July 25, 2008 6:49 AM

This month's Pinheads Anonymous meeting will come to order....

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

(apologies to Keith Olbermann)

Eric Bryant

Don't get me wrong; I can get behind the idea that a policemen should have to obey the same laws that we do. Anyone who's ever tried to park in the Alphabet District in NW Portland knows what a pain in the ass it can be trying to find a place to (legally) park. The question becomes, then, do we want our policemen looking for a place to park when they're trying to get something to eat, or should we be OK with them having a wee bit of extra parking immunity so they can eat and get back on the street?

Personally, I'll err on the side of allowing a police officer to park where you or I might not be able to in NW Portland. I want my police officers on the street trying to catch bad guys, not searching for parking spots in NW Portland. As long as no one is placed at risk, where's the fire?? Of course, there are people like Eric Bryant who are going to insist that policemen be allowed no leeway that isn't available to ordinary citizens. That this silliness may adversely impact public safety seems to be completely lost on Bryant.

BUTBUTBUTBUT...HE WASN'T FOLLOWING THE RULES....

"I tried to represent the best interests of Oregonians," Bryant said. "And I believe that Oregonians believe police don't get to ignore the law."

Portland police, however, vowed to push to allow officers to park in no-parking zones to order food or use the restroom. Police leaders plan to present a proposal to city commissioners soon.

"We've got patrol officers who are patrolling the streets for 10 hours a day in their car," said [Officer Chadd] Stensgaard's attorney, Steven Myers, who was paid for by the police officers union. "It's almost incomprehensible . . . that those public servants need to drive around at public expense burning gas to find a spot to get the food that they enjoy."

Traffic Court Judge Terry Hannon said he didn't think the officer did anything wrong but he had to find Stensgaard guilty because he violated the letter of the law.

Oregon Revised Statute 820.320 allows for emergency responders -- including police, ambulance drivers and firefighters -- to run red lights and park in no-parking zones when responding to emergencies or chasing suspects. It doesn't mention food.

So Officer Stensgaard was found guilty- another triumph for truth, justice, the rule of law, and pinheads everywhere. Stensgaard stated, credibly enough, that the reason he parked where he did was so that he could respond quickly in case of an emergency call. Fair enough, right? You or I couldn't get away with that sort of thing, but then we're not police officers, so we shouldn't be able to. This is a case where intolerant, officious sorts (like Bryant) could stand to recognize that police officers on occasion deserve to be cut a bit of slack because of the nature of their job. I'm not advocating that we let officers slide when they commit truly egregious offenses, but when they're looking for a parking spot in NW Portland so they can eat? Can we not be reasonable on this? Well, apparently Eric Bryant can't be, and all he's succeeded in doing is embarrassing a police officer and making himself look like a total DUMB@$$. Better to be thought a fool that to be Eric Bryant and remove all doubt....

Amazing, isn't it? Some folks hate the very sight of a police uniform...yet these are the same folks demanding that the police be everywhere at once in order to keep them safe.

Memo to Eric Bryant: this is about recognizing the difficulties and realities of being a police officer, NOT your overly officious, self-important hatred of those who work so hard to keep you safe. What harm was done when Officer Stensgaard parked his police cruiser? Was anyone hurt or inconvenienced or placed in harm's way? Not hardly. So why, then, was it necessary to embarrass Stensgaard and demonstrate yourself to be a complete dick?

BUTBUTBUTBUT...HE WASN'T FOLLOWING THE RULES....

Nice work, eh?

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on July 25, 2008 6:49 AM.

Uh...but is our children learning? was the previous entry in this blog.

Thinks that make my gag reflex go into hyperdrive is the next entry in this blog.

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