by Michelle Morin
UPDATE to this post 4/17/13: Colorado State Patrol Officer Clarifies Questions About “Sovereign Citizens” & “Targeting Christians”
This is an update to my 4/7/13 post, “Colorado State Patrol – Christians Need to be Watched, Treated with Caution.”
Since posting this, both the Prowers County Sheriff and the Colorado State Patrol have responded. Here’s what each has said.
From the Prowers County Sheriff Jim Faull:
PROWERS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE April 7, 2013
One day last week Undersheriff Trowbridge attended a training class sponsored by the Colorado State Patrol. The training topic was sovereign citizens and outlaw motorcycle gangs and was held in La Junta, Colorado.
Undersheriff Trowbridge informed me the next day that the instructor who was an employee of the State Patrol assigned to the intelligence section of that agency was teaching that people who believe the Bible is the literal word of God and fundamentalists plus those that do not agree with the changes taking place in America could find themselves under the scrutiny of law enforcement. This particular instructor stated that his information comes from the federal Homeland Security Agency
I think it would be appropriate for the Colorado State Patrol to suspend this particular training until it can be reevaluated and appropriate changes made. The first amendment gives us freedom of religion plus other fundamental rights. When an instructor with a state law enforcement agency is teaching their own employees and other law enforcement agencies that bible believing citizens and those that do not agree with current political trends are dangerous and should be under the scrutiny of law enforcement, then that agency needs to make some fundamental changes with that particular course.
Prowers County Sheriff
Note: I will be out of town the rest of the day. I will be in my office on Monday to answer any questions.
From the Colorado State Patrol:
From Ian Blacker, CSP Chaplain, 4/10/13:
The official response of the CSP to the allegations from a Prowers County Under sheriff:
A law enforcement training class offered by the Colorado State Patrol on April 1, 2013. We have spoken to several officers who attended this same training and have verified that none of them interpreted the instructor’s comments in the manner described by the undersheriff. We regret that he misrepresented the training in a way that clearly is not the position of the Colorado State Patrol. The Colorado State Patrol will not target individuals or groups based on religious, idealogical, political or other affiliations, and we do not condone any such practice. OUr core values of honor, duty and respect are the foundation of the Colorado State Patrol. We will never compromise these values or the public trust?
h/t Ian Blacker, CSP Chaplain
These are exceptionally and increasingly trying times here in Colorado as the leftists in power pull out all the stops to destroy all which have made this nation the freest in history.
What occurred in the April 1st training has served to open a dialogue and awareness of the systematic breakdown of our Constitutional rule of law (particularly in Colorado), and its confusing and negative effects on both law enforcement officers and they citizens they serve. This is precisely what happens when the unbridled left is in power – and the left currently runs all 3 branches of Colorado’s state government. With so many new laws which contradict (and ignore trample) multiple Constitutional rights and the disturbing changes resulting here, it’s a healthy dialogue for Colorado’s citizens to ask if the CSP training officer was speaking on his own behalf, or if the alleged remarks about “sovereign citizens” represent an official position of the CSP. Hence, this post.
As I said in my original post, local law enforcement, in particular, are being put at a new crossroads and positioned to make some tough decisions about their duties. They will very soon be choosing between enforcing Constitutional rule of law and new laws which contradict our Constitutional principles and which make criminals out of innocents. Since local law enforcement is the last person standing between unconstitutional, over-reaching laws and the innocent citizens they criminalize, we must know exactly where our law enforcement stands on these serious and difficult issues.
We now have a clearer understanding of and appreciation for just how serious our Sheriffs are about defending Constitutional rights and the citizens they serve. We also now have an official statement from the CSP which might assuage some concerns and give Coloradans more insight into the various levels of law enforcement at work in our state.
I will keep my readers updated on any developments. As the left’s unconstitutional new laws take effect, there is certain to be more chaos resulting from the rule-of-law breakdown brewing in our state. And by the way… if you haven’t already, consider get involved in your local politics. It’s the only way we who value our nation’s founding principles of freedom can roll back the approaching leftist-induced mayhem.
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Michelle Morin a conservative blogger and speaker for freedom and America’s founding principles. Join her for updates here.
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