Police work can be stressful and dangerous especially here in Fitchburg where Police Officers may feel they’re overworked and under-resourced. When they are in uniform, they represent our community as well as their profession. So ethics aren’t an option for them. They are a requirement.
But for civilians like us, it is difficult to understand why not a single one of them showed up at the new chief’s swearing-in ceremony. We can only think of throwing stones at them for their unprofessional and immature behavior. We easily forget how they have sacrificed so hard for our city, even while we sleep.
Police work is a noble profession and our Police Officers, including Chief Robert A. DeMoura, deserve our respect. They cannot be held solely responsible for solving the problems in our community. They cannot make sure that our children resist peer pressure to try illegal drugs. So, let us stop the bickering and finger-pointing. Unity and mutual respect are what we need most right now.
Great things can happen when community members, city officials and law enforcement work together to solve crime problems, investigate allegations of misconduct and improve the livability of our city. By working together, we can set a good example for our children, tackle the tough issues and someday break the cycle of drugs and violence in our place.