What true ‘community
policing’ looks like
I had a moment recently, driving along Alii Drive, and I briefly witnessed an encounter I feel compelled to share.
While driving along Alii Drive, nearing the Hulihee Palace, I noticed a police vehicle parked along the shoulder. Glancing over to the makai side, I noticed two female police officers assisting what appeared to be a homeless woman, sitting on the wall.
While traffic slowed, I carefully watched the encounter, and noticed the care and concern the two officers showed the individual. One officer was down on her knees, eye-to-eye, one arm gently around the shoulders of the individual. There was no drama, the female/individual hardly looked up, a pile of belongings stacked around her, a sad look on her face.
I have often heard rumors of local officers showing indifference, or intolerance to the homeless/indigent population, but here I was a fortunate witness to genuine caring, and a sharing of a bit of humanity and humility toward other individuals not as fortunate as ourselves.
The two female officers involved in this incident deserve to be commended and recognized for their professional behavior and demeanor. I know we’ve had some harsh criticisms of our police officers across the nation recently, but I for one am proud of how our officers here in Kona try to work with the community. At least in this one incident, they showed what true “community policing” looks like.
Toni Reynolds
Kailua-Kona
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When right makes wrong
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the cheerleading case may have protected a student’s First Amendment freedom of speech, but I think it sends the wrong message.
Let us suppose that Brandi Levy, 14 years old, is used to getting her own way. She’s mad when she isn’t promoted from the junior varsity cheerleading team to the varsity team. On her phone, she lets fly some F-bombs (F***the school, F***cheer) and is suspended from the cheerleading team for that unsportsmanlike reaction.
Instead of using this as a teaching moment, Brandi’s parents (who apparently have the money to do so) take the case to court. They don’t discuss with Brandi that she signed a contract as a member of an after-school team and agreed that in representing the school beyond the classroom, she will follow team rules of appropriate behavior. They don’t discuss with Brandi that maybe there are some valid reasons why she isn’t being promoted to the varsity team. They don’t discuss with Brandi that sometimes we don’t always get what we want and maybe this disappointment is a learning experience.
No, the parents get a lawyer and argue that the school has no right to punish her for off-campus speech. So, thanks to her parents using their influence to keep their kid happy and the Supreme Court ruling, Brandi learns that she can do and say as she pleases. If ever she’s disciplined, she can look for ways to get away with her behavior.
As mature adults, we would hopefully guide our children to understand that although we have the “right” to say or do something, our actions should be tempered for context and consequence. While Brandi’s parents and the Supreme Court say she has a legal right, I say it’s socially the wrong message.
Martha Hodges
Kailua-Kona
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