'Police state' views are matter of perspective

I got a fascinating phone call this week from a seemingly bright young man who wanted to complain about the "police state" mentality of our local Public Safety Department.

He clearly wanted to voice his strong opposition to the use of helicopters and the paramilitary force he viewed as our local law enforcement.

While he was at it, he also gave strong objections to the proliferation of guns in society while mentioning the various school shooting tragedies that we're all familiar with.

I listened somewhat patiently - because he seemed bright and completed an entire conversation without using vulgar language.

But blatantly missing from his conversation was the underlying reason why this level of law enforcement is required.

He failed to mention the illegal guns, the drug trade and the growth of gang-related crimes that we witness along with other communities in our area.

He failed to mention that the newly-formed street task force was designed solely to remove criminal elements and make neighborhoods safer.

He also failed to mention that only those with outstanding criminal warrants are targeted by the heightened law enforcement effort.

What he sees as a police state, I see as effective and much-needed law enforcement efforts to provide a safe community for all residents.

I guess it's just a matter a perspective.

I got a chuckle this week when the money hungry Rev. Jess Jackson asked for a sweet $2 billion from the Obama administration to fight crime in Chicago which has become a hotbed of violence in recent months.

What Jackson wants in Chicago is exactly what all communities want - expanded efforts to remove the criminal element and make the streets safe once again.

Of course the Rev. Jackson also wants his hands on that wad of cash to mold the law enforcement effort in his vision.

But back to my conversation.

Until all segments of our community get behind the efforts of law enforcement locally, the task of removing this criminal element is much more difficult.

And far too many people automatically believe law enforcement is the problem and not the solution.

They are wrong. And given relaxed law enforcement, they could be dead wrong.

If you're concerned about the use of expanded Public Safety efforts here, then maybe you have a reason to want less police presence. Maybe - just maybe - you're part of the problem and not the solution.

If you believe that the use of a Highway Patrol helicopter is a sign of a police state, I assume no one can change that mindset.

But for most of us, the use of local law enforcement to effectively and emphatically send a signal to the criminal element is a good sign.

But it's all a matter of perspective.