Dear Officer

Dear Officer,

Due to the poor behavior and motives of some members of the higher authority, I wish to write a letter that presents the issues I've encountered with officers and ensures students of their rights. I can't imagine the sorts of stress you encounter with your job as an officer, but I still feel that certain situations could be handled differently.  I'd like to address the manner in which police officers approach students, the true incentives of officers and the procedural aspects.

Rights and equality are two main components of the foundation of America. If everyone has the same rights, why must you discriminate against young adults? Is it easier to interrogate students because they are less aware of their rights? Or is it simply because you just assume that anyone under age forty is up to no good? Your misconduct and harassment towards students is unacceptable and not justified in any way. I can respectively believe that it is sometimes appropriate to use intimidation as a front to complete your duties, but in many cases it's just unnecessary.

As a part of our Bill of Rights, the Fourth Amendment often sticks out to me while I watch you perform your duties. The probable cause standard requires facts or evidence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a suspect has committed a crime. Wearing a Bob Marley t-shirt or having shaggy hair does not meet this criteria, yet you continue to judge appearances and utilize your judgement to discriminate the character of an individual. You conduct unnecessary searches that waste our time and yours. Even if you have reasonable suspicion to detain me and pat me down, I still hold the right to refuse to empty my pockets, so stop harassing me. Your dishonorable tactics are unfortunately effective, but looking at them as a whole, your use of fear and intimidation just puts you off as weak.

As if your shameful strategies to complete your job aren't enough, your incentives are even more questionable. I find myself asking, "what exactly is your drive?". The police force is supposed to serve to protect, not serve to charge. In many cases, it seems that you just enjoy the power high. You react subjectively to situations that merely require the objectiveness of the law. You are a law enforcer. That's all. You enforce the law with no person connections along the way. A power trip is just one of your possible motivations; there's also a quota to meet. You and your fellow officers must satisfy a particular quota as a whole to make additional income. You strive to prosper economically at the expense of others.

Sometimes you may be in the right to jump to conclusions, but many times you do it when completely unnecessary. While at Ball State, I have witnessed many students being questioned and getting in trouble. One interesting question I overheard while listening to a conversation between and officer and student was this: "How much have you been drinking?" I believe that a better question would be, "Have you been drinking?" Instead of general questioning of a student, you spring forward to accusations. Your attempts to situations are improper and sneaky. I am always guaranteed the right to remain silent and the right to terminate "voluntary" conversation, so do not hold me longer than necessary because i refuse to let you waste my time.

I will not consent to searches, I will not forget my right to remain silent, and I will not be oppressed by someone who is merely an enforcer of the law. You are not the law; you are simply the messenger boy. Don't flatter yourself. I will assert my rights, I will make myself heard, and I will encourage others to know the law and where they stand among it.