While driving by the Ayer Courthouse the other day, I noticed three police cars parked up on the side walk of School Street. There they were: a State Police, Ayer Police and Leominster Police car, all in a row, with their right wheels well up on the sidewalk. And this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this flagrant flaunting of parking regulations by police officers.
Now I realize parking around the courthouse is at a premium. And it hasn’t gotten any better since the “No Parking” signs went up on Route 111. But I’ll bet a year’s salary, if it was MY car up on the sidewalk, that those same officers would have had it ticketed and towed faster than you could order a donut and coffee.
What I want to know is why those who are charged with upholding the laws we enact, think they can so blatantly ignore them? Are they so much more important than the rest of us? Doesn’t civility and the rule of law apply equally to our peace officers as it does to all others in our society?
And finally, is it any wonder that respect for “officers of the law” has deteriorated to such a degree, when this sort of rude behavior is so common?
Lew Nathan
Shirley
