OpEd By CCSO Captain Sean M. Sanborn – How about that Superbowl! I watched the game this year between Kansas City and San Francisco and found it to be very exciting. In my opinion, the 49ers had the play of the game with two lateral throws to run in for the touchdown. There has been some debate around the office here as to whether San Francisco made the right choice in receiving the ball out the gate in overtime. It makes me wonder if San Francisco is asking themselves the same question. I would not be telling the truth if I told you that I watch football all the time. I very much enjoy the game and particularly enjoy watching our local kids play the field. However, I have watched football enough to appreciate the Instant Replay. The ability for an official to watch a play from a different angle and evaluate the decision they made on the field. It is easy for us to look back on a situation, or see the situation or the play from a birds eye view and say “that was a bad call”. Maybe our decision is made from the point of view of which team is preferred in that play. I see this scenario play out from time to time in law enforcement. The cop makes a decision based upon what they see on the ground and inevitably, after all the facts have played out, someone criticizes the play. I have often wished that law enforcement had the benefit of an instant replay. We don’t. In any given situation an officer has to conduct an investigation and replay the events which may have happened on the ground hours, or days earlier. Even in situations where the officer or deputy witnessed the event, that person can only provide the perspective they see from the position they were in. There are times, perhaps, where if we could see the same situation from a different camera view or perspective, or had the benefit of time to see how that situation would play out post arrest that we would make a different decision. The big game between Kansas City and San Francisco is still having clips replayed. Each decision of the coaches, quarterbacks and officials is being analyzed and either lauded or criticized. The situations are similar in that decisions are being made on the ground by all these folks plus the official in the moment. The differences are much more contrasting. Coaches and officials have the benefit of an entire team which can analyze each situation as it is occurring. There are folks up in a box at the top of the stadium which are looking down at each play, identifying trends and tactics. Law Enforcement in Coos County has typically one cop, maybe two, who are on the ground and taking in all the information and required to make a decision. Except we are making decisions which impact people’ s lives and livelihoods. We are also criticized on high, but it is after the action has occurred and sometimes after facts which were not known at the time have already played out. Perhaps more information has come to light, or we learn that a person who we took information from in good faith was less than forthcoming. It is a huge responsibility and sometimes, even a burden. I challenge each person who reads this to ask themselves, in any given decision; if I knew then, what I know now, would I make the same decision? If the answer is contrary to the decision that you made, then you have the benefit of foresight. Something you did not have at the time you made the decision. Our folks are going out everyday and making these decisions. Most of the time, we do pretty good about getting it right. But there are those times when inevitably the information falls through due to a bad actor, or new evidence comes to light after the fact. But our bosses expect us to make an arrest, or take an action and we saw the need at the time to do the same. At that time, the evidence supported it, but we are often judged by the evidence that comes out after that action. But like a shot, once committed, an action cannot be taken back. Rest assured, however, that we are reporting all of the facts to the District Attorney who makes the charging decision. That particular office gets to look at all the facts, including the ones we did not have at the time an action occurred and make a fully informed decision. Justice tends to play out when all the pieces are in place. Law Enforcement is but the first step in a larger overall process. We now have the benefit of technology such as body cameras which helps us to analyze our decisions in the field and I often review this footage. For the most part, I can understand the Deputies reasoning and why they took the action at that time, regardless of what came out after the fact. I think most reasonable people would, however, like a football game, there is always a “winner” and always a “loser” when we make a decision. The “loser” is often upset because the decision did not fall in their favor and we often take the brunt of that anger. It is the name of the game, and I can understand it. Until such a time as we have an Instant Replay, the call on the field stands. It is in the post season analysis where the system works in these cases. I ask for some grace, maybe even some understanding because we have all been there and have to deal with the decisions we made at some point. In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy and most of all thank you for the support our citizens provide to this office and the people who serve them.
