Those Who Crave Power Should Not Have It
By: Mr. Wilson on
February 26, 2010
I'm curious what you, good Lincolnites, would do to the three prison guards who were suspended for recent Facebook posts. The skinny is this: One guard gloated about "smash[ing] an inmates [sic] face into the ground", and two other guards applauded his efforts. Word of the posts made it to Ernie Chambers, then to Attorney General Jon Bruning, and then to the Department of Correctional Services.
Unfortunately I haven't found the full text of all of the posts. Without that -- and without knowing for sure what happened on the day in question -- it's tough for me to come to any conclusions. So instead I'll speak generally. As the title of this post states, I don't like to trust power to those who crave it; nor do I trust power to those who gloat over its exercise, which is what happened here. Abuse of power concerns me as a citizen, and as a taxpayer who has to foot the bill if a power tripper gets sued. The best soldiers and police officers are modest and humble. Those who would react with glee about assaulting somebody for whom they are responsible -- even if the assault is justified by the circumstances -- cannot be trusted with the responsibility of protecting the public.
I suppose that makes it pretty clear what I think should happen to the initial poster. I'm less certain about the fate of the other two guards.
Do you have enough information to decide what you think? What would cement your opinion about these officers' punishments and future as employees of the State?