Some citizens really are “difficult,” though…
The Palm Coast, Florida, City Council has voted unanimously to do away with a secret list of “difficult citizens,” just a few days after the public learned of its existence (https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/article/city-watch-palm-coast-to-stop-using-secret-list-of-difficult-citizens).
All four council members said they didn’t know about the list, and blamed the previous administration for it. But its purpose, said officials, was “to protect city workers” from citizens who might harass them or even attack them.
If your name wound up on the list, you weren’t informed and there was no way you could get it removed.
Okay–tell me the police in lots of towns and small cities don’t have a list of “Oh, him!” and “Oh, her!” If it isn’t written down, it’s in the cops’ minds–it would have to be.
We wonder about those unspecified “city workers,” though. Are they the ones who hassle you if you have a Trump sign on your lawn? The ones who decide your house needs to be painted a different color? Little tinpot tyrants who throw their weight around. Yeah, some normal people are bound to lose their tempers.
Those questions haven’t been answered. They found out about the list and got rid of it, end of story.
But the cops probably know who the real trouble-makers are.
I’m sure they are aware of the trouble-makers, however, I have known small town copy who just put somebody on their “list” because they personally didn’t like them, or one of their “informants” didn’t like them.
Police really do need to be more careful not to be Herod’s Men. They need all the goodwill they can get.
Uh Oh- another typo– meant small town cops, not copy. these fingers will not mind me.
I knew what you meant, but I’ve forgotten how to edit comments.
Whenever a watch-list is secret, there’s a problem — and not with the people on the list. Of course, word-of-mouth warnings can be helpful to keep colleagues safe, but written lists take on the air of a permanent and proven fact — a verdict without a trial about a charge that the accused doesn’t even know about, by an accuser that the accused has no chance to confront. In other words, a violation of most of the Bill of Rights. Or something from a story by Kafka.
Reminds me of “school records” in the 1950s, wherein every false accusation and every undeserved punishment was entered as gospel truth.
I speak from personal experience.
“Round up the usual suspects…”
I have my own list, the leaders of the Democrat Party and all who go along with them.
“I’ve got a little list…. they never will be missed!”