Attitude, Protests, and Patriotism
If you turn on your TV, listen to the news on the radio, read the paper, or go on social media these days, you have probably found it almost impossible to not hear about NFL players, coaches, and owners taking a knee or locking arms in unity when the National Anthem is played at the beginning of football games. I have heard and seen comments from people supporting those protests as well as those condemning them. Both sides in my opinion have merit. Personally, I stand and place my right hand over my heart. I was a Marine and a cop and I will always be faithful ( Semper Fideles) to my country, my family, and my friends. It is how I was raised and educated.
Although I disagree with the NFL players that take a knee or sitting during the National Anthem, everyone knows whether they like it or not, Americans have the right to do that. Apparently, the players are trying to express their discontent about how they believe that police officers are targeting, harassing, and killing black people. Is that true? Is that really true? Are cops today really targeting people because of the color of their skin? What do you think?
I was a cop in a big city (San Francisco) during the 1970s, long before we had a black President of the United States and not long after the civil rights movement of the 1960s. While in the SFPD Academy, were told in very strong and serious language that if we had any prejudices toward people because of their race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual preference, that it would not be tolerated and we should leave the department. I can only recall knowing of one cop who in my opinion was a racist. He also had other problems. He was fired and my partner and I helped him find the exit door by placing him on a 72 hour psychiatric hold one night.
Do some police officers create big problems by the way they approach and interact with people? You know they do. Does that give a person being encountered or detained the right to resist, talk back, or not cooperate with those cops? Yes, they can give those cops problems, but in all likelihood the cop will come out on top. However, a very negative experience with a cop will probably stick in a person’s memory forever. I had a first-hand experience when I was 23 years old. I was in the Marine Corps Reserve and had completed active duty service. It was late at night and I was on my way back to college on a quiet and lonely four lane highway in a southern state. The speed limit was 55 MPH and I was going 65 in my British racing green 1967 Mustang. I had a USMC decal on my back window. I watched a 1967 yellow Camero blow past me like I was standing still. About a minute later a Highway Patrol car put on it’s blue lights and pulled me over. The officer, a very large, I mean fat man in his early thirties with a big round pink face and a smoky the bear hat approached my car on the driver’s side. In an aggressive and loud voice, he demanded my license and registration. I said, “yes sir” as I produced the documents. With a friendly smile I then said, “I sure sure wish you had been here a few minutes ago, because a yellow Camero blew past me going at least 90.” I thought that maybe he mixed up my dark green mustang for the light yellow Camero. The officer then stated in an even more aggressive and angry tone, ” You tryin to tell me how to do my job, boy!!” I felt insulted and did not respond, but I just wanted to say to him; did you see that Marine Corps decal on my rear window? I am not a boy! I have not disrespected you, why did you speak to me like that? Well I didn’t because I knew there would be a battle I would not win. He then told me he was out of tickets and to follow him into town so he could give me one for 10 MPH over. I deserved the ticket, but not the disrespect. That incident was almost 50 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. At that point in my life I had no thoughts of becoming a cop, but if I had I surely would not behave like that jerk. But just for clarity, I have had the opportunity to meet and know many other southern cops and they are not like that guy. There are a few cops out there that have somehow slipped through the screening process and they should not be wearing a badge and a gun.
During my rookie year with the SFPD, I worked for a sergeant who had been a cop for about 20 years. He once told me that “doing good police work and avoiding problems is about 10% know-how and 90 percent attitude.” Police officers are expected to perfect professionals, but sometimes they are not. Some cops are better than others, but they are all still holding the authority to enforce the law. If a person encounters a cop and they do not like the way they are treated or feel they should not be detained at all, they should just do what they are told to do, avoid conflict, and file a complaint later. People can also become political at the local level and support mayors, city managers, and sheriff’s that require strong hiring standards and better pay scales for recruiting and maintaining top quality officers.
I watched a video on Facebook placed there by Brandon Tatum, a black Arizona police officer. I liked it! He condemned the protesters and told them take their complaints to the voting booth. His video was well delivered and moving. It’s not the United States government at large and our constitution that is creating these feelings of resentment toward the police. It is individual behaviors and attitudes and culture on both sides that is at the root of this problem.
