I generally have to say I disagree. While law enforcement has been unfairly saddled with the burden of managing mental illness and substance abuse issues, they are not particularly helpful in providing a solution the problem. After a career as both a federal law enforcement officer and one deeply integrated with a federal security regime involving interaction with a broad spectrum of law enforcement officers, what I find is that most law enforcement officers are in their profession based on fear about society and a desire to carry a firearm. They represent a fringe opinion and discussions like this seem only to mask the real issue that we will not address, which is that we are not willing to pay for services necessary to assist the huge homeless population which is primarily based in substance abuse and mental illness. Law enforcement, in my opinion, has become the home of the generally ultra conservative who wants power, influence and and privilege without admitting it.
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I generally have to say I disagree. While law enforcement has been unfairly saddled with the burden of managing mental illness and substance abuse issues, they are not particularly helpful in providing a solution the problem. After a career as both a federal law enforcement officer and one deeply integrated with a federal security regime involving interaction with a broad spectrum of law enforcement officers, what I find is that most law enforcement officers are in their profession based on fear about society and a desire to carry a firearm. They represent a fringe opinion and discussions like this seem only to mask the real issue that we will not address, which is that we are not willing to pay for services necessary to assist the huge homeless population which is primarily based in substance abuse and mental illness. Law enforcement, in my opinion, has become the home of the generally ultra conservative who wants power, influence and and privilege without admitting it.
Opinions are my own
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