For the last 8 years I've written several blogs on the killing, by police officers, of unarmed people of color; a problem that has plagued this nation for decades but, sadly appears to have taken on a more aggressive stance within the last 15 years - even as one would have expected things to be improving. The situation acted out against Floyd was essentially no different than the dozens - nay hundreds of similar instances that had occurred in the past across the nation - no geographical footprint, exempt. However, inasmuch as, in the past the populous would fluster, register some indignation on the horrors and then return to life, as usual; in the case of Floyd, the response was entirely different. This blog will explore the rationale behind the Tipping Point generated, what were the catalysts and what, if any changes will emanate from this global outpouring.
A Tipping Point can best be described as an event or series of events that, invariably, are mutually exclusive from each other but converge at a precise moment to bring about a significant response to an incident, which otherwise would not have gained much attention. My sense is that there were two variables that converged on the Police killing of George Floyd; which in turn generated the worldwide demonstration we have witnessed - starting on May 25th and proceeding thru June, as follows:
- A 17 year old girl was sufficiently motivated to capture the horrors of Floyd's death and subsequently released her video to the media for publication. Public America, not usually exposed to images so graphic and horrible, were suddenly confronted with this 8 mins and 46 second drama, played over and over until the true gravity and depravity of what this police officer had done, began to sink in.
- For more than eight weeks prior to Floyd's killing, Americans had been ordered to stay at home because of covid-19. Tensions were high, domestic violence was up and, in general, people were looking for an energy release - delivered in a graphic eight minute video. Several other videos surfaced shortly thereafter and for probably the first time, ever, America and the world were exposed to 15 - 20 minutes of a murder in progress.
The explosion of people taking to the streets was, in and of itself, a pandemic. Across the globe, a diverse cross section of humanity rose up in unison to protest what they had just witnessed on screen, demanding drastic and immediate changes to the policing effort. In the US for sure, but quite likely in other countries as well, the refrain used to describe law enforcement activities is "TO PROTECT AND SERVE". However, this motto has slowly morphed into - what can now only be described as "COMMAND AND CONTROL". Police officers no longer look like the "cop on the beat"; he/she is now a commando, dressed in battle gear reminiscent of an Army, Special Forces Hit squad; and for what reason? to break up a protest march that may have a few stone throwers in their midst? When and why did we, citizens of the US, allow this to happen; but that's only one half of the whole truth. The reality is that police officers in the United States operate in a near omnipotent status. Clearly the laws of the country no longer apply to them. They can lie, cheat, steal and kill with impunity, knowing that the "system" will Protect and Serve THEM.
Officer Derek Chauvin in the act of killing Floyd; his totally detached demeanor can only be described as callous and shocking What happened to George Floyd is, in many ways, very similar to the more than 5,000 other hapless victims of police violence over the past 7 plus years. The only and significant difference was that Floyd's killing was captured on video for all to see. For most of the other instances, even if there was a video at some level, it was short, probably fuzzy and invariably inconclusive in demonstrating the officers' malicious intent; even though the latter could very easily be deduced. However, for officer Chauvin and his colleagues, that protective screen was smashed and there was little doubt in the minds of most, that Chauvin's intent was to kill Floyd.
The protests gained momentum with each passing day. Mayors and Governors across the country attempted to calm the growing throngs but their efforts flew in the face of the White House's demands that the Governors take control and "Dominate" the streets. Rumors permeated, that right wing radicals had infiltrated the protestors and initiated much of the looting that transpired. The White House immediately countered that Antifa - a left wing splintered organization, spread across the country with no central headquarters, was responsible for the rioting and looting. Trump went on further to say that he would be declaring Antifa as a domestic terrorist group; even as he was completely silent on any and all right wing groups suspected of infiltrating the protesters. Of the 51 individuals arrested for looting and property damage, none could be linked to Antifa.
