The Wisdom of Ambassador Spock...

Top of the evening to all.

When Leonard Nimoy died, I tried to develop a sermon for Yizkor based on the wisdom he offered throughout the years of "Star Trek," both the show and the movies.  The sermon did not come together.  The overwhelming logic did not mesh well with the emotional time that Yizkor is for so many people.  That being said, the research for this sermon is still useful.

With cries for defunding or disbanding the police growing in volume, the city council in Minneapolis is preparing to vote to dissolve its municipal police force.  I suppose that it is prudent to see what is going to happen before passing final judgment.  However, Ambassador Spock has great wisdom to share in the meantime.

What are Minneapolis's reasons for doing it?  "Insufficient facts always invite danger, Captain."  Whatever the reason is, it should be more than one reason.  It should not be a decision made in the moment.  The heinous behaviour of one police officer should not cut it for anyone.

What is the plan?  If the nice folks in Minneapolis really think that everyone is just going to be excellent unto each other, there may be a rude awakening.  If crime has no means of enforcement, it will increase.  The riots in the US last week prove that.  As well, if crime has no means of enforcement, people will take steps to protect themselves and their property.  If you are concerned about people getting shot by the police, what will happen when people who purchase means of self-defense fail to spend the necessary time to become proficient with those means?  So, on behalf of Ambassador Spock, "after a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting.  It is not logical, but it is often true."  To the folks in Minneapolis, please be careful what you ask for.  You may get it.

Last, such an abrupt decision carries another long-term danger.  City council could easily tell the police force that the workweek ends on Friday and not to come in on Monday.  What is the plan if this does not work?  We must remember that "as a matter of cosmic wisdom, it has always been easier to destroy than to create."

Again, every policy and procedure at every level of any organization should be subject to constant and ongoing review.  Societies change.  People change.  Technology changes.  All of these changes should have an impact on how we make decisions.  Change is not necessarily bad.  Throwing out the baby with the bathwater though is not going to be the way to go.

Live long and prosper.

R/SCG