ABUSE OF POWER

This story really happened. Two weeks ago.

 

The place is Piedmont, Oklahoma.

 

Quietly repeat Piedmont in your mind. Slowly. With emphasis on the first part. It is significant with regard to this true to life happening.

 

Jennifer Warden owns a lovely home on a cul de sac in Piedmont. A quiet neighborhood.The home sits on 2.5 acres. Jennifer has lived there for eight years. Her 21 year old daughter Ashley Warden and her three year old grandson Dillon Warden reside with her.

 

Three year old Dillon was outdoors on the property.His grandmother and mother nearby. Dillon was somewhere near the end of the driveway. Suddenly, he pulled his pants down and peed. I suspect Dillon was recently toilet trained. Every one should have been proud that he did not wet his pants.

 

Not so. Dillon almost got his mother Ashley arrested.

 

There was a police officer sitting in a police car nearby. Officer Ken Qualls. He observed Dillon urinating.

 

He gave Dillon's mother Ashley a ticket. Based on her son's behavior. The ticket was for public urination in public view. The police officer was the sole witness. Other than grandmother and mother, only he had seen it.

 

The fine for public urination in Piedmont is $2,500. Better to split a gut!

 

Grandmother and daughter Warden were outraged. They went to the police station the next day and complained. To no avail. Their words fell on deaf ears. They even took the position that giving a public urination ticket because a three year old pissed on his own property was an abuse of power.

 

The media became aware. A news worthy story. Soon Piedmont and much of Oklahoma were upset.

 

The message got through. Piedmont's Chief of Police appeared soon after at the Warden home. He personally apologized. The ticket was withdrawn.

 

The Wardens had a concern, Would Officer Qualls now subject them to a vendetta? The Chief assured them he would not.

 

Abuse of power occurs infrequently. But occur it does. Generally, it is a relatively new police officer whose position goes to his head. Or a military person whose uniform gives him a sense of superiority. Then there is the office manger who speaks in sexual terms to a female subordinate or brushes against her when he passes by. More recently, the FBI agent in Tampa who started the investigation which lead to Petraeus' fall from grace.

 

Abuse of power is part and parcel of our lives. Though rare, it must be dealt with. Simply and swiftly. As the Wardens did.