We are a nation of laws. We have police to enforce the laws, and courts to adjudicate disputes about those laws. The only place anyone should argue with a policeman is in court.” These are not my words but the words of a friend whose name I choose to keep anonymous.

However, it does express my sentiments concerning the public’s interaction with police. We must have law and order or otherwise chaos and anarchy will prevail.

In my humble opinion, much of the motivation behind what is transpiring on the streets now centers around rebelling against authority. The police represent authority, preventing many from doing as they please without recourse. Even in a free civil society, you must have dos and don’ts for an orderly peaceful existence.

Police men and women are hired to enforce laws on the books. They do not have the option of turning their heads or only enforcing those laws they like. Unlike the president and attorney general, who pick and choose the laws they will enforce, police officers do not have that flexibility.

Therefore, if you violate a law and it is seen by a law enforcement officer, you will be approached and questioned by that officer. It is his or her job to do so.

We, the taxpayers, pay them to police and to arrest, if necessary, those violating our laws. The best way to avoid being stopped, questioned and possibly arrested is to obey the laws. About the most unwise thing you could possibly do is to resist arrest.

Chances are if you resist, the police will overcome you by whatever force is necessary for the arrest. This is what they are hired to do. It is unfortunate if either the one being arrested or the law enforcement officer gets hurt in the process. Lawyers and courts are there to ferry out whose right or wrong.

I do not believe police go out each day looking for someone to harass or beat up on as some would like you to believe. They go out with the intention of serving and protecting the public. It is only when someone in the public is disruptive, taking others’ belongings, or some other violation do police become involved.

Locally, the incident reports for this past Friday and Saturday presented in The Selma Times Journal showed 77 occasions police were engaged or answered calls. The incidents ranged from harassment to shots being fired.

According to national statistics, less than 1 percent of the time police use physical force when faced with combative or resistive behavior. At even lesser rate of times, they employ tasers, batons or pepper spray.

Also, the incident rate of deadly force being used is as low as 0.17 percent of the time, according to some reports. Deadly force can only be used to protect against death or grievous harm, when a lesser course is not available to subdue the individual.

According to a recently released report, Selma ranks fourth on the list of Alabama‘s most dangerous cities. We read a lot of editorials from Anniston in The Selma Times-Journal and they were number one in the report. Perhaps Anniston should spend more time editorializing on their lofty position as number one in the state, instead of chastising the governor and state legislature.

Under difficult circumstances, our police are doing a good job and need the continued support of the community. Thank God for them.