Knowledge is Power...

One of my academy instructors was very fond of that phrase. I have found his words to be true.

The more we know, the better off we are. I don't necessarily know all of the code sections for the laws I enforce every day, but I know what is legal and what isn't. As long as I know I can arrest you for something you've done, we can figure out the section for it later. All I need to know is the elements of the crime.

I don't know what the vehicle code section is for that board you have hanging five feet past your taillights with no red flag, but I know I can stop you for it. Once I am writing the ticket, I can look it up. I haven't memorized the municipal code section for parking in a loading zone, but I know I can write you a parking ticket for it, even if I have to look up the numbers.

We have to know the law. The more we know about the law, the more efficiently we can do our jobs. I sometimes read the penal code book just to find something new I didn't know. I often say "Wow, I didn't know that" and catalog the information away. Again, I may not remember the exact code section, but I now know another thing I can arrest you for.

Thanks Mr. Needham, knowledge really is power.