Professional courtesy or special treatment?

I got this link to a site where various law enforcement officers complain when others in their profession don’t extend “professional courtesy” to them or their family and friends, which apparently means that they think that they shouldn’t be issued tickets or citations for breaking the same laws that would get civilians cited.

There are dozens of stories listed, plus a “d**k of the month” award for the “most egregious” offenders. I would hope that most cops would be appalled at such disrespect for brother LEOs just doing their jobs.

What’s especially ironic is that on a page on the site entitled “What cops want you to know” is this piece of advice to the general public: “Here’s how to get out of a ticket. don’t break the law.” Seems like excellent advice for the cops too.

Police do a difficult job under difficult circumstances, which is why they are compensated pretty well in general. (Look at the lists of top-paid public employees in your town, city, or state, and cops will be well-represented.) We should accord them the respect and honor they deserve.

But that doesn’t put them above the law or entitle them to special treatment under the law. I can’t think of anything more corrosive to a democratic republic than arbitrary special treatment for a protected class.

If I get stopped going 75 in a 50, the officer stopping me can give me a warning or a ticket. That’s his discretion. If he stops an off-duty cop or a family member doing the same thing, he should use that same discretion. It should not just be an automatic warning or a turning of a blind eye. That’s not right.