the offending party committed an abhorrent act, the media has allowed the Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association to get away with it.
