While I was working tonight we posted in a parking lot where two police joined us for a little bit. The conversation turned to a call we were all on, a chase that ended with the chased rolling over his SUV, and an officer getting hurt while fighting with the person.
Apparently the person arrested is claiming that he was physically abused by the police because of his skin color. (not because being physically abused by police for any reason is wrong, but because being abused due to skin color is wrong I guess).
At that point I said something that made everyone stop for a bit. "Well, was he?"
More after the squiggle. (yes, this is kind of a teaser, kind of sorry.)
After a second or two, the officers emphatically stated no, and no he was not abused. (I agree, but I did not treat the person, I treated the injured officer)
Then I asked, why are there not more officers of color in the police force?
The sergeant said it is because minorities don't apply, and those who do apply don't pass the tests in large numbers. Of those who pass the tests, many of them don't make it through the background checks.
They love getting minorities who make it through the hiring process. They just don't get many. I know with the EMS world it is hard for anyone with a drug conviction to get hired. Even if the conviction was 10 years ago. I'm sure the police have tighter rules on that. Since minorities are more likely to get a drug conviction, this keeps many out of the police/EMS/Fire employment.
But then the Sergeant said, we try to recruit minorities out of school, very aggressively. We really try to get the best. But they get better offers in other places. We work with the local leaders to try to get local minority members to apply. But they won't. They don't want to be part of the police, because the police are not on their side.
He had a point, the mostly white police force does not treat minorities fairly, minorities don't want to join a police force that does not treat people fairly, minorities won't be treated fairly till the police force looks like the community it polices.
It is not right, but it is hard to break a cycle if good qualified people won't consider serving.
If good people won't serve, bad people will. Police should be the most pro-union, pro-democrat, liberal, people in the government. Other than a few high level police chiefs, they tend towards pro-GOP, anti-welfare, pro-gun, and at best ambivalent towards the union. (Granted this in only my experience in four states and five major cities: Syracuse, Rochester, Baltimore, Louisville, Cleveland)
We read of abuse happening all the time in the news, many here have posted on how bad the police are for doing the abuse. But how many decent people who would never abuse citizens refused to consider serving as a Police Officer, Paramedic, Firefighter, Military Officer, Military Service member?
It is easier to make changes from with in an organization than from outside of it. You have more standing when you are part of the group and say "hey, stop it, that is wrong" than as an outsider "who has no F@&*#$% clue what we go through" saying the same thing. When you are part of the group, your actions set an example for others to follow, they are less likely to beat someone for having the wrong amount of color in their skin if you are there as their backup.
Yes, it means less pay. Long hours, poor treatment at budget time, constant second guessing by management, and lots of hard work. On the other hand, you will be making a difference, faster, and more effectively.
As long as good people don't sign up and try out, bad people will.