This week, Tempe, Arizona police officer Jessica Dever-Jakusz, resigned under the immense pressure of an investigation into criminal charges. Apparently, Officer Dever-Jakusz, entered into a romantic relationship with a drug dealer (while undercover). She eventually admitted to the drug dealer that she was in fact a cop, and she continued to reveal the identities of two other officers working the undercover case with her.
The backlash is understandably harsh, as former Officer Dever-Jakusz willingly, and knowingly placed other's lives in immediate danger by blowing their cover in an investigation. Amidst all of this, Dever-Jakusz has attempted to fade into the background of this seemingly embarrassing occurrence. This whole incident, however, broaches the idea that often we forget that we entrust our safety to people. Human beings are behind the badges. there is a great deal of psychology, sociology, and physiology that goes into what makes a person an individual. These things cannot be stored away all the time once they are sworn to protect and serve.
While the behavior of Dever-Jakusz is deplorable (there is no excuse for willingly placing co-workers in danger), her relationship that developed out of performing her undercover duties is something that should be somewhat easier to sympathize with. By no means is this a justification of what she did, and by no means is this a suggestion that there should not be harsh repercussions. However, this is suggesting that we take into account the stresses of our own lives, and apply them into a potentially even more stressful position, like the ones that police officers are faced with daily.
Was Dever-Jakusz acting in the right sense of mind when she gave away the identities of her colleagues? Probably not. It is important to remember that we are affected by what we feel is the right decision. In the moment that we decide these things, we are not often in the most effective state of mind. These are things to consider when we judge those who seek to protect.
Tempe police officer Jessica Dever-Jakusz resigns amid criminal investigation
Your blog is very interesting. I have someone very close to me who is a police officer, so sometimes it is difficult for me when people lump all officers together as awful, but I think you have done a good job of staying neutral. There are always so many stories about how bad the police are, but you rarely hear of the good, and I think that is a huge problem. I'm not excusing any horrible behavior, because they shouldn't be doing certain things, but it would be nice to highlight the good they do. I have different views during our conversations because social work and police work do not always mesh...but I also understand why the police are there.
ReplyDeleteI don't think she should have been undercover if she could not handle it. I understand that humans are humans, but when you put other people's lives in danger you shouldn't be doing the job.