Former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford was found guilty of corruption charges, and so now an activist group is going after the Asheville Police Department. Some time ago, citizens claiming police misconduct wanted to form a citizens’ police oversight committee. Chief Hogan and members of city council’s Public Safety Committee did not think it wise, noting that such a committee would often base reviews on personnel information which, since they could not divulge it either, would make them look as corrupt as the police force. Further, police officers prefer to be judged by a jury of their peers, and not by citizens who think cops should be able in a moment’s panic to shoot the gun out of a raging criminal’s hand. If nothing else, Chief Hogan has made integrity a key goal of his force, and he has resisted offers by city council members to beef up the force faster than he can guarantee the integrity of the officers. He has fired officers for not upholding high standards.
Then there are the general issues about how criminals now have more rights than police officers. Officers have to walk on eggshells so as not to offend people who are putting others’ lives and safety in jeopardy. Asheville has recently enjoyed headline after headline about rapes, murders, robberies, etc. As one citizen points out, we should be going after the source of the trouble.
So, not having the sanction of the city to form a Copwatch, the citizens went ahead and made one themselves.
