Again, know there’s no anger or irritation here, just a different perspective:

First, yes there are officers who have anger issues and like to control people, just like there are teachers, administrators, supervisors, and many other people who take positions to exude power. Heck, there are land developers and HOA board members who do the same things. I knew a police officer who bullied me when I was younger, but don’t know what he was like as an adult or an officer. I knew another who was a bit of a neighborhood bully when he was younger, but is an excellent officer now. What you mention does happen, but I’d caution against labeling every kid or person who wants to be a cop as a person who has that desire, just as I’d caution anyone who labels certain demographics as a criminal, etc. The majority I worked with were not like that. But, that’s just one area of the country.

Secondly, in the three and a half years I worked as a patrol officer, I can think of at least three instances where a stolen or illegally was found on a traffic stop. One of those instances, he was reaching for the weapon in his glove compartment as I approached the vehicle while trying to distract me with other words. Luckily, I knew this person had been driving around shooting up areas of town (and had bullet holes in his car, too). I had the presence of mind, with weapon drawn, to let him know what would happen if he opened that glove box. A few weeks later he was arrested for attempted murder for shooting at someone from his vehicle. This doesn’t even count the number of times a person was legally possessing a weapon on traffic stops, and we know that people who are legally carrying can also commit gun crimes.

So, around one instance a year where things could’ve headed south quickly on traffic stops…that I know of. And two of these didn’t even occur in high-crime areas. I say that to say this…traffic stops can be incredibly dangerous on a regular basis. You cannot accurately compare American criminal and law enforcement cultures with European ones. I’ve spent time in the U.K. and the climate is so different there with respect to violence in general. Currently, in America, it would be incredibly irresponsible to not arm police officers. As we’ve discussed, though, we need to do a better job of selecting the men and women who fill that role in our communities.

I always felt that part of the systemic racism that always seems to get a pass in the media is how we deal with penalties for socioeconomically disadvantaged citizens. I grew incredibly frustrated by the court system that would pile warrants upon those who could never pay the fines they had, which allowed their freedom to be taken away at the drop of a hat. Yes, crimes or violations were committed that led to those penalties and warrants, but little is said not only about the fact that the stress of dealing with some of this unfairness leads to a higher likelihood of resisting/acting out during an increasing number of encounters with minorities, but it increases the likelihood that a disproportionate amount of minorities and the officers themselves will be hurt or killed in the process. I believe reform of the criminal justice system is a matter of safety for both people of color and police officers.

I’m glad you mentioned the frustration you feel when you read of or see violence within the African American community. I have my thoughts on some of the reasons this happens, but I’m not part of that community. Do you have thoughts (or hear of thoughts) as to internal reasons this violence continues? I see how external factors can definitely have an effect, but feel much less qualified to analyze internal factors.