beckrodgers raises some thoughts that I wasn't aware were included in the original topic ... and if they were meant to be included in this thread, then perhaps I shouldn't have posted my response because I didn't address any of them ... and some of them aren't "harmless" L/E Discount-at-gunstore issues ...
I'm NOT familiar with anything occurring in your historic city, but if some of the issues you've listed are occurring then you should be addressing your concerns to the proper city officials. As a citizen of a city you have a right to ask questions about issues that you feel concern inappropriate activities involving city employees. Especially L/E. We're under a microscope most of the time.
Many of your broad concerns could probably be best addressed by someone from the affected agency, and could be clarified point-by-point ... and you should ask for such clarification. If it's something that has obviously upset you, then it's something that might've upset other citizens living there and receiving the benefit of city services ... including L/E services. If citizens are upset about such issues, and there's a basis for being upset but the issues remain unresolved ... Well, that's one of the ways that a division could certainly occur between the L/E and the citizens they serve.
If such problems exist ... and are really "problems" ... they must be resolved, or at least explained to the satisfaction of the public receiving the benefit of the L/E services. Otherwise, trust and faith in the L/E agency may suffer ...
Some of the points you raise may have some similar context in my state, though ...
Our General Orders prohibit anyone from accepting gifts & gratuities connected with performing their job duties & responsibilities ... for obvious reasons.
Housing privileges? Do you mean offering some inducement to attract L/E to live within the communities in which they work? Those areas where the housing is offered wouldn't be a low-income area where a higher amount of L/E calls-for-service occur, would they? That's been offered in some places before, and with little success in the instances I've heard about ... Nobody was running to be the first in line to move their families into a "high calls-for-service" area ...
I can say that few of the people in my agency can even afford to live in the areas where they work. Many of our folks live 1-2 hours away, where they can afford to own a home on the income we receive, and commute 2-4 hours a day ... or else stay with someone else during their work week and only see their families on their "weekends". Lucky them ...
Cell phones? Okay, once when our local government agencies were entering into an agreement with a cell phone provider, many of the employees were given the ability to sign up for contracts at the government rate ... but the contracts and equipment weren't exactly "cutting edge". My phone won't work in areas where "regular folk's" cell phones are working just fine. A couple of times in a situation at work I've even had to ask to borrow a citizen's cell phone because mine wasn't able to connect ... Imagine the confidence THAT inspires in the public ... Want one of ours?
Vehicle discounts? Stand in line ... Our credit union has sales for members all the time, and I think you only have to know someone that knows someone else ... six degrees of separation
... that claimed to be a member in order to join ...
Running a business out of a patrol car? Sounds like if one of our folks tried that we be hearing things like "misappropriation" of government equipment and "conduct unbecoming" ... Want to run a business, then run a business ... want to be L/E, then do your job ... Not rocket science.
Restaurant discount? Nobody in authority likes to hear about them, but they've been around as long as badges ... and longer. Some cops won't accept them, and won't patronize a place that "forces" them on an officer, to avoid the issue ... some cops simply "tip" the amount of the meal or beverage they receive ...
And then there's those cops that belly up to the bar and loudly proclaim their desire to receive a free meal because of their status. Okay, nobody likes those cops ... not the public, not the restaurant employees (who work very hard for a minimum wage living in most cases), not the L/E agency administration ... and not most other cops ...
If you come up with a perfect solution for this one, and how to take the various aspects of human nature into account ... INCLUDING those honest and supportive restaurant owners that simply WANT to offer some minor gesture of appreciation and support to the local L/E, and don't expect ANY special consideration in return ... Well, please let everyone know what that answer is ...
In the meantime, it's officially not condoned in most places ...
Why can't you buy a vest for yourself or your family? Local laws prohibit it? Local L/E supplier simply won't sell to non-L/E/military/security? This is a hot topic in some places, and there are even laws prohibiting ex-felons from possessing ballistic vests, so I won't be surprised if eventually the hue & cry of the public compels politicians to outlaw the possession of such things for non-L/E/military/security, etc ... Nobody said laws had to make sense to be passed & enforced ...
Either a class is being or has been created or I am stupid. This has been talked on before so many times creating a royal privelidge or state sponsered Special Class.
Well, I don't think it's likely either extreme in your statements are correct ... I don't think there's a broad based special state-sponsored class of royal privilege made up of L/E ... Nor do I think you're stupid.
I think it sounds as though you have some reason to be upset about this subject, though ... and it always bothers me to see anyone among the public express these sentiments. I wish I could've been there to prevent whatever happened that made you feel that way, from happening ... and I suspect I'm not alone in that regard.
L/E folks ARE citizens ... who just happen to have sworn an oath and carry a badge in order to serve & protect the public according to established laws, and within the limits of the criminal justice system ... but we're still just citizens.
