Criminal Justice Statutes

General criminal statutes are directly related to the community’s expectation of safety, security,

and they are a quality of life issue. Peace officers have not only an ethical obligation to enforce

these statutes but they have a leadership responsibility to handle these crimes in such a manner

that the community looks to the peace officer for guidance and direction regarding all matters

associated crimes. This translates to peace officers being the pivotal point for crime prevention

programs, neighborhood watch programs and other activities where the peace officer partners

with the community to develop strategies that enhance the general safety and welfare of the

community at large and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.

In this article, nineteen arrests were made for public intoxication. One man in particular, a

nineteen year old male by the name Aaron Kempf was attending a football game where he was

intoxicated to the point that he was unable to care for himself or the safety of himself. The

nineteen year old was arrested on public intoxication charges after he refused to take the breath

test. Another male by the name Shane Smith was reported to be groping women in the stands.

Smith was asked to leave and refused so he was arrested for public intoxication. I believe they

could have charged Smith with lewd conduct as well, he was drunk in the stands groping women.

The report doesn’t say anything on lewd conduct but if they were to question the females and get

the whole story there should have been a lewd conduct charge because he had the intent to

sexually arouse, gratify, annoy or offend. Smith was also in the presence of others in a public

place that could have been offended by said act. Crimes that fall into the category criminal

statutes can appear minor in comparison to robbery, rape or murder. However, the community at

large has an expectation that peace officers will respond to crimes of any nature...