OPINION: Police are not the enemy; here's why

The question is why all the retaliatory behavior toward police? Yes, there is a history of injustice toward blacks in law enforcement and in our criminal justice system. Yes, there are good cops and bad cops, they sometimes use excessive force, and they use profiling because it saves their lives. The “crime” of “driving while black” casts the blame solely on police, and is sarcastic and simplistic.

First, one must look deeply into the culture that we are all born into. Males are universally taught to look outside themselves for the causes and solutions to all their problems. They’re experts at acting out rather than introspecting. Therefore when the time comes to look in the mirror and ask themselves how their beliefs, attitudes, and behavior contribute to this history of trouble with police, they are completely at a loss. They can’t develop an understanding for police tactics, and they can’t put themselves in an officer’s shoes for a second. They view themselves as innocent victims when a neutral observer would say they contributed greatly to their own problems.

Have our black citizens cared enough to educate themselves on how to behave when speaking to a cop, or how to behave during a traffic stop? For example, if after stopping a person for a moving violation, the officer sees you reaching all over your car and in the glove compartment, he will likely assume you are reaching for a weapon. How many people know that? How many citizens know how police define assault? Under what circumstances can an officer use his taser on you? Why should you never argue with police, or carry dope in your car, or associate with questionable people?

Do our urban blacks know that it is a statistical fact that 95 percent of individuals on the street between midnight and 4 a.m. have criminal records, and are therefore very attractive to police? Do they stay off the streets late at night? Do they keep their tires in good shape, brake lights and turn signals operative, license and registration current at all times? How about a Cadillac with a gold-plated grill? One would think the majority would realize that a cop would be aware that the only way they could afford such a vehicle would be by means of crime.

Black citizens who remain unaware of the information above will clearly be stopped by police as would any white, red or yellow citizen. In this respect, former FBI Assistant Director Tom Fuentes was completely right in commenting on the Bland case in Texas, that her behavior toward the officer who stopped her on a minor moving violation would have earned anyone a felony assault charge regardless of race. We are all equal under the law; therefore it would seem black contact with police could be greatly reduced with better knowledge and awareness of the law as well as the behaviors that attract police attention.

The primary motivation, then, seems to be revenge, which is really a dead-end road. Blacks realize they have a strong advocate in highest office as well as in the Justice Department, and are taking advantage of it. This is all well and good, but is it within the Justice Department’s authority to interject itself into local law enforcement issues, and make police departments jump through a series of hoops?

What is to come of all these investigations into police, and are they to be prosecuted in performing their jobs? Are black citizens to be treated with extra special care while they yell obscenities at police? The trouble with this scenario is that it will escalate hate speech, violence toward police with potential reciprocation (they are only human), rioting, and looting. The lid just came off Pandora’s box!

There is, however, another way: one that is peaceful, productive, doable, and cheap. It is this writer’s opinion that education is the solution, and this applies to all of us, not just African-Americans. Police departments nationwide should offer a monthly seminar entitled: “How to Make Yourself Arrest-Proof.” This community outreach program would certainly be supported by local hotel managers who would likely provide a large conference room for free.

To advertise it in the city of Kalispell, for instance, take out a half-page ad in the Daily Inter Lake as well as a highly visible billboard on U.S. 2 in the center of town. Any funding required would happily be supplied by your local baby-boomer population. Additional funding could come from the participants by asking for a $5 donation at the door. This is a classic win-win solution where community, police and civilians would all benefit. Black families, in particular, would benefit from fathers who remain at home instead of being imprisoned.

The end result would be a nation with a greater sense of empathy and compassion for the extremely difficult jobs performed by our police, and a tremendous improvement in police/civilian rapport.

Mott is a resident of Columbia Falls.