Lt. Sean Gerrity, commander of the
Valley Center Sheriff’s Substation, was recently interviewed by
college student John Fawkes. We thought our readers would be interested
in some of his answers to Fawkes’s questions.
This concludes the series.
* * *
Q: If you could change one thing about your
job, what would it be?
A: I would like to find that magic way to eliminate
crime, in other words man’s daily inhumanity to man, once and
for all. If everyone could simply decide to live together in peace
and actually do so, and just simply follow the “golden rule,”
my services would no longer be necessary. I would happily “hang
up my badge” and find something else to do.
Absent that, I wish those in our society could at least stop abusing
drugs (legal or not) and alcoholic beverages. Because of this abuse
(sometimes even a “first time” experimental use), far
too many “good” people end up doing things to themselves
and/or others around them that they otherwise normally wouldn’t
do. Those few in our society that are inherently “bad”
people to begin with only tend to do even worse things than what would
have been their norm. It is far more the rule (rather than the exception)
that nearly all forms of criminal activity somehow have drug or alcohol
abuse lurking in the background as the core cause of reducing or eliminating
those personal inhibitions that would normally prevent one from wrongful
conduct (yes, even marijuana!). If people would simply stop using
and abusing these substances, the crime rate would literally plummet
so much that most peace officers in this nation would be out of work,
and most of our jails and prisons would have to be closed for lack
of inmates. The need for most judges, prosecuting and defense attorneys,
probation and parole agents, and all of the supporting staff, buildings
and equipment would be eliminated. This country alone would save hundred
of billions if not trillions of dollars in taxes annually –
to either return to each of us or channel into such things as nationwide
comprehensive health care and education systems for everyone, or even
a social security/retirement system that could comfortably support
each and every one of us through old age, infirmity and death.
Not too long ago, the overall crime rate was very low, and predictably
paralleled population growth. With the advent of the “drug revolution”
in the midst of the last century, that parallel “went out the
window.” the crime rate “skyrocketed,” no longer
linked to population increases alone. I would love to again see the
day when each of us, anywhere, can take a walk on our own streets
at night (or even in the day time), without “looking over our
shoulders” in fear of somebody who might harm us. There was
once a time in this country when one could leave their home unattended,
unlocked, with doors wide open, or even leave a bicycle on the front
lawn or an unlocked car’s engine running unattended, without
even worrying that someone would come along and steal something.
Nowadays, most people even lock their homes when they are inside,
nights or even days. This is not “living in peace.” Eliminating
drug and alcohol abuse alone would reduce the odds of becoming a victim
so significantly that living like this would, once again, become a
reality. This is such a simple choice that each person in our nation
is free to make, yet far too many simply won’t do so –
this is sad.
Q: How well do you enjoy your job?
A: Well, after all this time I haven’t left
yet. I now manage and lead other peace officers. I want to lead them
in the right direction, for their own safety and well being as well
as those we protect. Though my life span may end up shorter than most,
it is personally satisfying to know that I have been privileged and
blessed to be a “peacemaker.”
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