By John Johnson II
Unfortunately, only in America has it become necessary to create special legislation at the local and federal levels to protect Black males/females from police brutality. One would think that in a civil society, legislation, such as the Endangered Species Act, would only be needed to protect defenseless animals from habitat destruction and predatory humans. However, murders, beatings, and assaults of Blacks recorded live and broadcast throughout the world, suggest otherwise.
It’s insane that the ease with which comprehensive laws are passed to protect animals isn’t the norm when creating and passing laws to eliminate police brutality. For example; “should we ban choke holds or commission a study; should it be legal to shoot a fleeing unarmed suspect in the back if your life isn’t in danger; should you check a fatally wounded suspect for a pulse or use your foot to check for any signs of life; should you pick-up discharged cartridge shells before rendering first aid to a wounded suspect; should you arrest an individual reported asleep in his car, parked in a drive thru lane, has a valid driver’s license, is cooperative, moves his car when ordered to, even though he failed a sobriety test; should a suspect be told that s/he is under arrest and the reason?”
All the examples cited above evolved from real life encounters with police officers and detail information about how to properly respond exist in some form in most police training manuals. However, they merely require an application of common sense. Why is it necessary to arrest an individual for a misdemeanor if there aren’t any outstanding warrants? Jails are already severely overcrowded, plus COVID-19, presents a deadly threat.
The recent shooting of a Black man in Wisconsin is another example of poor judgement by police officers. Just imagine the loud outcry by animal rights groups if a police officer shot and killed a caged lion because he or she alleged that they felt that their lives were threaten. Such an allegation would most likely be dismissed immediately.
White police officers routinely end up shooting and killing Black men, even though they were merely stopped for a traffic violation. What causes White officers to decide to use deadly force? Usually, they claimed the textbook reason – they feared for their life.
Another strange paradox that should be highlighted. Why Black police officers rarely ever kill White men and White officers almost never kill White individuals whom they stop for any reason? Also, the records will show that mass murders committed by White men are usually captured without being killed, unless they commit suicide.
It’s a known fact on the streets that White police officers consider themselves to be the judge, juror, and executioner. Sadly, some prefer the role of the executioner, especially when confronting Black men.
Consequently, because common sense, honesty, empathy and commitment to an oath can’t be taught, methods must be developed to identify police candidates lacking these skills. Once they’ve been identified they must be discharge from the academy or the police force. Police officers must possess the ability to apply common sense with the application of laws.
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