We attended a very informative MCSO reform meeting in Fountain Hills to learn the findings of the government lawsuit against the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. The lawsuit stemmed around alleged violations by Maricopa County deputies of the Constitution’s 4th and 14th amendments.

In attendance was a group of Latinos, Sheriff Joe Arpaio and current and former staff, legal counsel, a monitor to facilitate the meeting and to outline the accomplishments of bringing MCSO in compliance with the Courts, as well as citizens of Fountain Hills.

My feelings and perceptions during this two and a half hour meeting are being summed up here:

MCSO deputies and law enforcement officers across our great country put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect us. Often, it involves making traffic stops. This is to not only protect all citizens/members of our community, but to also protect the person being stopped/questioned.

The stop is an opportunity to educate the driver on the rules of the road, to facilitate them with becoming compliant. This is how they serve and protect! Remember, it is a privilege to be earned, not a right to drive a vehicle.

I want law enforcement to profile behaviors of all persons. Why? Because this opens the opportunity for police to build a relationship with community members and to understand how best to serve and protect a community.

How we perceive law enforcement starts when we are children. It does not serve anyone well when we label and not trust law enforcement. We need to help all those who come to our country (legally and even illegally) that we are all so fortunate to have these honorable public servants!

We need to support our public servants so they can protect and serve us all!