Brad Jardis Leaves Law Enforcement

January 27, 2010 by Ian Freeman
Filed under: Issues, Police, Update

Jardis The Union Leader’s Jason Schreiber reports:

EPPING – A police officer who fought publicly to keep his job has resigned from the police department and has also been given the boot as a member of an international group that wants to legalize drugs.

Leaders of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which advocates liberalization of drug laws, moved to distance themselves from Officer Bradley Jardis, who suggested in recent online postings that he would not enforce certain drug laws.

Jardis, of Hooksett, quit the police department on Monday, saying he could no longer work there after comments that Police Chief Gregory Dodge made about his job performance when he tried to have him fired recently.

Jardis, 29, has been at the center of controversy over internal disputes with police superiors and his affiliation with LEAP.

The resignation came at the same time that LEAP informed Jardis he was no longer allowed to serve as a member of the group, which includes current and former law enforcement officers who oppose existing drug laws.

In a letter to Jardis, Jack A. Cole, LEAP’s executive director, said the group’s executive board decided at a meeting Saturday that Jardis couldn’t continue to represent LEAP. Jardis made the letter public by posting it in an online forum.

The decision to kick Jardis out was made after the board learned that he had posted a comment in an online forum stating that he would no longer arrest a person who possesses, uses or grows marijuana to treat a medical condition.

Jardis, who has spoken publicly many times on behalf of LEAP, urged other New Hampshire police officers not to make the arrests either, claiming it’s unconstitutional to charge a sick person using marijuana for medicinal purposes.

“This is the opposite of what LEAP requires of our representatives,” Cole said in his letter. “We have always said that we will in no way ask that any law enforcer decline to do his or her duty by refusing to enforce the laws as they are currently recorded. That would be unethical and wrong. What we do call on them for (to) is take action on their off-duty time to help us change those laws.”

Cole added that Jardis’ actions have “caused people to lose respect for our organization, which leads to a loss of our credibility within the public, the media and the policymakers … the very people whom we are trying to convince to change these laws.”

Jardis said yesterday that LEAP “has shown that they support automaton policing in that their representatives are forbidden from coming to a constitutional or moral conclusion that enforcing a law is unconstitutional or unjust. … Just because a law is on the books, it doesn’t mean it is moral or constitutional.”

The dismissal from LEAP came just as Jardis was returning to work in Epping after being suspended and placed on paid leave after a dispute with his sergeant over his handling of a case last summer.

In August, Dodge, the police chief, ordered that Jardis be suspended for insubordination and violating police procedures. Dodge recommended that Jardis be fired.

He fought his suspension and after a public hearing in November, selectmen agreed to let him return to work if he passed a psychological evaluation. He passed that exam earlier this month.

“Brad was cleared to return to work and I was looking forward to moving on,” Dodge said yesterday.

Jardis said that while selectmen allowed him to return, “disparaging comments made by Chief Dodge during his attempt to have me fired made it impossible for me to return and be an effective Epping police officer.”

Comments

16 Comments on Brad Jardis Leaves Law Enforcement

Paul on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 2:02 pm

I’m sad to hear this, but I’m sure he had good reasons. The situation must have been untenable.

I look forward to the great things Jardis will do outside of LE, as a member of the liberty community. And, I look forward to the day when I once again have the freedom to use the fruit of my labor as I choose — when I can fire the local PD, and hire Jardis Security instead.

Dave on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 2:32 pm

So what is Jardis going to do for work now? Maybe he can become a private investigator.

Wyatt on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 4:05 pm

“Look, we know they are slaughtering Jewish men, women and children behind those walls. But it is THE LAW. Don’t you dare question and expose the evil system. Now just go on about your life as usual and ignore the smoke coming from behind those walls. Or you can go to the Gestapo and beg them to stop and maybe in time they’ll even turn a listening ear to your pleas. But more than likely they’ll just throw you in with the Jews. It’s your choice because it’s THE LAW!”

Thomas on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 5:52 pm

From looking from the LAW, the Constitution is the “supreme Law of the Land”, and the Supreme Court ruled via Marbury v. Madison that “a law repugnant to the Constitution is void.” And there is no mention concerning marijuana or any drug whatsoever in the Constitution. And the 10th Amemndment says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” And I could be wrong, but I remember New Hampashire law allows possession of marijuana with a doctor’s prescription, so Brad Jardis did follow the law after all.

Dan on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 6:02 pm

Part of me is sorry to not have him on the force anymore, because he will most likely be replaced by a cop who IS willing to enforce bad laws and make society worse.

But I was also becoming concerned for his safety from other police officers. Having seen what they are willing to do to harmless people for possessing certain herbs, I can only imagine the brutality and cruelty they would inflict upon somebody they considered a traitor to their cause (wrongfully).

Sam A. Robrin on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 8:39 pm

I agree: Relinquishing the way he makes a living has probably saved Brad’s life.

LSNL on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 10:00 pm

Jardis for Sheriff!

Lpviper on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 11:13 pm

Great comment! Sheriffs hold the keys to greater liberty for every locality.

Brad Jardis as sheriff would probably boot the feds out of his county and stop enforcement of liberty violating laws.

That’s the kind of platform everyone should be able to get behind!

Peacemaker on Wed, 27th Jan 2010 11:58 pm

The more honest people learn about the government system, the more they want nothing to do with it.

There’s a better way.

Vince on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 3:36 am

Agreed. Brad Jardis for Sheriff!

Lpviper on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 7:05 am

I completely concur, peacemaker. In the meantime, let’s get some liberty loving sheriffs in there

Russell Kanning on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 8:36 am

Unlike what the LEAP guy said, for me I have more respect for Brad after he made his recent declaration that he would not arrest someone for using certain herbs as medicine.

AnarchoJesse on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 7:51 pm

Brad, I think you’re one of the greatest and bravest guys I know.

theKINGofKEENE on Sat, 30th Jan 2010 9:19 am

Jesse’s so right…Bradley Jardis seems the hero-winner in this story, despite recent events. I hope you have good fortune in the future, Bradley. But isn’t it so sad that there is still such a virulent ignorance as shown by Epping’s bureaucraps? The swaggering bully childishness of the Chief of Police makes me sad. Chief should have publicly supported his troop, while taking the initiative to re-affirm the Town/Dept. position & policy. This asinine war on drugs has put 1/2 of all cops on the enemy side of the other 1/2…divide & conquer, anyone???…Should *I* quit L.E.A.P.???…Hmmm…TTYL…

theKINGofKEENE on Mon, 1st Feb 2010 3:21 pm

I joined L.E.A.P. in Oct. 2008, after seeing Cheshire County House of Collections superintendent Rick Van Wickler give a power-point talk here at Keene State College. For now, I’m not gonna over-react to this little tempest-in-a-teapot…Maybe Jack Cole (LEAP Director…),will also soon be unemployed!?…

DennyC on Wed, 21st Apr 2010 7:11 am

I’m confused in that what Jarvis did was admirable but he lost his job and any chance of working in law enforcement. With this economy it made no sense. He could have played a better role by working behind the scenes, anonymity, and remaining employed.
Does he have a wife? Kid? Bills?Whats he doing now?

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!