Today, as I was leaving the apartment to get some food, there was a police cruiser facing the wrong way parked out front. Two officers, standing over the car, were looking at a piece of paper. "Everything ok, guys?" I asked. One of them looked up at me, crooked his eyes, and demanded, brusquely, "You live here?" "Yes," I replied, caught off guard somewhat by his tone. He paused, unable to contain his disgust at the fact that I would live here, and continued, "Do you know where [such and such] is?" "No." "Ok, well it's not your concern then."
As I walked away, shaking my head, a neighbor came out of the house and told the officers that a man inside wanted to talk to them. With even more disdain than he had directed at me, which, I have to say, is really saying something, he demanded, "Is he [so and so]?" "No, but he wants to talk to you." The officer, not even attempting to understand that this man was trying to help him, continued with open, unbridled contempt, "Well, if he's not [so and so], it doesn't matter then, does it."
Driving away, bewildered as to why anyone -- let alone a public servant -- would treat people so horribly, I began wondering why the powers that be can't understand why people in urban neighborhoods don't trust police or want to help them. Is it not obvious? How could anyone like, trust or want to help people that treat them this way?
And sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Not by a long shot. Almost every resident I know here can name off the top of his/her head at least five or six more examples like this one or worse.
Having worked in law enforcement, I know that there are excellent officers out there that are from the community, know the history involved, and understand the complex challenges residents here face. These standout officers care about the residents they serve and unfailingly treat them with care and respect, even when it is difficult.
If we are ever going to begin repairing the profound and growing breakdown of trust between law enforcement and residents in urban neighborhoods, a breakdown which has led to police being stonewalled when they desperately need witnesses to come forward in very serious cases, these model officers must be promoted and given the resources to train rank and file officers that are not from the community and do not understand what is at stake.
Incidents like today will only continue to make things worse.
6 comments:
I'm shocked. SHOCKED!
Everyone I know has had the same experience.
I think anytime the cops come to arrest someone, they should bring flowers and candy. They should also say "sir/madam, would you kindly have a seat in the backseat of my cruiser?"
We need to stop complaining as citizens and start using cameras to show the problem. Everyone has a camera and should have a video camera. Use it for christ sake. A citizens word is useless now against police, I know because I am on a 50,000 dollar bail after being in jail for 3years because police can say what they want even if the court and judge know they are lying. www.freenesto.org
Maybe you should mind your own business and the the police do their job? They obviously didn't want to talk to you and you didn't have any useful info for them. It's alwasy esier to blame the police for anything but last i checked, good upstanding citizens arent being harrassed by the police.
As you have pointed out, the worst examples of law enforcement leave the strongest impressions. I encounter much resentment and mistrust towards officers on the Common, and sadly it is not totally unfounded. There are also some wonderful officers who support and encourage the outreach organizations, and by the grace of God we've had some good community meetings with the police. I wish there were a quick and easy way to build trust, understanding and respect. The burden of extending peace falls both on those who are vulnerable and those with power and authority. You fight a difficult battle, I pray you will not have to fight alone.
I know it is rather late to comment on this piece, but I have just come across your blog. I am a social worker in the criminal justice system in DOT and Rox, and the cop as total jerk is the dominant paradigm here. Whatever happened to community policing? Long gone in Boston - if it ever existed (I have heard rumors that it did). I don't think it is ok, and I do think it can change. BTW, it is my job to find alternatives to jail for defendents, with the public defenders.
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