I read the stories about the police chief who was criticized for displaying a political sign on his property. Some people complained while others came to his defense citing the First Amendment right of free speech.

I suggest that there is another, more appropriate perspective. When one is elected to public office that person takes on a “dual capacity” in his actions. In others words, he is no longer only a private citizen, but he is held out as a representative of all people charged with the duty of acting in a fair and impartial manner.

That is particularly important for a police chief. All citizens must have complete confidence in his ability to be impartial with regard to law enforcement. Things which impair his appearance of impartiality should be carefully avoided. A lawn sign advocating a particular political candidate could erode the confidence in which the police chief is held by a substantial number of people. Would he be fair to a motorist with a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker on his car? If the motorist feels he is being treated poorly, will the motorist claim the mistreatment is political?

These problems can be avoided by not displaying political signs on the chief’s property. This is not to say that he relinquishes all free speech, it is only tempered by the dual capacity idea. He is free to speak privately as is appropriate. This is the customary stance taken by law enforcement personnel.