The Police in the United States have had a strenuous relationship with Black Americans. It has never been "all good". Even at times when the issues and circumstances surrounding an incident were all but but black and white (no pun intended) many people of African descent had a serious distrust of law enforcement officers. For their worth, law enforcement officers also carried with them a predisposition that Black citizens at best didn't like them, and at worst sought to do them harm. In the opening days of 2009 we see this already restive relationship stretched to its limits.
As many may know on New Years Day at least two Black men were killed by police. The first and perhaps most discussed of the two is Oscar Grant. Grant was a 22 year old man who was shot in the back by a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer following a fistfight on a BART train. Grant was not armed and there is even video of his murder on the Internet. While handcuffed, Grant was shot. The officer believed to have done the shooting has resigned from the force and gotten himself legal representation.
The other case is that of Adolf Grimes III. Grimes was also 22. He was sitting in a parked car in front of his family's New Orleans home when police officers fired on him. There has been discussion as to who fired first. Police did find a legally registered gun in Grimes' possession. Grimes was shot 12 times in the back. New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley disputes the coroner's claim that Grimes was hit 12 times in the back saying that of few of the rounds hit him in his legs, side and torso. However, it wasn't until a report aired on CNN about Grimes' murder, did Riley and New Orleans police officials agree to meet with Grimes' family to discuss the incident.
These cases seem rather self-evident that sadly in some places Black males are still seen as a threat to the police officers. The way officers have been responding to those threats is by killing the people they feel threaten them. This is not a new phenomenon. In 2008 we witnessed as the murders of Sean Bell went free. Before that there were numerous cases of police brutality from Amadou Diallo to Timothy Stansbury. Even in our nation's capital young DeOnte Rawlings was shot in the back of his head by a police officer. All of this mind you takes place after the now infamous Rodney King beating.
Some will no doubt say that a few bad apples do not represent the entire law enforcement community in the United States, this is true. But I do feel bad for the men and women who go out every day with earnest hopes to do right by people. Right now their comrades are behaving as if it is their sworn right and privilege to murder Black males. In the midst of the riots that broke out in Oakland following Grant's murder, one woman said "we live a life of fear, and we want them to be afraid tonight". That doesn't sound like a knee-jerk reaction to an isolated incident. So to the countless numbers of law-abiding law enforcement officers, I suggest you do a better job of policing the "few" rogue officers if you want to keep riots out of the streets and hate out of the hearts of our communities.
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Let me start of by saying that I love reading your blogs; they bring a interesting perspective to current issues.
I am a 23 year black female who will have a Masters Degree in the Spring in Public Safety and I do think there is a disconnect between the urban black community and Police. In the Public Safety program where many Philadelphia Police officers attend, I am one of the few blacks. There are probably 6- 12 minorities (Black, Asian, Hispanic) in the program out of 100 graduate students and I am the only black female. I think the representation in the graduate program mirrors the police departments around the country.
In my classes professors always say that your officers should mirror your community, but we all know this will never happen b/c of the number of black men who have been incarcerated. Another problem is that many minorities in policing are considered sell -outs by their communities (I interned as an undergraduate with a department and I was called a sell out almost everyday by black citizens) This causes a problem between the police and the community. Many in urban areas don't want excuse my language 'white boys' who grew up in the suburbs to police them, and i believe many police officers have a fear of dying especially if you patrol the cities because of the level of violence occurring in these areas.
The situation in California is unfortunate and I agree with the officer being fired like most officers do ( Join Police Link and read the blogs). But, the situation between the black community and police will never change unless more minorities join the ranks.
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