October 15, 2015
Fairfax Fraternal Order of
Police, Lodge 77
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 102
Fairfax, VA 22030
Officer Bradley Carruthers
president@fairfaxlodge77.org
571-259-4219
Subject: Open Letter Calling for
Fairfax Police Union to Respect Human Rights
Mr. Carruthers –
My name is Jeffrey Imm, with the
volunteer human rights organization, Responsible for Equality And Liberty
(R.E.A.L.).
I also have my own background
working in law enforcement, and was a proud member of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), when I was younger. I have great respect for law
enforcement and the Constitution of the United States of America, which is the
basis for all of our American law, as well as our universal human rights which
are the fundamental building blocks for all law in America and around the
world.
Those who respect the law should
inherently respect the human rights that are the basis for such law – including
respect for the lives of people of all genders, nationalities, religions,
identity groups, and of course, all races. Especially in the United States of
America, and certainly in former slave states, such as Virginia, this would
certainly demand that anyone credible in the justice community would have a
special respect for the rights and lives of African-Americans as well, who have
been specifically and historically wronged by this nation, and who patriots in
America have sought to rectify those wrongs over the years.
I find it necessary to speak out
to those who would abuse our law and the Constitution of the United States. I
have seen too much of such abuse defended by misguided police union leaders,
and unfortunately by too many members of the Fairfax, Virginia law enforcement
community over the past several months. I am not going to write on the details
of these unfortunate incidents, as they are publicly well documented, including
the sad cases of John Geer, Natasha McKenna, and others who lost their lives at
the hands of officers of the law in Fairfax County. It is disturbing, and I
would hope that those who respect the law would share such concerns.
I have been in direct contact
with the U.S. Department of Justice on their investigation of the death of
Natasha McKenna, and I have been assured there will be a thorough investigation
into her rights. I know there is an ongoing criminal investigation into the
death of John Geer and FCPD Officer Adam Torres has been charged with second
degree murder. However, it was just two months ago that Fairfax County Police
Union leader of the Fairfax Coalition of Police, Local 5000, International
Union of Police Associations’ President Sean Corcoran defended FCPD Officer
Adam Torres, charged with murder of John Geer, and provided such a defense by
saying to all of the FCPD that “we could all be Adam Torres.” Given that Mr.
Torres was charged with murder, the American people certainly should hope not.
Especially in these times and
under these circumstances, responsible members of the law enforcement community
should know that now is the time for circumspect and measured public
statements.
But Mr. Carruthers, instead of
such circumspect and measured focus on important matters, it seems that you and
too many other leaders of police unions would rather go out and try to pick a
fight with the Washington DC metropolitan and the American people.
I don’t see the merit and value
in this, especially in your own efforts this week, to use your authority and
your position within law enforcement to target (of all things) a Northern
Virginia pumpkin patch, because a private residence nearby has a sign reading
“Black Lives Matter” in the window. I would think that you might have more
important things to do than harass a pumpkin patch farm.
However, in the charged
environment that our nation finds itself today, where in a dozen states we have
seen law enforcement members being denied service or access even to
restaurants, you have decided it should be the business of the Fairfax County
police union to petition the public to boycott to Cox Farm pumpkin patch,
because some people seek to respect the lives of historically persecuted racial
minorities. You seem to think this position is beneficial to the public
relationship with law enforcement in our communities.
I am writing to tell you that
your position is misguided and counterproductive to law enforcement, its
relationship with the public, and a consistent and productive stance on the law
and our shared human rights. In our support for our shared universal human
rights and respect for the law, we offer an outstretched hand to all, including
those with whom we disagree, to promote and defend these rights and
responsibilities.
But such responsibilities also
include the obligation to challenge words and actions, which we believe will
have the result in undermining and denying such freedom. We have read your response,
as well as the comments by Cox Farms. What R.E.A.L. truly finds “disturbing and
disappointing” is the ongoing abuse of authority, and the politicization of our
law enforcement.
Our law enforcement is better
than this, and our law enforcement is more important than this. The idea that
you believe a police authority can and should be seeking to lead a boycott of a
pumpkin farm, because there is a sign which recognizes that “Black Lives
Matter,” is deeply offensive to our American values of justice and freedom. It
is something that the American people should not expect to see from the law
enforcement whose judgment they MUST TRUST.
We don’t give the law enforcement
authority to the brave men and women in our justice system to represent OUR
SHARED LAW because we are weak, because we are cowards, or because we don’t
care about justice. In fact, it is completely the opposite. It is because we
care so passionately about all of these that we have sought to have mature,
sober, responsible, and professional individuals in our justice system, who we
give badges and authority to represent the American people to responsibly
enforce our shared law and protect our shared rights.
