These have been difficult days for law enforcement. The shooting of an African-American teenager in Ferguson, Mo., by a white police officer sparked protest that turned violent. Police responded with force and the confrontations between the protesters and the police made news around the world.
The tragedy of death and destruction generated discussion about race relations, the role of police and the place of violence in American society. The discussions were not limited to Ferguson. Government officials in faraway places like China and Russia seized the opportunity to lecture Americans about the problems evidenced by these events.
Americans talked about these problems too. What they said, at least in response to pollsters, is interesting. For example, according to a survey done by Pew Research Center a few days after the Ferguson shooting, the nation is almost evenly divided between those who believe race relations in the United States are generally good (47 percent) and those who believe race relations are generally bad (44 percent).
Race relations
When people described race relations in their own community, 78 percent described them as generally good and only 18 percent described them as generally bad. Obviously there is a wide gap between what we experience locally in race relations and what we think is true in other parts of the nation.
Pictures of police armed with military-type weapons and riding military-type vehicles evidently catalyzed feelings across the nation. Sixty-eight percent of respondents to the survey said these type weapons should be reserved for military and National Guard use only. Those favoring their use by police totaled only 26 percent with 6 percent “unsure.”
A survey by The New York Times reported a somewhat surprising finding, at least judging from the focus of TV coverage about the Ferguson events. Only 25 percent of respondents said the shooting of the black teenager that ignited the protests was unjustified. A surprising 64 percent of respondents said they did not know enough of the details about the case to make a decision. Nine percent believed the shooting was justified.
It is encouraging that almost two-thirds of Americans recognize that even after two weeks of intense media coverage few details of the shooting are known and it is too early to reach a conclusion before the facts are known.
The New York Times also reported that 42 percent of respondents to their poll said police were friends when asked if they viewed police as friends or enemies. A mere 10 percent said police were enemies. A plurality (44 percent) said police were neither.
Both surveys demonstrated a marked difference between the views of blacks and whites. Eighty percent of African-Americans said the incident raised important racial issues according to the Pew study. Only 37 percent of whites answered that way.
Concerning police response in Ferguson, 65 percent of blacks said police had gone too far. Only 33 percent of whites answered similarly.
The differences in world views of blacks and whites evidenced by these answers is obvious. Experience may account for some of the difference. This writer has been in meetings in metropolitan areas of Alabama where a local police chief described how his officers follow an automobile driven by a minority person that comes into that community. The police chief explained that few minorities lived in that community and the officers wanted to know what the driver was doing there.
A criminal attorney in the group said that approach to policing was wrong; that he could get a case thrown out of court on that admission by the police chief. A homeowner in the group called the practice protection. Hopefully all of us know it is wrong to treat a person as if they are suspicious based solely on their skin color.
At the same time law enforcement officers have a difficult task. An officer can stop a vehicle for a simple traffic violation but the officer never knows how the driver will react. Will the driver be friendly or surly? Will the driver reach for a gun or a knife? Will the driver try and run over the officer with the vehicle?
As of this writing, the Honor Roll of Heroes — a website listing police officers who have died in the line of duty — shows 68 officers who have died so far in 2014. Last year 105 police officers died in the line of duty. Of the 68 deaths so far this year 28 died from gunfire, seven from vehicle assault and three were struck by vehicles. These were not rookie cops. The average age of those who died in the line of duty this year is 41. Their average length of service is more than 13 years.
Being a policeman is a dangerous job. It is no wonder some are on edge occasionally.
I was taught early in life to respect police officers and to comply with directions they might give. Respect for the officer helps de-escalate tensions that might be present. If stopped by a policeman, I was taught to keep both hands on the steering wheel of the car so the officer could see my hands.
In the last 20 years I have been stopped once. It was at night and then I turned on the dome light so the officer could see inside the car. When he asked for my proof of insurance I told him it was in the glove compartment and asked if it was alright to get it. No surprises that way.
Respect and compliance does not mean the police are always correct but no one is. And when the police are wrong there are avenues for redressing the wrong. Still the police deserve the support of the public. Their role in society is vital to the well-being of everyone. Police officers enforce laws and apprehend criminals. They also protect public safety and assist with disaster relief.
Public service
Law enforcement officials run toward problems, not from them. At their best they build up communities through public service. They are part of the community they serve.
At press time the facts about the shooting in Ferguson remain unknown. A grand jury is reviewing the evidence. But no matter the outcome of that individual situation law enforcement officials still deserve our respect and our support. That we should never forget.
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