The POTUS has done more to help minorities than any other recent previous president, so I don't know where the federal/global law enforcement change has to occur. It's all predicated on a narrative that lots of people don't care, and even more have zero capacity to change. I mean.. putting up that black box on your social media yesterday is doing wonders I'm sure
While I agree with the first half regarding POTUS, the second half is inaccurate (law enforcement change). This whole episode (the video that started it) is not an issue with race. People need to stop with the race, there is nothing on that video that shows any form of racism. What it does show is a long time problem with policing and policing administration in general. What I am about to say is probably not going to be popular here. Many will initially scoff, but all I ask is for you to hear me out and let me try to explain.
How many LEOs and former LEOs here have had similar training as seen in the video?
How many have heard in training (and said the same thing) "if you can talk, you can breathe"?
How many times have we heard police administrators make rude and disparaging comments about members of the public? Or given an officer a hard time for trying to go the extra mile with a citizen?
How many have been ordered to do something they weren't sure about but didn't want to lose their jobs? Or forced to re-write a report because the supervisor doesn't support the narrative they want vs the truth?
How many have seen where administrators look the other way (and order subordinates to do so) for citizens that contribute to their campaigns?
How many times have you as an officer, needed some mental health days or a day off and been told to suck it up and move on? Or afraid to make use of any mental health counseling or job assistance for fear of reprisal or negative effect to your career?
How many have been told if you don't publicly or financially support the head cop that you could lose your job? Or if you support the opposition you risk reprisal?
I have seen all of these and more in the short time I was in LE. In a town that was heavily political with a moderate-sized agency (around a 1000 sworn). Law enforcement's problem is that they (meaning administration and thereby the culture that permeates through the ranks...aka old-timers) think they are above the citizenry. For the longest time, it can be argued that on the micro-scale cops are inherently good. On an individual basis, cops try to do right by the community. On the macro-scale cops (their administrators and culture) are inherently power-hungry and abusive.
Now, if you've never been the target of an IA witch hunt (where the administration wants you gone) or false criminal accusation, then it is easy to say "I never saw any of that" or "you're just jaded". I am jaded, but that doesn't mean I am wrong either. If you have been the subject of such actions then you know that a lot of what I have said is true. While much of what I have seen and experienced is anecdotal, I have seen it an heard it from other people within the profession.
Does that mean we abolish the LE profession? Certainly not. However, the profession needs to evolve and change. If you have spent any time in that profession you know this to be true.
Now before any current or former LEs decide to jump on me consider this, YOU may have not seen any of the above, and there are bad apples in society that cause trouble, but with as much as we have seen come to light as a result of incompetent leadership and policing in agencies across the nation. You have to ask yourself. Could I be right? Does law enforcement need to evolve? Could their interactions with the public be improved?
