This Happened To Me

WHY I DON’T TRUST THE POLICE ANYMORE — AND MAYBE YOU SHOULDN’T EITHER

by Deb Trotter

I Was Profiled and later harrassed by the Police because of where I live, what I drive, and my age

THE HISTORY
For as long as I can remember I’ve relied on the police. Believed in their promise to protect and serve. Depended on them to keep me safe. Above all, they seemed to respect me almost as much as I did them. When my grandmother and I would meet one of them on the street of our tiny little town of Lenoir, North Carolina, I’d say, Hello Sir. The officer would look down at me, smile, and say, Well, good morning little Miss!

Those brief encounters always made me feel remarkably privileged. Like I had the golden ticket to celebrity status. Growing up in North Carolina in the 50s really was a bit like living in Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show. Pretty much all of us respected the police.

But there is no Andy Griffith anymore. And with all the bad stories you see on TV about local policemen beating up or shooting some 19-year-old black kid just for crossing the street, I doubt many young people would trust the cops enough to ask for help. But you’d think that grownups, at least, could turn to law enforcement if anything went wrong.

Not me, though. I believe I qualify as a grownup (I’m 69), and no way in hell would I feel comfortable going to the…