It is true to say there are racist cops, just like it is true to say there are racist teachers, racists doctors, etc. However, the more authority someone has, the more effect that racism has on the recipients of the racism.
But to say cops are racists is a generality that is subjective and not helpful. Making such statements contributes to the idea of us vs. them which provides fuel for caustic relationships and a tense environment.
Although there is no simple solution to the current problems, I was interested to hear some of the suggested solutions and successes shared by the police officers I interviewed.
Officer Poncherello said that one of the things that proved very effective was what he referred to as community policing. They attended community picnics, and did walk and talks in various businesses including bars. He saw many successes. Officer Poncherello told me of a time when entering a bar, someone of another race from out of town moved threateningly toward he and his partner. Others of the same race who lived in that town moved between them to defend the cops.
Programs like the one shown above at San Bernardino Police Department, the reading program in LAPD and the Clovis Cops & Kids Sports camp will only contribute to the feeling that a cop is their ally instead of their enemy.
No, bridge building isn’t the answer, as there is no, one answer, but building relationships is one key to address that us versus them mentality. An officer showing they care is so much more powerful than words alone. It is still true that rules, (or in this case police officers) without relationship breeds rebellion. If your only contact with the law is when you are in trouble, it will definitely skew your perspective of law enforcement. This is in no way making police officers responsible for that conflict, but just identifying one component that can and has improved cop-citizen relationships.
I can think of no job that is more challenging than that of a police officer. Their job function is to protect and to serve. But they are put into situations way too often where the decision they make in a split second if wrong, can affect them and others for the rest of their lives.
That being said, there are some actions that have taken place recently which did not involve such split second decisions. It was interesting to hear the take of the police officers who provided me their input in the case of George Floyd. Officer Reed said that “what the officer did was not ok at all.” “He shouldn’t have placed his knee on the neck of Floyd.” He also said that the case wasn’t that simple because “the toxicology report showed that Floyd had a lethal dose of fentanyl in his system and there was no trauma to his neck.”
Officer Malloy said when he saw the video of the officer with his knee on Floyd’s neck, it struck him, seeing the face of the officer. He showed no fear nor stress and this was done in the middle of the day in “ideal conditions”. He said there must be something internally wrong with that cop to be able do what he did so calmly while ignoring the pleas of Floyd.
Officer Malloy said that in the case of that officer, there is probably no amount of sensitivity or any other kind of training that would change that officer into a good cop. “A bad cop is a bad cop.” It is the character of the individual which determines how they treat others.
A bad cop must be removed from the police departments at which he works as he is a menace to society and to the reputation of the good cops who are truly there to protect and serve.
Until next week…