An open letter to a police officer I am a white woman, with a brother in uniform. Yet now, when I see you, I am afraid. Are you complicit in acts of police brutality? Are you a violent offender protected by a uniform, a culture, and a system so
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An open letter to a police officer
I am a white woman, with a brother in uniform. Yet now, when I see you, I am afraid. Are you complicit in acts of police brutality? Are you a violent offender protected by a uniform, a culture, and a system so entrenched, it has allowed atrocities against my black, Latinx, and poor brothers and sisters to continue for decades?
I don’t want to be suspicious of you. I know many of you serve people of all colors, creeds, and incomes with compassion, respect, and honor. You are often in danger. You are regularly, routinely, and repeatedly dispatched to handle experiences that I rarely encounter – car accidents, drug overdoses, domestic violence, theft.
Last Friday, as I witnessed military police and National Guard members assemble near our state capitol, I was deeply disturbed. After the blatant abuse of the military in D.C., this show of force made me fearful for my black friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
I ask you to be the change. Reject racism, brutality, and the dehumanization of the people you have sworn to serve and protect. Demand patrol partners, both for your own safety, and to hinder those that would subtly retaliate against fellow officers working for change. Demand the opportunity to engage constructively with communities of color. Demand the training and resources that you need to serve and protect all of us. Demand change within your unions, within your departments. Brag when your department’s record beats the national average for similar communities by an order of magnitude.
You have the ability to end police brutality. You have the ability to make us feel safe. Be the change.
Laura Sullivan
Warwick
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
JamesBruder
I support our Police 100%. They are not the problem
Thursday, June 18, 2020 Report this
Wuggly
No one and I mean No One has said what happened to George Floyd was right. I will say what has happened during the riots was wrong.
Police and Military are not this nation's problem. There are racists, there is no systemic racism. If there was BHO would not have been President.
There are bad people, what is your plan to stop them? Again what happened to Mr. Floyd was wrong and I don't think he should have been in that position. He should have been in prison. He held a gun to a pregnant woman's stomach while his buddies ransacked the house.
Police want to serve and protect.
Rashard Brooks in Atlanta blew a 1.08 on the breathalyzer, so intoxicated he fell asleep at the wheel in the drive through, did you really want the cops to let him go? They couldn't. Do you know why Mr. Brooks fought the police? Did you know he fought the police? Mr. Brooks was violating his parole. He was going back to prison. Brooks had previously been convicted of False Imprisonment, Simple Battery/Family, Battery Simple and Felony Cruelty/Cruelty to Children.
Police are there to keep the peace for the peaceful from those that would use force on those that would use force against the peaceful. They're not the problem.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Report this
freespeech
I've always given the police the benefit of doubt. After watching the George Floyd video, that cop with his knee on Mr. Floyd's neck, there's no doubt. That video says it all. That cop, he knew what he was doing. That look on his face. His body language. His overall demeanor. Cakewalk. Police like solders have a code of having their 6. Just because it's in a book or an unspoken code doesn't make something right. Sometime's you have to do something wrong to make it right. ln the George Floyd case, every cop on that scene should be held accountable as should the Governor down to the Mayor. Every life on this planet, no matter color, race, or religion does matter. Every life. Respect is a two-way street. I'm pro-police, just not those four.
Saturday, July 4, 2020 Report this
KimLorene
I support the police. Sometimes, yes, there are bad cops...but, those are rare. I will always respect them, and give them the benefit of the doubt.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 Report this