A Houston cop was the first caller to my Politics Done Right show and had a lot to say. The snippet is the frank and productive discussion about policing, the killing of black men, and a bit more.
Frank dialogue about policing with a Houston cop
The subject of this week’s Politics Done Right (on Facebook) covered the systemic killing of black men by our police. I set the stage by reading the blog of the week where I wrote the following.
Police officers reflect society. They bring those prejudices into their job like anyone else. The difference is that those biases affect their judgment. Unless laws and rules are modified to jail them for instituting their prejudices, nothing will change. Nothing has changed because this is a problem deemed by the majority, not of their own. It is a national lack of empathy. When some people find excuses when videos show at best overreaction or at worse assassinations, they choose not to believe their own eyes. ..
The lack of empathy by our society requires subjecting us all to some sort of discomfort. That is the importance of Black Lives Matter and other organizations bringing this issue to the forefront.
While any action taken must be peaceful, it must speak the only language that seems to effect change in this country, economic pain to those who hold the power to institute change.
The police officer was initially concerned that the reaction to the Charlotte shooting was premature. I challenged him on that stance noting the city’s response was pent up anger for years of police brutality unmitigated. He correctly pointed out that cops are asked to be social workers, psychiatrists and more. I concurred but then challenged him again. I suggested that police officers support politicians that vote against policies that would make their lives easier. We also discussed racism in the police department, the blue line of silence and more. Finally, I asked him to reassure the community that in fact here in Houston police officers are trying to work with the community.
Watch the entire show:
http://politicsdoneright.com/2016/09/it-will-take-economic-pain-police-bias/
https://youtu.be/HbDmo-k3sD0