Palm Beach County and its new political policing

The Florida legislature is giving Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw a million bucks to kick off a new violence prevention unit. But the pilot project is built on snitchery and seems intent on casting a wary eye on those expressing views of political dissent.

The Palm Beach Post reports:

Bradshaw is readying a hotline and is planning public service announcements to encourage local citizens to report their neighbors, friends or family members if they fear they could harm themselves or others. 

The goal won’t be to arrest troubled people but to get them help before there’s violence, Bradshaw said. As a side benefit, law enforcement will have needed information to keep a close eye on things. 

“We want people to call us if the guy down the street says he hates the government, hates the mayor and he’s gonna shoot him,” Bradshaw said. “What does it hurt to have somebody knock on a door and ask, ‘Hey, is everything OK?’ ”

Sheriff Bradshaw sees his model as prototype for state-wide or even national duplication.

Do we really want to live in a land where every perceived criticism of government may mean a knock on the door?

From Chris Muir's Day by Day Cartoon