It’s beyond obvious that America has a huge police problem. Day after day we are being bombarded with images and stories of non-violent protesters being brutalized by police whose motto is SUPPOSED to be “To protect and serve”. Clearly something is very, very broken in our law enforcement system.
Well I grew up in Canada and I’m certain that every single Canadian on this site can confirm that we have never, EVER feared for our lives during a police encounter, as I’m sure readers from other countries can attest to their own police.
I was in London last summer and while riding the tube a couple of London Metro Bobbies got on and stood by the doorway near where I was standing. And at no point did I, a person of color, think “I’d better not look those guys in the eyes or they might jack me up or worse.”
I’ve been in the US 10 years now and live in LA. And I can tell you when a cop gets on the train EVERYONE looks away and averts their gaze. There is an absolutely palpable sense of dread that creeps into people whenever an American cop is nearby.
And that got me to thinking. What is it about American cops that makes them such assholes? Yeah I know, not all cops. Bear with me.
In Canada, in the UK, and pretty much everywhere else police are referred to as a “service”. As in London Metropolitan Police Service. Vancouver Police Service. But who calls police a “service” in the US? Nobody does. Here the cops are a “police force”.
Think about it. “Force” denotes violence, action, moving against someone’s will. Strength or energy brought to bear against someone. A military force. A police force. However it can be positive, like a force for change.
“Service” denotes help, assistance, a contribution for the welfare of others. Call something a force and it will act like a force. Call something a service, and it will act IN service.
Clearly America’s police will not change without some help because they obviously think of themselves as an occupying force. Let us remind them for whom they serve.