I realize that working as a police officer is difficult, dangerous, and even heroic work at times. I very much appreciate what our men and women in blue do for us. However, in Spotsylvania County they take it to another level completely. I mean, we're talking SACRIFICE here. As you've probably heard, the cops down there don't just take prostitution lying down, they take it standing up too. If you know what I mean. Wink wink.According to the Washington Post:
Spotsylvania County's practice of allowing detectives to receive sexual services in prostitution cases has exploded across the nation, fueled by snickering bloggers and talk radio shows, and the county's top official has asked the sheriff to stop using the investigative technique.
For once - probably the last time - I'm going to quote Rush Limbaugh approvingly on this blog. Here's what Rush had to say on the subject:
I know it's a dirty job, somebody's gotta do it, can you imagine the waiting list? I bet there's no unemployment in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
Actually, Rush, Spotsylvania does have an unemployment rate - 2.1 percent, one of the lowest in the state and basically no more than "frictional" unemployment (no sex pun intended there, by the way; my GOD, you people have dirty minds!). :)
Now, here are the last two paragraphs of the Washington Post editorial on the subject:
"This has to be done" to guarantee a conviction, Sheriff Howard D. Smith declared grimly, instantly ensuring himself a place as a laughingstock among police and prosecutors across the nation, who manage to secure convictions without engaging in sex with their suspects. Sheriff Smith likened his detectives' investigative technique to that of narcotics agents who buy drugs, thereby breaking the law in order to enforce it.Sorry, Sheriff Smith: No dice. Virginia drug laws contain an exception that specifically enables undercover cops to possess (and therefore buy) narcotics in the course of an investigation; there's no similar provision allowing for sex with prostitutes. As for the cops, they should find other ways to think of Spotsylvania.
Is this like "we had to burn the village in order to save it" or what?
By the way, is it a great time to be a comedian in America or what? Between Dick Cheney's "gang that couldn't shoot straight" exploits and the Spotsylvania police department's, er, aggressive law enforcement techniques (a $350 tip for services rendered to one prostitute - what, in order to reward her for her "crimestopper tip?"), we've got comic fodder for many days, if not months! For instance, I wonder what Chief Wiggum of the Simpsons would say at a time like this. A few possibilities:
*"How do you like that, it's also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purpose of gambling."
*"Just relax and it'll come, son."
*"She didn't reckon with the awesome power of the Chief of Police! Now where did I put my badge?"
Or, as Chief Wiggum's nemesis, Homer Simpson, would probably say at a time like this: "D'oh!!!"
[UPDATE Spotsylvania has now "suspended the practice of allowing detectives to receive sexual services during prostitution investigations." And on another note, Spotsylvania police "descend on [the] wrong home - twice," knocking in the front door of a 33-year-old Howard University law student who had done nothing wrong. I'll tell you, I don't know what they put in the donuts down in Spotslyvania County, but maybe the police there should lay off 'em for a while! Ha.]