"sophomoric threats in a transparent attempt to try to intimidate and bully"

Michael Aldridge, the executive director of the ACLU of Kentucky - who was at the County Clerk's Office in Louisville today when the first same-sex couple received their marriage license - penned the perfect response to the police declaration of war on the citizens they are sworn to protect.

Consider this an open letter to Louisville FOP Lodge 614 President Dave Mutchler, who chose to send an incendiary letter to Louisville Metro residents shortly after the staggering tragedy in Charleston, S.C., a time of national grief and mourning.

Know this: The ACLU of Kentucky, our coalition partners and allies, community activists, and citizens of this community will not stand on the sidelines while you resort to sophomoric threats in a transparent attempt to try to intimidate and bully those who you view as your political opponents.

If you didn’t know already, rest assured that through our litigation and public policy advocacy, the ACLU will continue to work for meaningful, long-lasting, and systemic reforms of the Louisville Metro Police Department, alongside, and by supporting, communities directly harmed by racial profiling and excessive force.

The ACLU will continue to work to help build community-police partnerships with the shared goals of equality, fairness, dignity, and public safety to prevent future tragedies from happening again.

The ACLU is committed to encouraging de-escalation practices in all instances of community/police interaction.

Armed with the Constitution, the ACLU will protect the First Amendment rights of Louisville activists to question government policy and speak their minds without fear of prosecution.

If people hadn’t spoken up and questioned authority, we would still be living under monarchs, without the freedoms and civil liberties that we prize.

It is obvious to nearly everyone who read your letter that you sought to attack the very citizens you are sworn to serve and protect instead of taking steps to address the real issues — the long-standing and troubling problems of racial profiling, over-criminalization of communities of color, and incidents of excessive force that drive a wedge between community members and police officers here and across the country. And if, as you claim, your letter has received “overwhelming” support from your fellow officers, then the divide between law enforcement and this community is very troubling indeed.

You want our attention? Well you have it. As a starting point, we challenge you to review the Law Enforcement Code of Conduct (page 5 of the Standard Operating Procedures handbook for the Louisville Metro Police Department). You may find the following excerpts particularly helpful:

As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others.

Mr. Mutchler, we need an end to the prevailing Us vs. Them policing paradigm. We hope you will join us in the goal of developing successful police/community partnerships.