A Thank You To The Nashua Police

Those of us who are active in the liberty movement’s media outreach spend a considerable amount of time speaking negatively about the actions of those who represent the state.  To be fair to the truth of my past, I often speak negatively about actions that I myself took while representing the state.  The tools we use to move towards a society that allows greater freedom is stronger than any weapon that the state relies on to exist and enforce it’s will.  The tools we use are words, compassion, and understanding.

I believe our words should be used to punish when we are hurt and even more importantly… to thank when we are treated well.

Today I was pulled over traveling south on Route 3 in Nashua.  I was going 70MPH in a 55MPH zone and anyone who knows the road knows that following the 55MPH limit would be dangerous when everyone is going 70+ around you.  I was just keeping up with traffic and not trying to get somewhere quickly.

The Nashua officer approached me and I provided him with my license and registration.  I then decided to follow my own advice that I frequently provide others when dealing with the police: remain silent.

I was asked to speak several times.  I did not.  I was asked to remove my sunglasses.  I did not.  The officer responded by simply respecting the fact that I was remaining silent and was unwilling to engage him in discussion which could be used by him to justify a further detention or enforcement action.  He took my documentation and returned to his patrol vehicle.  After checking my documentation he returned to me and handed me back my paperwork.  After the officer returned my documents to me I thanked him for being so kind and told him that I meant him no disrespect in my desire to remain silent.

This officer was polite, kind, and respectful to someone who was not complying in the normal ways that people normally do when they are met with a police encounter.  In a day where we see countless examples of contempt-of-cop on YouTube for things as minor as my behavior when stopped by an officer, I think that it is vital to positively reinforce and thank state agents when they behave in a respectful manner.

In this spirit, I am sending the following letter to the Nashua Police Chief:

Chief Conley,

On 06/07/10 at about 9:40AM I was stopped by a Corporal Constintino (I believe I have his name correctly, apologies if I do not) on Route 3 as I was traveling south. I was traveling 70 in the 55 zone.

The reason why I write you is to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for Corporal Constintino’s professionalism. I’d also like to express the level of respect that I believe the Corporal showed to my individual rights as a citizen of this country and state.

During the traffic stop I chose to exercise my right to remain silent and not answer any of your officer’s questions about where I was going or why I was exceeding the posted limit.  Additionally, I chose to not comply with a request of the officer to remove my sunglasses to aid in his ability to identify me from my drivers license.

My decision to not cooperate was not intended as a show of disrespect to your agency or to the Corporal.  My decision to do so was based on the principle that I believe people should refrain from voluntarily giving information to the government when they are detained by force.  This information is frequently used to justify further detention, searching, or enforcement action.

In a day where a citizen choosing to assert their right to remain silent is frequently met with an often unprofessional and distasteful response by law enforcers… your officer responded with kindness and respect.

At the conclusion of the stop I thanked the Corporal for his understanding of my choosing to remain silent.

I believe Corporal Constintino actions represented your agency as a professional law enforcement organization.  This example makes me believe that you demand this type of professionalism by officers under your command.  For this I thank you.

I respectfully ask that you extend my personal thanks to your officer and possibly consider placing my letter of appreciation for his conduct in his personnel file.

I have already made the professionalism of your officer known publicly through my work in liberty-related media at www.FreeKeene.com and it is my intent to continue to tell many people how well I was treated.

Respectfully,

Bradley Jardis

I think that writing letters of thanks and asking that they be placed in an officer’s employment file is something we should do as a matter of normal practice…  and I propose we begin doing it without question from this day forward.

I’d even write the letter for you.  Just ask.