Cottonwood Heights, Utah police chief E. Robby Russo has issued a Special Order for his officers: They “will support” (emphasis added) Moms Demand Dead Victims. Visually.
Specifically, they “will support” Bloomberg’s MDA by wearing department-provided “orange” shirts under their uniforms in June.
Special Order 19-001
Gun violence is an epidemic in the United States, with 88 people killed by gun violence every days. Police Officers deal with the constant threats an are called upon to deliver tragic news to families touched by gun violence. The City Council has proclaimed June as “Gun Violence Awareness Month”.
As a symbol that we value human life the Cottonwood Heights Police Department will support our friends at Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America by wearing “orange” shirts under their uniforms as visual affirmation of the right of every American to live a life free from gun violence.
The department has obtained these shirt which are available in support services and authorized during the month of June.
/signed/
E. Robby Russo, Chief
This is published as an order. The language “will” is directive, as opposed to “may” which would have been suggestive. And, as it’s an order from their boss, I imagine the officers see this as mandatory anyway, regardless of what views they might personally hold on the subject of victim disarmament,
I don’t know what laws Utah might have regarding public servants forcing their underlings to express political opinions, but it’s possible the Hatch Act may come into play (and yes, it can apply to state and local officials, not just federal employees). Add the strong probability that the CHPD gets federal support through grants or the 1033 program, and I’d guess, as a non-lawyer, that Russo is subject to the Act.
Does the Act apply in this case? Utah’s latest legislative session has ended, so he isn’t forcing an expression of support of a specific bill. But he is forcing political support for a group that most definitely played an active role in pushing specific legislation.
Certainly victim disarmament/gun control is partisan, as evidenced by every Dem presidential wannabe saying so and trying to prove they’re each more anti-rights than their competitors. Not to mention House and Senate Dems blasting Republicans for footdragging on the push to feed the Constitution to the shredder.
So, in my opinion, Chief Russo is using his office to engage in partisan political activity, and is forcing his officers to do so as well. That looks very much like a Hatch Act violation. But I could be wrong.
At any rate, I wonder what the officers think about this, when the chief isn’t listening. For that matter, what do the apparently strongly Republican-leaning people of Cottonwood Heights think of the chief’s political shenanigans in support of Bloombergian harpies? Then again, they elected a city council that supports this.
Maybe that Hatch Act net can spread a little farther.
[Permission to republish this article is granted so long as it is not edited and the author and The Zelman Partisans are credited.]
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