After eight years of Barack Obama, the world is upside down. Political correctness runs amok in a way it has never before, leading us to the point where criminals can’t be referred to as bad guys.
The latest case of insanity comes from police in Seattle who have been forced to abandon the term “suspect” for the more identity-friendly “community member.” No, this isn’t just reserved for a one-time litterbug, chicken thief, or jaywalker. Violent criminals are “community members.”
Case in point: last month, an armed robbery occurred in Seattle and three officers were injured in a shootout with the suspect eventually killed by police. When writing up their use of force reports, officers used the term “community member” and not suspect, according to KIRO 7. The police officers’ guild president, Kevin Stuckey, told the news station that this is a clear case of political correctness.
“I don’t think you should have a broad stroke like that and call everybody the same thing,” Stuckey said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with calling someone who is a victim a victim, or calling someone who’s a suspect a suspect.”
Seattle Police Chief Operating Officer Brian Maxey said the “suspect” label can be misleading if that person isn’t suspect of wrongdoing. The new term is a replacement for other PC-terms Seattle officers have been using for the last seven years, like “subject” and “citizen.” The latest update to the language and use of force reports came about after the Obama administration sicced its Department of Justice on police departments across the nation.
That resulted in another language change for the Washington Department of Corrections. Instead of calling its prisoners “inmates,” a word like “student” is preferred. From KIRO 7’s report:
“The term ‘offender’ does have a negative connotation and significantly impacts a broad group of people and communities,” Acting DOC Secretary Dick Morgan wrote in an internal department memo, obtained by KIRO 7.
“Times change, and so does our language.”
However, that means Gary Ridgway -- the most prolific American serial killer who said he has at least 71 victims -- is no longer called an inmate or an offender. Neither are other murderers, rapists and felons.
The phase-out of the word “offender” started Nov. 1 and replaced with “individuals,” “student” or “patient,” the DOC secretary wrote to his staff.
He also told staff, “It takes time to change habits but I encourage all of you to make an effort. Start by referring to individuals by their names (if you don’t already), practice replacing or removing the word ‘offender’ from your communication and presentation to others.”
But the officers’ guild president recoiled at such a confusing idea, stating, “I guess a community member could be the person who breaks into your car and break[s] into your home or harms you or your child. But who are we talking about?”
This is Obama’s America — “community member” number one.
H/T Townhall
