Monday, August 15, 2011

My Letter to the Editor as it appeared in The Chico Enterprise,8/14/11

The letter to Mark Sorenson from the executive board of the Chico Police Officers Association, dated July, 20, regarding the City Council's amendment to section 19.77(regarding medical marijuana dispensaries) of the Municipal Code states very clearly why local law enforcement cannot abide by it, or any other city guideline which goes against federal law, regardless of its just, moral or ethical standing within the community. In fact, they smartly pointed out that it is the precise wording in the Municipal Code, regarding the function of law enforcement, not necessarily the unspecific nature of our nation's Constitution, that ties their hands in this matter.
Nowhere in Section 2.28.020 of said code does it say that local law enforcement is bound to protect our rights, explicitly, as has been posited. One hopes that we might share a common vision with those we trust to maintain our public safety, but what the code really asks of them is to, "Prevent crime and maintain law and order in the city by enforcing the laws of the United States, the state, and (lastly) the city..." That is the crux of the biscuit insofar as what local sway we might have with law enforcement.
Between now and the next time the issue of dispensaries is argued before the City Council, which it will, as it should, I believe the wording of the Municipal Code should be perhaps modified so as to give our officers more discretion in carrying out local statutes.

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