An Open Letter to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Attorney General Garland and my elected officials

 Sonya Massey.  Thirty-six years of age.  Killed by gunfire from an Illinois Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy on July 6.  Sonya had called 911 to seek help from law enforcement.  What she received was an execution by law enforcement.  This type of law enforcement response has become an expected event.  An event that we stop to shake our heads at, feel remorse, then move on until we hear of the next victim. Then we repeat the cycle of remorse. Time…and time…and time again.  After each murder, nothing happens in terms of hiring processes of law enforcement officials.  There is no time out called for law enforcement heads to review use of force procedures.  There is no outrage by our elected federal officials calling for investigations and asking for the resignations of those in charge of law enforcement.  Why not?

Is it acceptable that being a law enforcement officer means killing a citizen is an allowable condition?  Is it okay that a citizen is killed in the course of a police officer, or sheriff’s deputy’s actions on the job?  If it is a failure of the Secret Service to have not stopped a would-be assassin from firing shots at a candidate, why is it not a failure of law enforcement when people are needlessly killed during an interaction between citizens and law enforcement?  Are we now at the point where if you are a person of color, you handle threats to your life yourself rather than call 911 and the police to come to your aid?  Must people of color arm their households to police ourselves and our neighborhoods?  If we call 911, do we need to say, “please do not send a white, European American policeman or sheriff who has no experience living among people of color?”  Will attention be given to this situation only if a celebrity speaks out about the issue?  Will more attention and a stop to these murders only happen if the victims are white, of European American heritage?  These are some of the questions.  What are the answers?

What are you doing to put an end to these senseless acts of murder by law enforcement?  Why are you not doing more?

The actions by these law enforcement officers shows a pattern of behavior that has not been addressed by systemic changes and improvements in the hiring, training, and development of law enforcement officials.  This is especially true as these are public service jobs where people hired are given weapons which can kill the people they are sworn to protect.

 We need a nationwide academy teaching best practices, especially best practices in interacting with citizens holding weapons other than guns.  Best practices in interacting with people who may have mental disabilities. Creation of a model use of force policy.  Enhanced screening of applicants for law enforcement positions, especially those allowed to carry a weapon.

The killer of Sonya Massey had a law enforcement partner by his side. That partner did nothing to deescalate the situation.  That should not be an allowable standard practice of a law enforcement officer.  It should be a daily discussion among partners that only certain situations will require use of a weapon against a citizen.

These are the issues.  What is your response?  A lack of a response by you tells me that we are on our own and we should best protect ourselves, because no one is coming to our aid.  That means people of color should definitely consider a law enforcement officer approaching us or at our door a threat to our lives, so act accordingly.  Is that what you advocate?  Please do not say just comply with the instructions of the law enforcement person.  Watch the video involving the interaction and compliance of Sonya Massey to the request of the law enforcement officer.

In life, we are told to “never forget”.  Whether it be the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 during World War II.  Whether it be the Holocaust carried out in Germany during World War II.  Whether it be terrorists crashing commercial airplanes into buildings in 2001 during 9/11.  Conversely, we are also told to “put the past behind us and move on” when it comes to the past history of lynching of people of color in the United States of America.  Put the past behind us and move on when discussions come up about the institution of slavery that existed in the United States of America.  Is your answer that the murder of people of color by law enforcement is just another response  of “put the past behind and move on?”

The American public.  Where are you?  You march and protest against a war halfway across the world, but show no compassion or anguish for your own fellow citizens.

President Biden.  In your speech to the American people tonight, you did not mention any plans to address this tragic systemic problem. Is it not important that this situation that repeats itself and destroys families be ended?  What are you going to do?  If you have no response at all that is the same as your saying, “it’s not important to me.”

Dear Police Chiefs - Part 2

 Four years ago I wrote the original "Dear Police Chief" blog article.  In 2018, I suggested that a "stand down" of police departments occur nationwide.  The idea being the Chief of Police of each department would gather officers together and review the use of force policies in their department.  Talk about the situations where use of force could result in the death of a suspect.  Talk about what police behaviors and actions to self control.

I ask you the same question I asked in 2018.  Has your office reviewed your use of force policy with your police officers?  If not, why not?  Are you okay when violent police behavior or the death of a suspect occurs during a police stop or when a suspect is in the custody of your officer?  What has improved for your department since 2018?

Recently two Indiana small town police officers were shot during a traffic stop.  One officer in Elwood, Indiana died from the gunfire.  Another in Richmond, Indiana as of this writing remains in critical condition.  In each instance the police officer stopped the suspect without having the benefit of a backup officer being there.  These one-on-one encounters are dangerous for both the police officer and the suspect.  In these one-on-one encounters there is a high probability that the officer or suspect will be killed.  The officer who fears for their life may shoot and kill the suspect.  The suspect may be someone who has made a decision that they will never be returned to prison again.  A lifetime criminal's "nothing to lose mentality" is dangerous to the officer and has fatal consequences to the family of the police officer.

I suggest police departments change your policies to always require a second officer be present when a suspect is stopped and approached.  If you currently do not have the resources, then request funds for the resources for a second back up officer policy.  Isn't the life of the officer and the livelihood of the wife, husband, and children of the officer worth the investment?  Isn't the officers life worth the additional funds?

The job of a police officer is likely among the top ten toughest jobs in the United States.  Your officer deserves your 100% support.  Take action now.