Police Officers on the Town Board - May 18, 2008

Mr Molinaro, you could be responded to as someone protecting his  position, as well.  As part of the party who now, this year, have appointed TWO police officers to Town Board positions---one Town Board, one Zoning Board of Appeals, you would not be expected to oppose their appointments.

I agree that both appointees are good,  respectable members of our town, who I happen to like personally as well. The principle of having them be both police officers, AND lawmakers is the basis of my objection.  A resignation from the police job would erase my concern.

The practical idea here is that as police officers making routine stops for traffic and other matters, there is always the possibility in the mind of the person  being stopped who could be disagreeing with a political stance taken by the board-member -policeman, that perhaps it could be risky to disagree because what happens if you get stopped on the highway by that same policeman?  My objection is thus both practical, and based on historic precedent within our country's constitution----for a good practical reason!

The question at hand is that of the constitutional separation of the three branches of government

• executive(mayor),
  
• legislative(town board), and
  
• judicial(judges, police).  
  

In our country's constitution,

the Judicial and therefore enforcement branch of government is separate from the Legislative branch which makes the laws.  Judicial, Legislative and Executive branches of government are all carefully separated.

Whether or not this town has drawn that line down into our local zoning is not the point. 

This is a principle on which our country was founded,

as every school child learns.  It has worked well since the founding fathers.   I stand with Charlie.  This is not personal.  It is a fundamental principle of this country.