Arkansas Blog: Clearance today

I'm expecting, as early as today, the dropping of charges against Bill Lawson, the Stephens Media journalist arrested for obstruction the other night by a hot-headed state cop. Crime: taking a photograph of said hot-headed cop.

Once more to my soapbox: I can't remember the year, but I remember arguing with Gov. Bill Clinton about this in the governor's conference room and remember John Robert Starr -- supporting Clinton in a position he would later write that he regretted. I opposed a change in the state FOI law Clinton was pushing that put public employee personnel records off-limits except in the case of final action in suspensions or firings.

My exact argument at the time was that this would provide a world of protection for rogue cops and their protectors. Cops have a lot of leeway in the field, where few witness their actions except the people they encounter. Unreasonable orders can be issued. Physical force can be used. Sexual molestation is not unheard of. The witnesses against cops in such cases are often unreliable or criminal suspects. It's not surprising, or wrong even, that benefit of the doubt in complaints tend to favor the cops.

But ....

With real sunshine, you could at least see the record of a cop who may have been accused multiple times of brutality. The span of a cop's career -- even if none of the single actions produced a suspension or termination -- might paint a telling picture about a cop's behavior. I remember, particularly, an LR cop cited repeatedly for brutality and just as repeatedly exonerated by the rough-em-up superiors who then ran the LRPD.

There are multiple reports that the cop who cuffed Lawson has been the subject of complaints before about intemperate behavior. But he has never been suspended or fired. So as far as we know from the records we are allowed to see -- none -- he is a choirboy. We need more sunshine, here and always, though the recording devices that now exist on police units have sometimes been a healthy antidote to bad cops.

Comments

While it shouldn't make a diffeence, this whole issue is being brought to light primarily by the media as only they can do.

What about the rest of us little people out there who get on the wrong end of the deal by a cop who is having a bad day? Nasty temperment and just plain mean SOB's who are on a power trip.

There should be some sort of people power form of recourse for these guys. We the people are supposedly self ruling, but when it comes to the Police - they seem to be in charge. There should be some sort of Public Commission that oversees the Polices' behavior and fields complaints and issues it's own citations against those in Blue who violate the public trust.

Posted by: Wellwood | December 13, 2007 08:03 AM

Lawson should be thankful he doesn't live in NW Arkansas or in the Memphis area where these rogue cops shoot you down with no considerations of any kind, even children.

Posted by: Cato | December 13, 2007 08:40 AM

So, they will drop charges and all will be forgiven. Lawson should sue his ass for false imprisonment. Then use discovery to get to his personnel records and get this Nazi to selling insurance rather than being entrusted with a badge and a gun.

Posted by: FortSmithBoy | December 13, 2007 09:32 AM

I only wish the press would be as indignant when our government tortures and the evidence is destroyed by federal officials.
If your house is on fire, call a fireman, or the police. If you want the latest gossip on the Razorbacks, call an Arkansas newsman.

Posted by: Loonatikjenn | December 13, 2007 11:00 AM

Why are Police in charge of NOT policing themselves? And thank you Max for mentioning FOI points. Not only are the rules absurd, we the people should not have to do anymore than type in a search on the google for any and all info on our public servants records! This has got to change.

The longer I watch the failing inside the CIA and DHS, I see the exact same problems inside smaller entities who go awry due in no small part to operations in self policing and secrecy... which leads to little or no accountability nor does anything to defend and promote the best folks working to do their jobs well.

I mentioned yesterday how important I think it is that Bill Lawson/Stephens and the public not allow this to just drop off the radar..for our own rights in press and basic citizens civil liberties, but i think we all need to pursue this for the good cops as well who by design suffer in silence at all our peril, without our help.

Posted by: Eureka Springs, AR | December 13, 2007 12:02 PM

Arkansas Blog

Clearance today

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