Julian Castro continues to pander to leftist, anti-police Democrats in his presidential campaign by proposing national policies that would undercut police officers’ authority, and make them and citizens more vulnerable to criminals. He is proposing to remove “qualified immunity” from the law that shields government officials, including police officers, from personal liability for their actions while conducting their jobs, and it would allow people to sue the officers directly for all and any actions.
Because police officers are public servants and involved in (life and death) decision-making activities, they are protected under law by “qualified immunity.” It is their protection from personal legal liability, and one of the reasons why cities pay for civil settlements to “victims” of police actions.
In Castro’s thinking, by removing “qualified immunity,” it would be easier for people to sue the police officers personally, as well as sue the municipality that employs them. He believes this would force the police to personally more responsible for their jobs and stop “unnecessary police violence.”
However, Castro, who has never served in the military nor worked the streets as a police officer, does not understand the effect removing “qualified immunity” would have on policing, particularly in a split-second, life-and-death situations. The police officers would be frozen in their ability to take immediate actions in any situations for fear of personal legal liability.
Furthermore, this personal legal liability would discourage people from joining law enforcement at a time when recruiting officers is difficult. Removing “qualified immunity” will also embolden criminals and encourage frivolous lawsuits.
Removing qualified immunity will endanger the officer when faced with split-second, possible life-and-death situation. Twenty-two officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty in 2019 so far. He is pandering to militant anti-police groups like Black Lives Matter for their political support and the expense of police officer safety.
Castro seems to want to encourage more fear, doubt, and disrespect toward the police and all law enforcement officials with his presidential policies. He recently proposed “decriminalizing illegal immigration,” which would end “illegal” immigration and open the border.
Qualified immunity is one of the most powerful federal laws because it protects police officers from personal liability, especially in cases of deadly force. Removing it would have the same effect as the military fighting a “limited and contained war,” and we should remember how that worked in Vietnam.
Law enforcement, whether it is the local police or the Border Patrol, are under assault from leftist Democrats who see them as impediments to their social justice agenda. Castro is not only wrong to propose removing qualified immunity, but it is also dangerous to the peace and safety of all citizens.
Like the Bolsheviks in 1917 Russia, Castro and other leftist Democrats seem to be undermining the representatives of law and order to create chaos and thus justify their tyranny later. Castro is dangerous to our public safety in many ways.