Can cops put bumper stickers up in the police department?

[proud2BlibKansan]

I was watching local news and they interviewed a cop about a robbery at a department store. And he is sitting there in the police station with a BUSH/CHENEY bumper sticker up on the wall behind him!!

:wtf:

I searched but the video isn't posted on that station's website.

Is this legal?

This was in Lenexa, KS, a suburb of Kansas City. I do know that in KC, MO those cops can't put any political bumper stickers on their cars or signs in their yards. It's a law that has been challenged a few times but never thrown out.

And I would defend their right to put bumper stickers on their personal cars. But this was IN THE POLICE STATION!!

I am a teacher and I wouldn't DREAM of putting a political bumper sticker in my classroom. No way.

[Breeze54]

1. I don't know if it's illegal or not. Was he in his office?

Maybe if it's the chief's office. :shrug:

My local just has badges from all over the country in the lobby.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I am pretty sure it was his office and not his house

It was a desk in a cubicle with bookshelves above the cubicle. Lots of cop stuff. And this bumper sticker. Plus the guy was in a uniform.

Why would the chief get to do it?

[Breeze54]

18. Because I thought only the chief would have an office!

Regular cops usually have police cars! :P

But it it was in his cubicle, then I guess he can put up whatever he wants (within reason).

I don't know. I don't hang out at my local cop station but when I have been there it was boring.

Just calenders and maps and emblems and pictures of retired police etc.

[liberalnurse]

20. As hard as it is to swallow....

Bush/Cheney...they are the Pres and VP of the USA. Very customary to have a Presidential picture in an office over the years........so I guess this is okay by that standard.

Just think, we can change that in 375 days.

[Breeze54]

24. But not if it was a political bumper sticker in the lobby though.

A picture of 'them'(ugh) would be ok for the reasons you wrote but
a political bumper sticker in the lobby wouldn't be cool, IMO.

I can't wait until 01/20/2009!!

[ThatsMyBarack]

2. IMO, NOBODY should be allowed to have BUSH/CHENEY stickers anymore....

It should be ILLEGAL to support those morans in any way/shape/form! :rant:

[Breeze54]

4. LMAO! I like that law!!

:P

[sk8rrobert2]

5. As much as I agree with the statement I must side with the side of

The First Amendment: Freedom of choice still has some jurisdiction but we still got a year of Bush and the Shooter. So we'll talk in year and see how things are then if we're allowed to but it can't be on the phones...

[proud2BlibKansan]

In a police dept - a taxpayer funded police dept??

The first amendment doesn't allow me to tell my students who I think the best candidates are. It's a no-brainer for me as professional that putting a political bumper sticker in my workplace is not okay.

[Lex]

11. The First Amendment doesn't apply to the political speech of the Government.

The police dept. is by extension the government.

The First Amendment applies to government abridging the political speech of the citizens.

What the officers put up in their own homes would be protected--but not what the police puts up on its front bulletin board (for instance).

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. That's what I was thinking.

[sk8rrobert2]

31. alright i get it...thx for showing me the error of my ways

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I can support that

LOL

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I guess it is up to each department

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. These are asshole suburban cops

Gee I am so surprised they voted for Bush! :sarcasm:

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Like the military the police is a reflection of society

so yes, there will be about a 30% of troglodytes anywhere who are still proud of their vote

:-)

[lpbk2713]

9. That's showing a political endorsement and it is unprofessional at best.

It is not permitted in most police departments and other governmental agencies to show

any favoritism to any candidates whether they won or lost even if the election may be over.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. And the election was 3 years ago!!

How nutty is that?

[progdonkey]

10. I think it really depends on exactly what wall we're talking about...

If it's in the general booking area, like a bulletin board for everyone to see, then I'd have a problem with it. The same would go if it were a Democratic bumper sticker, as it breeds a belief that the force as a whole is politically biased/corrupt.

If it's that cop's cubicle or in his office--and they allow cops who are Democrats to put up Edwards stickers or whatever--then I don't see how it's a problem. I think a person (even a public servant like a cop) should be allowed to decorate his desk space however he wants, as long as it doesn't actively attack someone else or contribute to a hostile working environment. (Ie. just a bumper sticker in support of Candidate X would be fine, but something saying liberals are traitors, or something anti-gay, -minority, etc. would have to be removed.)

Just my legally uninformed $.02. ;-)

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. Having to look at that bumper sticker

would make it a hostile environment for me LOL

[DrDan]

13. Lenexa Kansas - the heart of red country . . .

just a skip from Overland Park - the subject of the book "Whats the Matter with Kansas" or whatever it was called.

ridiculously conservative

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. You got it!

It's one of a dozen suburban communities in this county right across the state line from KCMO. I grew up here; I am from the same little suburb as Thomas Frank. And the cops are ASSHOLES.

[havocmom]

17. Knew a female officer with two bumper stickers

One on the bumper of her squad car:

"I have PMS & a gun. What was your beef again?"

Inside the car, on the backside of the front seat:

"This isn't Burger King & you can't have it your way"

Nothing political. Just the facts. :evilgrin:

[Breeze54]

19. I had a similar one on my car too! LMAO! and my sister

warned me that I should remove it so that my job didn't see it and get worried! :rofl:

It said:

"I didn't go to work today. The voices said stay home and clean the guns!"

:rofl:

The car was dying anyway so I sold it, stickers and all! :P

[classykaren]

21. be safe tonight... sleep with a cop

We had a cop with that on his car lol

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[goddess40]

23. It lets you know he's an asshole and an idiot.

Anyone that works for a living, especially for the government, that supports the republican's is missing a few brain cells

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Agreed!!

[Ravy]

25. Maybe it was simply reserving a spot for their wanted posters. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. Best answer in the thread!!!

:toast:

[jdadd]

28. Back in the 80s

the republican mayor of Mansfield Ohio had a poster of Ronald Reagan in a superman costume on the wall in his office. :puke:

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Yuck

Definitely puke worthy.

[Historic NY]

32. It shouldn't be there, period. Police Dept. should not be making

political statements even if its ones own cubical.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. Yes it is unprofessional at a minimum