Body camera footage included the officer’s comment “remember, we only shoot black people” to a (white) passenger in a car during a July 2016 traffic stop in which the driver was arrested for DUI.
Pretty obvious sarcasm to me.
Inappropriate? Yes. Worthy of an entire media spectacle? No.
July 2016 and now this is news. Yes, sarcasm. Yes, bad taste and poor judgement. So obviously the cop needs to be fired and publicly raked across the coals, never let around children, and the victim needs financial restitution.
Sarcasm from a frustrated officer. It’s a difficult, dangerous job and now most people either hate them or are afraid. Hopefully people appreciate how hard they’ve worked during Harvey.
And yet, had the comment been made by a black officer to a white passenger about the killing of whites by blacks… would people so easily shrug this off as “sarcasm”?
THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is white privilege at work.
I lived in that county. Sarcasm,maybe. True, probably.
My hometown. The cops there have been bullies for a LONG time.
I’m not saying he needs to be chased with torches and pitchforks, but it was a stupid, snarky, and unprofessional thing to say.
It’s just the immense amount of arrogance that never fails to astound me.
They know they’re on camera. They know they’re on a mic. They just don’t care because there are very few, if any, consequences- especially if you’re white.
^^^ They know THIS stop could be the one where they are killed. They know THIS person could be the one that leaves their spouse a widow or widower (sorry, don’t know the currently correct gender neutral, X gender term - no doubt due to my cis privilege).
If black cop said it to a white passenger no doubt there would be groups (think Uhuru House in Berkeley, CA. who marched in SUPPORT of Lovel Mixon who killed 4 officers) letting us know that this is what white privilege deserves.
With any luck the virtue-signaling crowd will have us unable to speak to each other at all - unless a trained appropriately non-privileged entity is present and has the appropriate non-privileged entity manual to handle the horror of the moment.
I’m usually pretty firmly in the free speech camp, but even I am uncomfortable with someone who daily carries a gun making such a sarcastic statement.
I also agree with romanigypsyeyes - he certainly knew he had a camera and even that didn’t cause him to be more circumspect. That gives me great pause.
Sensible people who are able to detect sarcasm would, yes.
Clearly there were consequences as it is now a news story, and this cop was moved to administrative duty.
“I don’t want to put my hands down…I’ve just seen way too many videos of cops…”
“But you’re not black. Remember, we only shoot black people. Yeah, we only kill black people, right? All the videos you’ve seen, have you seen the black people get killed?”
“Right.”
“You have.”
In general I’m sympathetic to the police. They are often in danger from people who seem to be harmless at first. I was supportive of the cop in a recent video who held a gun on a man for an extended time after a traffic stop. I’ve seem too many episodes of “Cops” in which a seemingly innocuous traffic stop ends with someone pulling a gun for me not to be.
This situation was different however. This officer was not making the situation safer or better controlled with his actions or words. He was just being a sarcastic jerk because he was exasperated by someone who was fearful of him. It also makes me wonder if he mouths off to his black traffic stops.
Ah yes, true white privilege. To work at a mediocrely paid job where people fear and loathe you, and any minor traffic stop could turn into your last day on earth. To not be appreciated for the risks you take to help others, but to be hated for things that other people have done. Now that’s white privilege at work.
Some of us are truly scared when stopped by cops. It’s a fear we have especially for our husbands and sons. Please watch this video as it sums up the feelings many of us have.
How about as a start don’t imply the group you belong to (in this case the police) are shooting a group of people (blacks) on purpose?!
If a government pays its police officers mediocre pay for what should be a job that requires mental and physical skill, willingness to take risk, honesty, and levelheadedness under pressure, it should not be surprised if it gets mediocre police officers who are less likely to live up to those expectations.
The police need to start solving these problems from within the ranks. There are racists and bigots in the police force in most places, some worse than others. There are plenty more decent LEOs, thankfully. But, as long as they allow this in their midst, such inappropriate behavior will continue and law enforcement will see their standing diminished which isn’t good for them or us. They need to start “policing” from within and create zero tolerance for this sort of stuff.
Putting one’s life at risk, their pay scale (which isn’t bad at all when you factor in benefits, OT/detail type pay), etc. doesn’t play into this at all. A decent cop who is fulfilling his/her duties equally for ALL people, wouldn’t utter such words. A smart one wouldn’t utter them knowing the mic would pick it up. Bigoted and stupid is a bad combo.
@doschicos great response
^^ this. You want good cops you have to pay well. Supply and demand etc. You’ll still probably get a few power trip guys but efficient screening and training keeps most out…and the culture of your police force reinforces those lessons.
Well that’s the way it is. People need jobs, and these jobs offer stability and security. Many apply because of family history and they feel it’s a calling. If you are getting enough applicants with current pay and benefits, then you won’t raise those levels . Supply and demand, and people are in need of jobs that will support their families.