Checks, Balances & Transparency of Government

The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads in part,

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; or deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

As a people, when we accept the legitimacy of government, the next question we should ask ourselves is: Why not give government officials, its agents (Police Chiefs, City Attorneys, Mayors to name a few) all the power they need to fullfill their missions? John Locke and Thomas Jefferson provided us with the answer to this question over 200 years ago. Their contention was that when government officials are given unlimited power, they inevitably misuse the power, oftentimes becoming worse than the murderers, rapists, thieves and burglars they were charged with protecting the people from.

The Fathers of our country solved this problem by bringing our government into existence by using a Constitution to specify and limit the government's powers. It is important to always keep in mind that, government is necessary, but also to realize that it can be the primary threat to the freedom and liberties of its citizens. Remember the saying "power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts". That is why we have the Bill of Rights and ultimately the Fourteenth Amendment. Thanks to the Woodstock City Government we also have the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to further guarantee this right.

Woodstock Municipal Code (2.12.1: BOARD ESTABLISHED) states that "There is hereby created a Board of Fire and Police Commissioners in the City, whose members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council....". (1986 Code)

Woodstock Municipal Code (2.12.4: POWERS AND DUTIES) states that "The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall have the following powers and duties pertaining to sworn members of the Police Department: (emphasis added)

A. To make and promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct of examinations for original appointments, conduct of examinations for promotions, and conduct of hearings on charges brought against the member of the Police Department. (1986 Code) (emphasis added)

B. To make all original appointments to the Police Department and appointments to promotion within the Police Department pursuant to examinations.

C. To conduct examinations for original appointments and promotions.

D. To conduct hearings on charges brought against any member of the Police Department. (emphasis added)

E. Such other and further powers as may from time to time be authorized by the General Assembly. (1986 Code)"

2.12.2: MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS: states in part that

"A. The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall consist of three (3) members, whose terms of office shall be three (3) years............

B. Members of the Board must be residents of the City and shall be considered officers of the City and shall file an oath and fidelity bond....." (emphasis added)

So as far as I and I hope you can see the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners is an important link in the line of checks and balances emanating from the U.S. Constitution to the level of the Woodstock Police Department through the Government of the City of Woodstock.