Obama and the DOJ built that.
Nationwide, four police officers have been shot to death in the line of duty in just the past two weeks. On Tuesday, Fox Lake, Ill., police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz became the 24th U.S. law enforcement officer killed by a firearm this year.
Such attacks against the men and women sworn to protect and serve the public will set already strained police-community relations back even further, local police officials say. And some police officers are looking over their shoulders more than ever.
“This is going to contribute to the demise of Officer Friendly,” said Jay McDonald, president of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. “You know what I mean? We’re hyper-vigilant, and that comes off as standoffish and not community-friendly.”
Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said “the job is more dangerous than I have ever have ever known it.” There is no such thing as a routine call for service anymore, the 24-year veteran of the Middletown Division of Police said.
“People are more bold, and there are so many people with mental health problems that are going untreated,” he said. “Officers are being more careful and smarter about reaction to all calls. I talk about it to officers in the squad room before shifts.”
Muterspaw, who was once knocked unconscious early in his career when he was hit in the head with a crowbar while investigating a theft, said officers need to be more careful about waiting for back-up and be more aware of their surroundings at all times.
“These deaths are out of control, ” Muterspaw said. “Officers are a little jumpy, and people will have to understand officers have to take control of situations.”
But Muterspaw said the current climate surrounding law enforcement is not going to stop his department from interacting with the community.
“We need to do it more than ever now,” he said. “We need people to know we are not out to hurt them; we are here to help and protect.”