Can cops put bumper stickers up in the police department?

I was watching local news and they interviewed a cop about a robbery at a department store. And he is sitting there in the police station with a BUSH/CHENEY bumper sticker up on the wall behind him!!

:wtf:

I searched but the video isn't posted on that station's website.

Is this legal?

This was in Lenexa, KS, a suburb of Kansas City. I do know that in KC, MO those cops can't put any political bumper stickers on their cars or signs in their yards. It's a law that has been challenged a few times but never thrown out.

And I would defend their right to put bumper stickers on their personal cars. But this was IN THE POLICE STATION!!

I am a teacher and I wouldn't DREAM of putting a political bumper sticker in my classroom. No way.

Maybe if it's the chief's office. :shrug:

My local just has badges from all over the country in the lobby.

It was a desk in a cubicle with bookshelves above the cubicle. Lots of cop stuff. And this bumper sticker. Plus the guy was in a uniform.

Why would the chief get to do it?

Regular cops usually have police cars! :P

But it it was in his cubicle, then I guess he can put up whatever he wants (within reason).

I don't know. I don't hang out at my local cop station but when I have been there it was boring.

Just calenders and maps and emblems and pictures of retired police etc.

Bush/Cheney...they are the Pres and VP of the USA. Very customary to have a Presidential picture in an office over the years........so I guess this is okay by that standard.

Just think, we can change that in 375 days.

A picture of 'them'(ugh) would be ok for the reasons you wrote but
a political bumper sticker in the lobby wouldn't be cool, IMO.

I can't wait until 01/20/2009!!

It should be ILLEGAL to support those morans in any way/shape/form! :rant:

:P

The First Amendment: Freedom of choice still has some jurisdiction but we still got a year of Bush and the Shooter. So we'll talk in year and see how things are then if we're allowed to but it can't be on the phones...

The first amendment doesn't allow me to tell my students who I think the best candidates are. It's a no-brainer for me as professional that putting a political bumper sticker in my workplace is not okay.

The police dept. is by extension the government.

The First Amendment applies to government abridging the political speech of the citizens.

What the officers put up in their own homes would be protected--but not what the police puts up on its front bulletin board (for instance).

LOL

Gee I am so surprised they voted for Bush! :sarcasm:

so yes, there will be about a 30% of troglodytes anywhere who are still proud of their vote

:-)

It is not permitted in most police departments and other governmental agencies to show

any favoritism to any candidates whether they won or lost even if the election may be over.

How nutty is that?

If it's in the general booking area, like a bulletin board for everyone to see, then I'd have a problem with it. The same would go if it were a Democratic bumper sticker, as it breeds a belief that the force as a whole is politically biased/corrupt.

If it's that cop's cubicle or in his office--and they allow cops who are Democrats to put up Edwards stickers or whatever--then I don't see how it's a problem. I think a person (even a public servant like a cop) should be allowed to decorate his desk space however he wants, as long as it doesn't actively attack someone else or contribute to a hostile working environment. (Ie. just a bumper sticker in support of Candidate X would be fine, but something saying liberals are traitors, or something anti-gay, -minority, etc. would have to be removed.)

Just my legally uninformed $.02. ;-)

would make it a hostile environment for me LOL

just a skip from Overland Park - the subject of the book "Whats the Matter with Kansas" or whatever it was called.

ridiculously conservative

It's one of a dozen suburban communities in this county right across the state line from KCMO. I grew up here; I am from the same little suburb as Thomas Frank. And the cops are ASSHOLES.

One on the bumper of her squad car:

"I have PMS & a gun. What was your beef again?"

Inside the car, on the backside of the front seat:

"This isn't Burger King & you can't have it your way"

Nothing political. Just the facts. :evilgrin:

warned me that I should remove it so that my job didn't see it and get worried! :rofl:

It said:

"I didn't go to work today. The voices said stay home and clean the guns!"

:rofl:

The car was dying anyway so I sold it, stickers and all! :P

We had a cop with that on his car lol

:hi:

Anyone that works for a living, especially for the government, that supports the republican's is missing a few brain cells

:toast:

the republican mayor of Mansfield Ohio had a poster of Ronald Reagan in a superman costume on the wall in his office. :puke:

Definitely puke worthy.

political statements even if its ones own cubical.