We greatly appreciate and admire you in your taking vocal opposition to current attempts to politicize, for personal and political gain, the OSHP, one of the country’s premier law enforcement agencies.
As a group of OACP Past Presidents, we forward this letter for purpose of adding our support in your attempts to steer the OSHP back to its long standing position of integrity and professionalism. The destiny of policing in Ohio must be determined by professional law enforcement officers not the whim of politicians and/or their appointees.
We would be proud to have you forward our letter of support to any you believe might benefit from knowing our position, as well as give permission for your incorporating into any website which addresses these important issues.
Please call on us if you need more information, or if you wish to discuss this issue in more detail. We applaud your efforts on behalf of professional policing in service to our Ohio citizenry. Our Ohioans deserve nothing short of knowing their law enforcement agencies are operated and administered professionally, and not by those in power who cross the line from performing oversight into the wrongful arena of political policing. Thank you and we wish you success.
To Past Superintendents of the Ohio State Highway Patrol:
Throughout our careers, we have retained a deep respect for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the professional Men and Women whose contributions have been instrumental in establishing its reputation for excellence. Additionally, it has been our pleasure to know and work with the many Superintendants, going all the way back to Colonel Chiaramonte. As Past Presidents of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, we share deep respect for each of you, as professional law enforcement Administrators. It has been our pleasure to call you friends as well as colleagues.
Political oversight, an appropriate role for civilian government officials, has, as in the past, turned into political meddling and interference. This represents attempts to control the OSHP and law enforcement for less than honorable motives.
Historically, the OACP Presidents have stood with the OSHP to resist these attempts. Once again, we believe it is critical to support you and the OSHP as you stand up for law enforcement professionalism, and against undue and improper political meddling and interference. We strongly believe the OACP suffered a similar fate over these past few years at the hands of ODPS political influence.
Link to Tom Rice's letter to Gov. Strickland
March 7, 2010
We appreciate the tremedous show of support by those within our own ranks and the many friends we have in the law enforcement community. On February, 27, 2010, we posted an email by retired Superintendent Colin Brittan of the Ontario Provential Police. Superintendent Britton's commentary continues to be one of the most popular to view on the "TTT" website. This past week, we received this letter of support from the Past Presidents of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. To our good friends in the OACP, thank you for standing with us, shoulder to shoulder, as we address the difficult issues facing us today.
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