The protests gained momentum with each passing day. Mayors and Governors across the country attempted to calm the growing throngs but their efforts flew in the face of the White House's demands that the Governors take control and "Dominate" the streets. Rumors permeated, that right wing radicals had infiltrated the protestors and initiated much of the looting that transpired. The White House immediately countered that Antifa - a left wing splintered organization, spread across the country with no central headquarters, was responsible for the rioting and looting. Trump went on further to say that he would be declaring Antifa as a domestic terrorist group; even as he was completely silent on any and all right wing groups suspected of infiltrating the protesters. Of the 51 individuals arrested for looting and property damage, none could be linked to Antifa.
By mid June, the Tipping Point on George Floyd's killing was now in full swing and one week after his death, protests continued to rage across major American cities. The standing refrain was Police Reform; how to get police officers to stop the indiscriminate killing of people of color - male, female, young or old. A tall order because the protocols, customs and behavior had been deeply entrenched within the fabric of every police precinct in all 50 States. In addition, all the recommendations, offered up, failed to identify the only REAL corrective action that could bring about the desired change.
All recommendations presented, discussed new training protocols, funding cuts or de-funding police activities, community programs, designed to "educate the public" - get them more in line with police objectives, etc. Useful? maybe but will not achieve one step towards resolving the problem that plagues cities all across the US. Well, let's take a closer look at this.
All recommendations presented, discussed new training protocols, funding cuts or de-funding police activities, community programs, designed to "educate the public" - get them more in line with police objectives, etc. Useful? maybe but will not achieve one step towards resolving the problem that plagues cities all across the US. Well, let's take a closer look at this.
Conservatively, no more than 10% of all police officers have the wrong perspective on policing - that's approximately 80,000 bad officers across the country. But for that 10%, the malfeasance is far reaching, ranging from racial prejudice, rage against women, rage against all people, lacking in empathy, sympathy or feeling for others and of course spurred along by internal mental conflict - substance abuse, domestic problems, etc.
In any hiring process the interviewer goes thru the steps but ultimately hires with no real sense of whether or not the person hired is aptly suited for the job. However, if later on that person turns out NOT to be suitable, they are, invariably fired - dismissed, relieved of his/her duties. The same should be true for police officers, but it is not. Over the years, the system has endowed upon police officers a sense of the Divine; the ability to be above reproach, regardless of whatever they may have done. Fostered thru the police unions, administered by the Blue Wall of Silence and, ultimately supported by State and Federal Govt officials; we are at a point today where a police officer assumes the role of enforcer, judge and executioner - all in one, for any suspect that is apprehended. Said differently, the officer holds the life of that suspect in the palm of his/her hand, to decide whether or not that individual should live or die - doesn't matter the reason - sadly, there doesn't have to be a reason - "... you have no business driving a car like that; your wife's too pretty, she should be with me not you...". Dozens of movies - Unlawful Entry have been made over the years depicting this exact behavior of police officers but some how it never resonates.
Judges rely on police unions to support their re-election; if a police officer appears in his/her court; the judge simply looks the other way - extends leniency in the direction of the officer even as he tightens the reins on the suspect. This is absolutely abhorrent behavior but that's what happens and it is pervasive. That said, here are the seven (7) critical steps that must be included in any law enforcement reform, to be enacted, as follows:
In any hiring process the interviewer goes thru the steps but ultimately hires with no real sense of whether or not the person hired is aptly suited for the job. However, if later on that person turns out NOT to be suitable, they are, invariably fired - dismissed, relieved of his/her duties. The same should be true for police officers, but it is not. Over the years, the system has endowed upon police officers a sense of the Divine; the ability to be above reproach, regardless of whatever they may have done. Fostered thru the police unions, administered by the Blue Wall of Silence and, ultimately supported by State and Federal Govt officials; we are at a point today where a police officer assumes the role of enforcer, judge and executioner - all in one, for any suspect that is apprehended. Said differently, the officer holds the life of that suspect in the palm of his/her hand, to decide whether or not that individual should live or die - doesn't matter the reason - sadly, there doesn't have to be a reason - "... you have no business driving a car like that; your wife's too pretty, she should be with me not you...". Dozens of movies - Unlawful Entry have been made over the years depicting this exact behavior of police officers but some how it never resonates.
