Americans Should Value, Not Protest, the Police By Charlie Dent COPYRIGHT 2016 Greenhaven Press, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning The beautiful autumn foliage of Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains served as the backdrop for several weeks of tension and fear during the massive manhunt for survivalist and cop killer Eric Frein. Frein ambushed and killed State Police Corporal Bryon Dickson II and seriously wounded Trooper Alex T. Douglass. Pennsylvanians are still coping with the tragedy, as are the devastated families of the two officers. Perhaps Frein's recent murderous attack is why the horrific December 20th [2014] ambush and assassination of two New York City police officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, has caused many Pennsylvanians' hearts to break for the families of these two public servants, targeted simply because they wore the NYPD [New York City Police Department] uniform. Officer Ramos, a devoted husband and father of two young children, celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this month. Officer Liu, who married two months ago, leaves behind his devastated young wife and parents. The assassination of Officers Ramos and Liu marks a critical moment in this nation's recent discussions on police practices and race relations in the aftermath of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. As a nation, how do we make sense of the events, especially since grand juries in Missouri and New York, after reviewing the evidence, declined to indict either of the officers involved? As a father of three, I can't imagine losing a child under any circumstances. Yet, Michael Brown engaged in multiple criminal actions on that fateful day. Robbing a store (on video), defying a police order to get on the sidewalk and out of the middle of the street, resisting arrest, attempting to take Officer [Darren] Wilson's firearm (which discharged during the altercation) and then rushing at that same officer are facts corroborated by multiple witnesses and supported by forensic evidence. Given these facts, the grand jury made the right decision not to indict Officer Wilson. Out of this tragic event came the wanton destruction of the Ferguson riots, the "hands up, don't shoot" protests, the undue vilification of Officer Wilson, and the unhelpful lectures from discredited provocateur Al Sharpton. No Reasonable Pretext The circumstances of Eric Garner's death are also complex and tragic. While the video image of Mr. Garner's arrest is disturbing, a grand jury decided not to indict the NYPD officer in question. Reasonable people can disagree about the grand jury's decision, but that was their informed judgment after hearing the arguments and seeing all the evidence. No one should die for selling "loose" cigarettes. However, the cases of Brown and Garner do not provide a reasonable pretext to end the highly effective "broken windows" police practices or to prohibit local police from buying military surplus protective gear and other equipment. Absolutely neither justifies the actions of some New York protestors, despicably caught on video, chanting: "What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want them? Now!" Police work is inherently dangerous. Officers must enforce the law in any number of difficult situations under pressures few outside of the military could possibly understand. From routine traffic stops to domestic violence situations to hostage cases to murder scenes, America's finest deal with it all. It's past time to stop the bashing of law enforcement officers. They deserve our support. They certainly have mine. It is necessary to engage in a conversation to discuss the fears of those in the African American community about their relationship with law enforcement. Efforts to build a sense of teamwork and trust between law enforcement and residents of neighborhoods experiencing high crime rates must be made. Moreover, the makeup of police departments should reflect the people and communities they serve. Respected Public Servants As the nation comes to grips with the deaths of Officers Ramos and Liu, New York mayor Bill de Blasio should be held to account for his antipolice campaign rhetoric and tacit approval of the protests against his police department, which is not only diverse but among the finest big-city police forces anywhere in the world. The indelible image of New York police officers turning their backs on the mayor—on two separate high-profile occasions—should be cause for him to reflect and do some serious soul-searching. Mayor de Blasio is perceived by many in the NYPD, as well as the broader community nationally, as hostile to the very public servants New Yorkers rely upon to keep their city safe. Mayor de Blasio is not responsible for the deaths of the two officers; gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley is solely responsible. However, the mayor's words and actions have contributed to an antipolice atmosphere, not only in his city but also around the nation. If he's wise, the mayor will work to repair his relationship with the men and women of the NYPD. An apology from the mayor to the NYPD regarding some of his recent statements would be a constructive first step. Anyone who has ever attended a local crime watch meeting knows that police officers care deeply about the communities they serve. I've attended many of these over the years, and the officers have immersed themselves in the daily life of the neighborhoods for which they are responsible. It's about time the national media narrative start to reflect this reality and treat police officers with the respect they have earned. Now is the time for us all to roll up our sleeves and work to address the underlying issues that have animated enormous emotion in communities across our country. th Source Citation (MLA 8 ​ Edition) ​ ​ Dent, Charlie. "Americans Should Value, Not Protest, the Police." Police Brutality, edited by Michael Ruth, ​ ​ Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ​ ​ http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010156272/OVIC?u=j101913008&sid=OVIC&xid=a0999bbb. Accessed 9 Jan. 2019. Originally published as "Op-Ed—Stop Bashing the Police,", 6 Jan. 2015. Internal Citation: (Dent) ​ There Is Conflicting Information on Police Brutality By John Wihbey COPYRIGHT 2016 Greenhaven Press, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning Allegations of the use of excessive force by U.S. police departments continue to generate headlines more than two decades after the 1992 Los Angeles riots brought the issue to mass public attention and spurred some law enforcement reforms. On Staten Island, N.Y., the July 2014 death of Eric Garner because of the apparent use of a "choke hold" by an officer sparked outrage. A month later in Ferguson, Mo., the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson ignited protests, and a grand jury's decision not to indict Wilson triggered further unrest. In November, Tamir Rice was shot by police in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 12 years old and playing with a toy pistol. On April 4, 2015, Walter L. Scott was shot by a police officer after a routine traffic stop in North Charleston, S.C. The same month, Freddie Gray died while in police custody in Baltimore, setting off widespread unrest. The policeman in the South Carolina case, Michael T. Slager, was charged with murder based on a cell phone video. In Baltimore, the driver of the police van in which Gray died, Caesar Goodson, was charged with second-degree murder, with lesser charges for five other officers. There have been no indictments in the earlier cases. These follow other recent incidents and controversies, including an April 2014 finding by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), following a two-year investigation, that the Albuquerque, N.M., police department "engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment," and a similar DOJ finding in December 2014 with regard to the Cleveland police department. In March 2015, the DOJ also issued a report detailing a pattern of "clear racial disparities" and "discriminatory intent" on the part of the Ferguson, Mo., police department. The events of 2014-2015 have prompted further calls by some police officials, politicians and scholars for another round of national reforms, in order to better orient "police culture" toward democratic ideals. Two Sides, Disparate Views Surveys in recent years with minority groups—Latinos and African Americans, in particular—suggest that confidence in law enforcement is relatively low, and large portions of these communities believe police are likely to use excessive force on suspects. A 2014 Pew Research Center survey confirms stark racial divisions in response to the Ferguson police shooting, as well, while Gallup provides insights on historical patterns of distrust. According to a Pew/USA Today poll ​ ​ conducted in August 2014, Americans of all races collectively "give relatively low marks to police departments around the country for holding officers accountable for misconduct, using the appropriate amount of force, and treating racial and ethnic groups equally." Social scientists who have done extensive field research and interviews note the deep sense of mistrust embedded in many communities. Numerous efforts have been made by members of the law enforcement community to ameliorate these situations, including promising strategies such as "community policing." Still, from a police perspective, law enforcement in the United States continues to be dangerous work—America has a relatively higher homicide rate compared to other developed nations and has many more guns per capita. Citizens seldom learn of the countless incidents where officers choose to hold fire and display restraint under extreme stress. Some research has shown that even well-trained officers are not consistently able to fire their weapon in time before a suspect holding a gun can raise it and fire first; this makes split-second judgments, even under "ideal" circumstances, exceptionally difficult.