THE SUPER HEROES HAVE FALLEN!

In 2013, the City of Boston was rocked by a terrorist attack during the annual running of the Boston Marathon. As a result of the bombings and the response by area police departments to the assassination of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police Officer, Sean Collier, an ensuing gun battle and massive search that occurred in the City of Watertown, law enforcement agencies were hailed as heroes. People exited their homes after being confined in an unprecedented curfew and lined the streets of Watertown to cheer officers on as they left that community. Police officers were hailed as heroes for their response to these terrible events and their willingness to put themselves in harms way to confront the terrorists. What a difference a year makes!

JAHAN

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Homeland Security

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4 min read

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Jan 3, 2015

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In the aftermath of the Ferguson, Missouri and New York City grand jury decisions not to indict the officers involved in the deaths of unarmed suspects, protests have erupted in many major cities across the United States. The tenor and tone of these protests are in sharp contrast to the display of emotion and outpouring of support that was exhibited back in April, 2013. Police Officers have become villains to many in the communities that they serve. Cheers have been replaced with taunts. The crowds that gather are not lining the streets to wave the flag but are gathering to attack and provoke officers into a confrontation.

This is true in the Boston area where police support was perhaps at an all-time high after the marathon bombings. The Boston Police, the third oldest department in the United States, has their first African-American Superintendent and most diverse command staff in its history. Since the Ferguson and New York decisions and the unrest that has followed, the greater Boston area has had dozens of protests against law enforcement. In the early days of protest in the Boston area, many of the demonstrators were from minority communities. This was accepted as a sign of solidarity with protesters in Ferguson and New York. As the marches have persisted, there appears to be a shift from purely race based anti-police protests, to more of an anti-police anti-establishment protest. Anarchist groups and socialist groups that have been common in the greater Boston area for the past decade appear to be attempting to use this movement to provoke a confrontation with authorities. In Boston, images of crowds raising their hands and saluting officers have been replaced with crowds chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot.“

Police officers in New York and Florida have been killed in attacks over the past week. Officers in many communities are receiving death threats and are being physically attacked at increasing levels. Some attackers and callers have made direct reference to the Ferguson and New York incidents. In other circumstances it is uncertain if the attacks are related to those cases or if they borne of a new disrespect for law enforcement. The number of law enforcement officers killed by firearms jumped by 56 percent this year and included 15 ambush deaths.

Many of today’s police officers have never seen anti-police demonstrations like these in their careers. For many officers, protests that did occur were not directed at them, but at other groups. During these demonstrations police could put themselves between opposing groups in an attempt to separate protesters. When the police are the focus of the protest this is not possible and attempts to disperse the crowds become more challenging.

It’s amazing that in a few short months incidents that occurred across the country can drag a community that appears to be doing everything right into chaos. What appeared to be a reservoir of good will, where police were hailed as heroes was nothing more than an illusion.

While the media has portrayed the protesters as mostly peaceful, I would disagree with that description. The protests are peaceful compared to other parts of the country; however, there is clearly intent by the protesters to provoke an incident. The hostilities shown towards police overall is bad, but the hatred and goading towards African-American officers is shocking to me. These officers are being singled out and threatened by protesters far beyond trying to incite a confrontation. What is happening to them is shameful.

There is no question law enforcement and fire services are constantly battling to recruit, hire and train candidates for their agencies. There have been numerous methods and programs aimed at making their agencies more reflective of the communities they serve. Will the protests an anti-police movement sweeping the country impinge upon the recruitment and hiring of minority officers? I believe it will have an adverse effect on minority hiring success. This interruption of minority hiring will only lead to further rifts between the police and the minority communities they serve.