An Open Letter to the Men and Women of the New York Police Department

From a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the wars. "There is no honor in this!" Indeed.

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From me:

Dear Officers of New York Police Department:

Over the past several days and weeks the NYPD has been at the center of a media storm concerning the "Occupy Wall Street" assemblers. I have taken the time to speak to several of your members including your media representative (who really should be in another capacity, if I may be kind). It appears to me that the attitudes of the sworn officers I have spoken to, and of the officers filling the screen on my computer from all of the video that comes our way, is that you are just doing your job. Just following orders.

Fair enough. Given that, a definition of "your job" and what, exactly, are legitimate "orders" is then necessary.

First, let us be clear that all of you are sworn officers. You hold appointed office, and have taken an oath  for that office. Herewith is the oath that you have sworn:

I [name] do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend
  the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign
  and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
  that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or
  purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the
  duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Regarding the arrests of the members of "Occupy Wall Street" assemblers: You have taken an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States" and to "bear true faith and allegiance to the same".

Were these mere words to you? Or is it that "support and defend" and "bear true faith" take a back seat to protecting your upward mobility within the NYPD and/or your pension? Have you read the U.S. Constitution? You know, the one you are sworn to support and defend and bear true faith to? So which is it? Do you support the U.S. Constitution and its protections of free assembly and speech or do municipal ordinances requiring permits to assemble override, in your mind, the intentions of the Framers? Clearly, the U.S. Constitution does not require any such permits for assembly and speech... does that mean your allegiance is to the City Government of New York?  Then why take an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution?  If you refuse to follow it for personal or professional conveniences, perhaps your oath should be to the NYPD or the City of New York. Oh, that would be illegal, wouldn't it? If you are an American, be an American. The American People rallied around you and the FDNY after 9/11; is this how you respond to them in a time of national crisis?

Think about it, Sworn Officers of the New York Police Department:

Refusing to pepper spray some college girl for exercising her Constitutionally protected rights of association, assemblage, and speech is not the same thing as refusing to confront a violent felon. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS. YOU WILL NOT BE FIRED NOR DISCIPLINED FOR REFUSING TO VIOLATE YOUR OATH!!

Let me also appeal to your self-interest, if not your honor: Following unethical, immoral, or illegal orders can come back to haunt you; perhaps even destroy you.

If your allegiance is not to your fellow Americans you do not deserve to wear the uniform or carry the badge. The American citizens assembling in New York deserve your protections, not your institutionalized violence.