SBI director: Excesses by police have created a ‘systemic issue of mistrust, misunderstanding’
Having been a law enforcement officer for over 33 years, I have seen countless examples of bravery, selflessness, and public service demonstrated by my fellow law enforcement colleagues, often under very trying and challenging circumstances. I’ve lost dear friends and colleagues to senseless violence and I cannot describe the deep sense of loss I still feel for each and every one of them. But, to our core we get into this venerated profession to serve and to protect.
In accepting the badge and the awesome responsibilities that come with it, we also swear to uphold the law and administer impartial justice to all. This solemn responsibility must be administered equally to all our citizens, of every race and creed, in every community, without exception. When law enforcement officers are called upon to exercise the power to detain or even to question, we must do so with great care and judicious restraint. To do otherwise risks the support and trust of the very communities we serve, which is the foundation and source of our authority as law enforcement officers in the first place.
Without question, what we saw occur with the death of George Floyd goes against every tenant of impartial justice and the very foundations of the law enforcement profession itself. This act was indefensible and criminal and does a great disservice to the many honorable and dedicated law enforcement professionals who serve our state and our nation and its many diverse communities. This is not representative of who we are and what we stand for.
But we must also plainly acknowledge that this is not about a single incident in Minneapolis, no matter how tragic and how great a miscarriage of justice this act was. But rather, this is emblematic of a much larger and systemic issue of mistrust, misunderstanding, and fear by many people of color with respect to the very law enforcement professionals who are sworn to protect and serve them. As a profession, we must come to grips with this and it must be addressed with the greatest urgency. This cannot continue.
Collectively, law enforcement professionals and leaders must seek new and better ways to understand the root causes of use of force incidents and to better equip our law enforcement officers to de-escalate difficult situations and to employ minimum use of force to the greatest extent possible, while still preserving their own personal safety. This is not always an easy task in sometimes volatile and dangerous circumstances. But it is incumbent on the law enforcement profession to continuously strive to do better for the citizens we serve - all of our citizens.
There are no words that can heal the pain caused by this inexcusable act to the Floyd family and the many other members of our community who have been impacted. Instead, there must be meaningful action and reform. I personally express my condolences for all who have been affected by this terrible injustice. I understand and acknowledge the collective anger that is now being expressed by many in the public square. However, I do not support in any way the people who have turned to violence or chaos to exploit this terrible injustice.
Sir Robert Peel, who is recognized as the father of modern policing, said it best back in 1829 that we must “… recognize always that the power of the police to fulfill their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behavior, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.” As law enforcement professionals, we must collectively commit to doing more to prevent what occurred in Minneapolis and other cities across the U.S. from ever happening again and to secure and maintain the respect of the public we serve. We owe no less to George Floyd and all of the citizens that we are sworn to protect and serve.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 12:00 AM.