They Did it Again

 

Police Officer Homicides 🚨🚔🚨🚔🚨

 

           The Black community is again stricken with grief because of two separate events that occurred in less than two weeks.  Two males were shot by police officers.  American citizens and others are again contemplating police reforms.  One incident has resulted in the initial victim being paralyzed, 29-year-old Jacob Blake.  The protests that occurred because of the Blake shooting also caused two confirmed deaths by the hands of what appears to be a White vigilante in Kenosha.  Two protestors (and more than likely a few other victims) were reportedly shot and killed by the vigilante.  In a bizarre twist, the vigilante was alleged to be a prior police cadet. The other incident also resulted in a fatality.  31-year-old Treyford Pellerin was killed by police officers in Louisiana.  Protests have begun.  Military combat tactics have been used to try to quell the uprisings, and politicians and others are taking notice. 

The police officers in this country are really messed up.  Media frenzies are again kicking off, covering the violence and racial inequalities that remain in our culture.  It is conceivable to envision these incidents affecting police work and lawmaking—especially with an upcoming presidential election.  The influence comes after global protestations about police brutality. It appears that cop-based homicides toward Black people and other people of color are occurring at a rate that is a bit overwhelming when it comes to maintaining a constant good in society.  The police officers in the above-mentioned towns have spit in the faces of those involved in the global cause to stymy police brutality and the potential upcoming reformations. 

What is there to do to establish a better communal and personal relationship with police officers these days? 

 

The Big Three  😷🚔🚨💴

 

Starting with the Communities of Color   

           A significant portion of cop-related homicides tells us that people of color are more likely to be shot by a police officer or have other forms of force placed upon them if perceived potential hostility in a situation is taken in (regarding the police officers’ perception).  In addition to this, there is an external factor that plays into many situations that unfortunately have these police-based deaths in them.  That is, the perceptions that are forged when these incidents occur all have some form of comprehension that people of color are up to no good or about to wreak havoc on police officers.  The videos of these events that have been distributed clearly show that lethal force should not have been used.  

           Restructuring the relationships with people of color must occur through better, and broader, social reforms in order to eliminate the negative perceptions and police-related deaths. As many of the situations entail difficulties that are hard to handle, the imagery of racism and deprivation does look valid.  Communities of color and poor communities in general—American ghettos—ought to be rejuvenated to a better state of quality.  It will serve as a catalyst for better attitudes toward government functions. 

If the police departments are onboard for budget cuts and, in turn, assisting wholeheartedly with depleting urban blight, civilians will eventually comprehend the relationship with government functions—especially police work—as something positive.  Which, again, brings better relationships.  

Regarding negative imagery, there are numerous stereotypes that are keeping the people in specific areas down on the social ladder and this can be eliminated through proper rejuvenation of their neighborhoods.  Policing, if the social reform (ending urban blight) is embraced, can be improved because of this and citizens would think more positively about each other.   

The primary problem right now is getting the law enforcers—police officers—to acknowledge their imperfect practices and to be part of an organizational change.  Public service?  Monies from the police budget can be used to help with other public-related necessities to reduce crime and have a better quality of living.  

 

Relief Associated with the Coronavirus Pandemic 

 

           Times are rough for many people in the United States now.  Tensions are flaring because of the hardships that have been brought by the virus.  Police officers are encountering individuals who are stressed because of the life burdens that have arisen, which unfortunately causes frustrated emotions toward police officers and other government employees during interaction.  Case in point, Black deaths are on the rise and helping citizens during these troubled times can impact the police-related death rates for everyone. 

           Disbursement of monies and supplies to help individuals’ days go by better needs to be done.  This would allow for better attitudes to flourish, decreases in criminal activity, and, most importantly, less situations that result in fatalities by a police officer.  

 

Different Training and Policing Style 🚓🎓

 

           Militaristic policing must be reserved for the utmost dangerous situations.  However, it should not be deployed for every situation that police officers encounter.  Which is what the police departments are doing during civil uprisings (engaging in military-like activities).  Better knowledge about the communities and people the police officers serve needs to be implemented into training.  Allowing officers to learn the locations and people in their jurisdictions with more detail will initiate stronger personal bonds between law enforcers and civilians.  Less violent altercations and deaths, and less crime, that is. 

           Community policing must be properly taught and implemented, especially at the local level of police work.  Police officers should be required to be more social and friendly.  When illegal activity is afoot, the situation must be assessed as to whether it requires force and which type.  Does the event require force?  Does it not?  Rather than invoking the “split-second decision” template that police officers routinely use while describing how their use of force came about, there needs to be a training seminar on how to effectively slow down this system and to instill less forceful police work.  

Currently, police work entails a mentality that includes thinking that many situations can turn into an event that uses force—lethal or non-lethal.  This perception by police officers needs to be augmented.  

With cops utilizing an effective and slowed down decision-making system, relations between police officers and citizens will become better, and deaths and situations that have force involved will decrease.

 

2020 Presidential Election 🇺🇸😷🚓👦🏿?

          

           President Trump has said little about the current state of the police departments in the country.  Nothing about Black Lives Matter or the racial disparities that exists whatsoever.  He (President Trump) has no plan to resolve the current problems between police departments and communities of color or poor neighborhoods in general.  There must be some serious resentments from people in these communities toward President Trump. 

His opponents, Biden and Harris, have at least mentioned reforms that they are interested in.  What topics concern you for November?  Is the constant killing of Black people by police officers something that is relevant?  This author thinks so.  The national conventions are giving us some idea about where each party lies.  One on the reform side, and the other is passively balking at the issue in order to acquire support.  The choice is yours.  As grimy as politicians are when seeking power, this issue is something that cannot be ignored when it comes to being civil.  Are you civil?  Is President Trump civil?              

  

 

Source:  Unknown