Citizens of Whatcom County, Washington:

A change took place within the Sheriff’s Office several years back that you
may not be aware of.

For years, the following Law Enforcement Code of Ethics has been the gold
standard for behavior and expectations of law enforcement personnel
under your employ. The “Golden Rule”, if you will.

Its common sense to most of us, even an oath to many of us, but it’s
always been a great reminder of what is expected and what is not
tolerated within the law enforcement community.

The old code…

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics

As currently posted on the WCSO page of the Whatcom County government website:
http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/sheriff/ethics.jsp

As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to

safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak
against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to
respect the Constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality and justice.

I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in
the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful
of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official
life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my
department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in
my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the
performance of my duty.

I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or

friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless
prosecution of criminal, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear
or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never
accepting gratuities.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a

public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will
constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to
my chosen profession...law enforcement.
The time honored code, which details and explains what ethics are, has
been replaced internally with something new, something amorphous,
something riddled with a lot of wiggle room and holes.

This new “vision” is now included at the bottom of all administrative level
WCSO electronic communications.

Don’t get me wrong, it sounds GREAT, at first, I mean who doesn’t want to
be “safe” right? But,… you don’t see the sleight of hand until you really
start taking a close look at what it is not saying…

Our Vision: The Office of Sheriff, dedicated to making

Whatcom County the safest in the state through
excellence in public safety
It’s not saying it will be done ethically. It’s not saying your rights will be
respected or protected. In fact your rights aren’t mentioned at all. It’s not
saying who will be protected, or from whom. It’s not even defining what
“excellence in public safety” means. According to whom? What about the
constitution? Not even a footnote.

My conclusion: I guess when you can’t measure up under the old code, in
fact have repeatedly failed, miserably in many instances,… you have no
choice but to lower the bar low enough so that your new ethically and
morally compromised promotees can survive.

…Oh, and I’ll give you ONE guess who was behind pushing the old code of
ethics aside and who “trained” us all on the NEW “vision”?

Regards,

A concerned anonymous deputy