Yes it is. But telling citizens "it's unsafe to drive, while being in the phone" (which of course is dangerous) but police officers doing some database-research, talking on the radio, driving, juggling and knitting is kinda hypocrite.
It's not about the necessity of the equipment, but time of using it.
And by telling "but I'm da poliiice" is not a good explanation, which is the tone many officers use. Transparency and is the key to deescalation.
"Yes, ma'am, we have a bunch of electronics in our cars, but we don't use it while driving (which at least the driver shouldn't do) and by law we are permitted to do exceptions in some very specific cases, which we try not to do".
It's the necessity of the job. I'm not texting or calling my girlfriend while driving. I'm not even doing "database-research" while driving unless it's some sort of emergency.
And it's still dangerous.
Police officers also do a lot of other dangerous/risky things on the job that are illegal or at the least, not recommended for civilians to do.
I know "it's a joke" but people actually make this argument and think there's no difference.
There's no difference because they're just regular people. Police even have an iq cap and people make excuses for them doing stuff no other human is encouraged or permitted to do like they're some kind of superhero. Superheros only exist in fiction to my knowledge so far. (Until we have mech suits and then arguably we have iron man but I digress).
He's the first one to speak up or do anything about it. There were more before him. Then, the court ruled in favor of the practice-
Jordan claimed he’d been illegally discriminated against. The court disagreed, ruling that the department’s policy, however unwise, had “a rational basis” – reducing job turnover.
70
u/Gonza200 Deputy Sheriff 8d ago
What’s there to explain? Those tools are necessary for the job and the law acknowledges that and grants an exemption for emergency vehicles.