Responsibility to not comply with unlawful orders?

Thanks, Trip. I've been outta uniform for about ten years now, as the "office dick" for the PA office. One of my primary duties, for the 20 or so hours I actually spend in the office, is the preliminary review of cases that get submitted for charges. We look hard at searches & seizures, probable cause issues and a lot of other stuff that you would never have heard of, if you got your perspective of law enforcement from watching Cops The troops really do 'catch on' after awhile, and we really do have a good bunch of guys & gals out there doing the job, at least in my area. One or two heavy-handed bozos is all it takes to make the rest of us look like gestapo, so it becomes critially important that we each make good decisons on how we handle our authority.

Rest of my time is spent out among the folks- with & without badges. It's been educational both directions.
 
I'm a cop, and I'm all in favor of an armed public. Especially in circumstances like N.O. Let them keep their guns. The innocent will have the ability to protect themselves, and the thugs will know that every target may be more heavily armed than they are.
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Well put, I could agree more. Thanks for the input RWK and SAXD9. I'm interested to see how things turn out. I don't feel that the governor has the right to override the Bill of Rights, but time will tell. I don't think "just cause" would apply here either???
 
I can understand that LEOs might just take the order without too much complaint for the sake of not risking their job, etc. I don't know if one refusal to complete an order would result in putting your job at risk however. But as protectors of this country, I think they have a duty to protect the standards of the USA (ie the 2nd ammendment in this case) above their duty to obey some ridiculous order to confiscate legal guns from law abiding citizens in their own homes!
 
Just a curiosity question: Has anyone (LEO or non-LEO) been in a situation where they felt decisions made by their superiors were unethical? If so, did you do anything about it?

I have at my current work place. It took us a good while, and some imaginative ways to bring about the subject - but they eventually saw our point and backed down on the policy they instituted. The policy was unfair to customers. While we may not have been able to make our superiors agree it was unethical (remains to be seen) - we went another route when we felt ethics may not work, and demonstrated how it could bring about law suits, fines...etc.

It was a hard decision to go against the grain, which is why I have big time respect for any LEO who stands up for the rights of the citizens they serve. It definitely helped having 2 other co-workers join the cause in my case.
 
The skeptics here do know, don't they, that Police Commissioner Compass announced the firearms confiscation plan and said "only the police are allowed to have weapons" - in bald-faced violation of Section 11 of the Louisiana Constitution - and that this video was broadcast on nationwide television?

I hope that video is used in his criminal trial.
 
Well, Sandy Berger finally did get a criminal trial, even though he got off with a slap on the wrist, so there's hope for Compass getting one too, particularly with the NRA shining the white-hot spotlight.
 
Trip,

Yes, during my full career as a Naval officer, I had two experiences with more-senior officers, who, in my opinion, were about to make unethical, if not illegal, decisions (I will not go into the details in a public forum) that potentially could have adversely influenced our sailors.

In both cases – and with great trepidation, because these officers had the power to ruin an excellent career progression – I approached these officers one-on-one and explained my concerns and my rationale.

In one instance, the officer was immediately furious, but then considered my thoughts, decided I was right, altered his approach, and we remain very close friends to this day.

However, in the second instance when I also approached my commanding officer, he not only vehemently disagreed but also threatened to destroy my career. I was then faced with a real dilemma, but decided that the welfare of my sailors compelled me to proceed. After presenting the substantiation to higher authority – again, with much apprehension – my boss was asked to retire and was strongly advised not to use his departure Officer’s Fitness Report as a device for retribution.
 
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