Low Security

There was an article on the front page of the local paper this morning. Some old duffer stole a motorcycle cop's gloves and sunglasses off his motorcycle parked on the street in downtown Portland.

"Portland officer rewinds video to find theft suspect"

I can think of several other takes on this incident.

1) How arrogant of the police officer to leave his possessions lying out unattended! If this had happened to anyone besides a police officer, and they had bothered to report it, they would no doubt have been subjected to lecture about how you should not leave your belongings lying about. You should keep them with you at all times, or locked up securely.

2) How dare someone take something from a police vehicle! What are they, crazy? Or stupid?

3) Was this officer on duty while he was chasing down his errant gloves? Was he authorized to spend on-duty time chasing down a petty criminal?

4) Was this officer authorized to view those video tapes? Can just anyone walk in and see those tapes? Would they be able to see them in a timely manner? Or would they have to fill out a form, hire a lawyer, go to a hearing, and wait six weeks?

Actually, number 2 was pretty obvious from the story. And I wouldn't want the officer hounded by the administration (#'s 3 & 4) over such a trivial matter.

I sympathize with the copper not wanting to have to secure every little thing every time he steps off his bike.

But I also sympathize with the offender in this case. I suppose it is because I am probably going to have to take a flight on an airliner come Christmas time, and I am not looking forward to it. Having to put up with what passes for security at the airport is one of my least favorite things. Portland Police are not the TSA, but from my point of view as a private citizen all agents of the government get lumped in one basket.

I am really tired of hearing the same bleating non-sense repeated over and over again ad-nauseum: "lock everything up, don't show anyone anything, hide, they're out to get you".