“Unless and until white America is willing to collectively acknowledge its privilege, take responsibility for its past and the impact it has on the present, and commit to creating a future steeped in justice, the list of names that George Floyd has been added to will never end." -Ben & Jerry Ice Cream Company
This isn’t about how ALL police officers are bad. That is the antithesis of what the moment is all about.
I loved the quote from an article I read from a police officer. "We are not afraid of the accountability; we want the accountability."
If you aren't doing anything wrong, and want to do better, why would you be scared?
Now, alternately, it WAS very sad to see the small minority of people that weren't keeping the peace, by destructing property.
However, I focus on the positive. The police officers kneeling, people taking the role of ally in a heartbeat.
I think that the new New York legislation is a step in the right direction.
The legislation has four cornerstones: 1. Transparency of prior disciplinary records. 2. No chokeholds. 3. False race-based 911 report should be classified as a hate crime 4. The attorney general should act as an independent prosecutor for police murders.
I would also add a "three strikes you're out" policy. But even that's not enough. Derek Chavin had at least 18 complaints. Just two have ever led to discipline.
-This was everything
I love how Todd, as former military, shared his knowledge and acronyms! His ability to share the de-escalation verbiage and specifying and wanting accountability for the failures which were obviously there.. Search TTP's and "EOF Abuse." And do read the article. It's so well-spoken
Another thought I had was that more mental health training is a must.
"Twenty-five percent or more of people fatally shot by the police have had a mental disorder, according to various analyses." Experts in criminal justice say that funding for mental health services in many parts of the country is insufficient, so police are likely to encounter mentally ill people. I would also without a doubt demand continuing education for police officers. We do the same thing for nurses, teachers, doctors etc.. Why don't we do it with police officers?
Case specific, my thoughts are as follows.
Demand appointment of an independent special prosecutor to lead the federal government’s full and impartial investigation of the murder of George Floyd.
Demand reinstitution by the Department of Justice of consent decrees on police departments and municipal governments across this country that have demonstrated patterns of racism towards and mistreatment of people of color.
Demand sweeping police reform–federal legislation mandating a zero-tolerance approach in penalizing and/or prosecuting police officers who kill unarmed, non-violent, and non-resisting individuals in an arrest.