Judges rely on police unions to support their re-election; if a police officer appears in his/her court; the judge simply looks the other way - extends leniency in the direction of the officer even as he tightens the reins on the suspect. This is absolutely abhorrent behavior but that's what happens and it is pervasive. That said, here are the seven (7) critical steps that must be included in any law enforcement reform, to be enacted, as follows:
- The entire structure engulfing the Blue Wall of Silence must be dismantled. Good police officers MUST be able to flesh out and report the behavior of errant cops, without fear of reprisals or dismissal.
- Police officer training MUST stress and focus on conflict resolution as the FIRST step in any confrontation with a suspect.
- Deadly force - discharging a firearm, must be the measure of last resort, to be used when the officer's life is clearly in danger - the "... I thought he had a weapon so I shot him 5 times as he was running away..." will be unacceptable.
- Any officer, regardless of rank, found falsifying reports, planting false evidence, lying to superiors or in court, will face immediate dismissal.
- All instances of weapons discharge must be reported, in writing, up the chain of command. If it is subsequently determined that the discharge was unwarranted, the officer is given a warning. After 3 such warnings the officer is summarily dismissed from the force.
- If a police officer kills a suspect and it is subsequently determined that - a) his life was not at risk; b) he did not apply conflict resolution strategies to resolve the issue; c) the suspect had no weapon on his person or in immediate vicinity where it could be accessed for use, the officer should be arrested for a possible crime committed, tried and if convicted, sentenced to prison.
- Create a National Data Base containing the names and profile information of ALL police Officers who have been discharged from a Police Department because of a wrong doing. This will allow other police precincts in other states to maintain a constant vigil on the whereabouts of these ex officers to ensure that they do not re-enter the system.
The difficulty in attempting to create and implement a consolidated and uniform law enforcement strategy for all States cannot be overstated - not only because of size but also because of its complexity. Starting with fifty (50) states, each with a State police force; we move down to counties within each state, cities within each county, towns within each city and in some States, the drilling goes even lower. It is therefore reasonable to assume that any standardized, nationwide strategy can only be achieved if the effort is led and directed by the Federal Government. However, the standard protocols, currently in place for each jurisdiction, could be allowed to remain in place, subject to reviews and modifications, as needed, as long as the seven (7) procedures, outlined above are implemented across the country - no precinct is exempt!
- All governors confer with his/her top law enforcement officials and -a) review current standards; b) incorporate the seven (7) new standards into the revised Law Enforcement Handbook.
- Armed with this information, each Governor - or designate will convene in Washington , under the auspices for the Federal Government and begin the process of developing and creating a comprehensive Law Enforcement Hand book - a detailed and precise document spelling out all aspects of Rules of Engagement and expected behavioral protocols for ALL police officers.
Currently there's tremendous pressure being applied to the Nation's historic stance on racial injustice. BLACK LIVES MATTER has taken center stage; Juneteeth, which has been around for 155 years is suddenly a pivot point for yesterday's racial transgressions; statues of confederate generals and others, are being toppled and ethnic branded products are being renamed to neutralize any hint of a racial slur. This is usually the result of a TIPPING POINT achieved; question is, can it be sustained. Does White America have the intestinal fortitude to move forward, openly and honestly and address the questions of racial injustice, police brutality and a clearly biased criminal justice system. Establish a platform of objective equity, based on an individuals' ability to perform and produce and a corruption free safety net system to assist those who are not able. Clearly, all have to participate in this endeavor, however, without a concerted commitment from the white majority, there's very little hope that any meaningful changes will occur. And here's the sad truth, on Sunday, June 21st, in Branson, Missouri, a raving Trump supporter boiling over with hate and rage, promised all within the range of her voice, that she would "teach her grandchildren to F**** hate all of you..." That's the reality of the nation in which we live; and albeit that she's not the majority, there's way to many of "her" out there.
My hope is that George Floyd's Tipping Point will not fizzle to nothing. With the strong and hopeful possibility that Trump will be exited from the White House in Jan 2021, the new Administration will an opportunity to implement and achieve meaningful and sustainable changes to the systems that for so many years have prevented the United States of America from being the comprehensibly great nation that it should be. Democrats gaining control of the Senate would help A LOT.
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