The Similkameen News Leader
Editorial
March 03, 2009
I GUESS I'M STUNNED
You'd think Sgt. Macahonic was some sort of celebrity or politician with all the mud being thrown and dirt being dug up in his past.
And with all due respect to Ms. Doughty and the service she provided the community I see a very lopsided attack being waged in our community.
Let me explain.
The contract for the services of the Economic Development Officer was not renewed earlier this year. I have yet to see a public protest related to that take place in downtown Princeton nor have I seen any mud being thrown at or dirt being dug up on the past of Mayor Randy McLean and posted somewhere so all can see.
However, in the case of Macahonic vs. Victim Services this appears to be the way some Princeton area residents want to solve the problem, so now we are to believe that incidents in Sgt. Macahonic's police history are why the Victim Services contract did not get renewed?
It's as if saying the prices at the Mayor's restaurant has something to do with the Economic Development Officer contract not being renewed.
There is no connection.
And as much as I try not to pick sides I think the horrible injustice that has truly happened here is the unfair treatment and virtual character assassination of the guy who ultimately controls what really happens in this town. (Hint: He is The Law).
When I was a young boy I was taught to respect figures of authority. Even if I didn't agree with what they were doing. So what I find so strange in the circus that appears to be forming around this issue is that the facts have been discarded and emotion has taken control.
There's no doubt in my mind that Ms. Doughty provided an essential service to the community and Sgt. Macahonic even said in this paper that he views the Victim Services Program as an essential component in community policing. What we need to remember is that the service is not gone.
It reminds me of when the local radio station closed down. I had spent 12.5 years there, and thought I had done a pretty good job. Then one day the parent company shut it down to cut costs. I don't know that I would say I was devastated, but I was disappointed that all the time and effort I had put into what I considered an essential community service was gone.
There's still a radio station, but it's not the way it used to be and that still bothers me, but I know why it happened. The parent company chose to go another direction and that was a decision only they could make.
I think it's fair to say the same thing about Victim Services. There's been a decision to go a different direction. It won't be the same, but there will still be a service we'll all eventually get used to.
Sure, it may hurt and sting right now, but it's also not fair to throw mud and dig up dirt in a feeble attempt to shame or embarrass someone. That's really just dirty and uncalled for.
Especially when you consider the current target is a guy who has the power to write everyone speeding tickets...and a whole lot more.