Furthermore, in the Washington DC
metropolitan area, we have one of the most unique bodies of constituents in
America, with likely the single largest concentration of those who have sworn
to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of
America from all enemies foreign and domestic. Those who have sworn such a sacred
oath are a very large portion of the constituency that the FCPD represents in
Fairfax County in terms of law enforcement. Speaking as one who swore this oath
myself, while employed with the F.B.I., I can tell you there are no caveats to
this oath, and we don’t seek to defend the Constitution just for people of some
races, some identity groups, and only in some circumstance. That is NOT what we
swore to, Mr. Carruthers, and I urge you, the Fairfax County FOP, and the FCPD
and law enforcement community to recognize exactly who you are dealing with
here.
Let me perfectly clear and
candid, sir. The people in Fairfax County and the Washington D.C. metropolitan
area who swore to defend the Constitution of the United States of America have
absolutely no intention of surrendering on that solemn vow to those who believe
they can misuse their authority to bully and harass people in our community on
issues of our shared rights and freedoms.
Of all the places in this great
nation, the one place you don’t want to pick a fight against the rights and
freedoms of the people is in the metropolitan area of our Nation’s Capital.
Our law and our Constitution are
shared with the people in Fairfax County and the American people. It does not
belong to simply one or two of us, and it certainly is not owned by the Fairfax
County Police or their police union. If you want to pick a fight with Cox
Farms’ pumpkin patch over the rights of African-Americans lives to have an
equal measure with all other Americans, believe me, your fight is not with Cox
Farms, your fight is not with African-Americans, and your fight is not with
people in Fairfax County. If you want to fight with people on this issue, you
need to understand you are picking a fight not just with them, but with the
AMERICAN PEOPLE, including all of us who swore that OATH to defend the
Constitution.
Those who want to attack those
who seek equal justice and respect for the lives of African-Americans are not
simply seeking a quarrel with certain groups, but are actually seeking to
challenge all those who are RESPONSIBLE for equality and liberty.
Including me.
I don’t know what country you
think you live in, Mr. Carruthers. But in case you have forgotten, let me
remind you. This is not some totalitarian or fascist police state, where those
in “authority” can use power like a whip to force their views on others and
deny their fellow citizens’ fundamental freedoms.
You are in the UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, sir. In this great nation, when someone seeks to bully and attack the
rights of equality for some, they attack the rights of equality for all.
Because in this great nation, we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness.
That, Mr. Carruthers, is why
Black Lives Matter.
If you don’t understand those
truths that we hold self-evident, sir, then you don’t understand the basis for
this great nation, and I am sorry, you don’t understand the basis for OUR LAW.
If you cannot understand our law, then sir, I am sorry, but you really do not
belong in a position in LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I would urge you to reconsider
your position on attacking Cox Farms, not simply to delete your inflammatory
Twitter message seeking to abuse and politicize your authority within law
enforcement to attack their business because someone there has the conscience
of the truths we hold self-evident as a nation.
I am asking you to publicly
retract and apologize regarding your statement on Cox Farms, and I am asking
you to make peace with the community on this issue. We don’t want a fight with
leaders in our law enforcement community. Trust me, sir, the leaders in our
local law enforcement community don’t want a fight with those who have sworn an
oath to defend the freedoms and laws of the United States of America.
Especially in the Washington DC
metropolitan area, where so many have committed their lives to the freedoms our
nation is based on, we take our vows to defend those freedoms and the LAW on
which it is based very seriously and very personally. It is not simply some
political idea or theory to many of us here; it is a fundamental definition as
to who we are. The millions here who this is a core part of our identity are as
unyielding on this, as the marble towers of the Lincoln Memorial overlooking
the great statue of the defender of our Union, President Abraham Lincoln, and
the marble statue of the defender of nation’s Conscience, Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.
We are a solid ROCK on this
issue, and we will not be moved.
Under the circumstances, Mr.
Carruthers, it would be in the best interests of the FCPD and your union to
clarify your position on this matter expeditiously.
Now would be a good time. It is
always a good day to be responsible for equality and liberty.
Sincerely, with Fidelity –
Bravery – Integrity
to our Nation, Law, and Shared
Human Rights,
Jeffrey Imm
Founder, Responsible for Equality
And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
usa@realcourage.org
301-613-8789
=============================
Fairfax Fraternal Order of
Police, Lodge 77
Officer Bradley Carruthers,
President
Comments Regarding “Black Lives
Matter” Sign Near Cox Farms
Fairfax FOP Lodge 77 Twitter Message Attacking
Cox Farms for "Black Lives Matters" (Source: Twitter)
Fairfax FOP Lodge 77 Twitter
Message Attacking Cox Farms for “Black Lives Matters” (Source: Twitter)
