Black ex-cop, and this is the real truth about race and policing

[damnedifIknow]

On any given day, in any police department in the nation, 15 percent of officers will do the right thing no matter what is happening. Fifteen percent of officers will abuse their authority at every opportunity. The remaining 70 percent could go either way depending on whom they are working with."

That's a theory from my friend K.L. Williams, who has trained thousands of officers around the country in use of force. Based on what I experienced as a black man serving in the St. Louis Police Department for five years, I agree with him. I worked with men and women who became cops for all the right reasons — they really wanted to help make their communities better. And I worked with people like the president of my police academy class, who sent out an email after President Obama won the 2008 election that included the statement, "I can't believe I live in a country full of ni**er lovers!!!!!!!!" He patrolled the streets in St. Louis in a number of black communities with the authority to act under the color of law."

That remaining 70 percent of officers are highly susceptible to the culture in a given department. In the absence of any real effort to challenge department cultures, they become part of the problem. If their command ranks are racist or allow institutional racism to persist, or if a number of officers in their department are racist, they may end up doing terrible things."

http://www.vox.com/2015/5/28/8661977/race-police-officer

[Tipperary]

1. I think that is true.

I think that is probably true for most professions. Your friend is right.

Unfortunately cops have the power to take someone's life or freedom.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. There's something about this analysis that strikes me as very right.

I don't know about the exact percentages, but have no reason to doubt him. Other than that, I think he's describing human social animals as they act in a lot of situations.

[awoke_in_2003]

13. herd mentality. nt

[marym625]

3. Great post

Thank you for this

Now we have to figure out a way for the 15% of good cops to step forward about the 15% of bad ones, and the ones that follow them.

It is dangerous for these people to step forward. But it is the only way things will actually change

[WillyT]

4. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[libdem4life]

5. The fastest way to this end is needed Now. Get ACLU instant streaming and start

"carrying" cell phones and adding more surveillance cameras by business and municipalities. It's waking up the white establishment...many of us...who heard but had no idea until we Saw It...over and over and over on the internet...global exposure. It's already changing things.

Edit: I think this is similar to the photo that many believe ultimately ended the VietNam was...the little girl whose clothes had burned off and her skin was burning with napalm screaming down the middle of the street. It's a Tipping Point.

[hifiguy]

6. I suspect there is a lot of truth in that,

and it's always easier to go along with the bully rather than stand up to him.

[mercuryblues]

7. k.l. a member of the 70%

And I worked with people like the president of my police academy class, who sent out an email after President Obama won the 2008 election that included the statement, "I can't believe I live in a country full of ni**er lovers!!!!!!!!" He patrolled the streets in St. Louis in a number of black communities with the authority to act under the color of law."

Uhm, exposing the president of his police academy class as a racist would have been a great place to start. It was easier to go along to get along.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. The same thing happens in communities, though the numbers are more dysmal.

About twenty years ago I would say those numbers applied. 15-70-15. Today, with the young generation being eager students I would say that you can count on a smaller percentage of people who will do the right thing, no matter what. Maybe 2 or 3 percent, with 40 percent you can count on doing the absolute wrong thing, and the rest following suit.

[seabeyond]

9. what i say, it is all in the higher ups. giving a bold line not to be crossed. cops need that line

and shame on the authority that does not provide it for them.

[L0oniX]

10. Truth.

[Mbrow]

11. There is a book

By Steve Watts about this subject called "Better an Honest Scoundrel" Steve just passed away a couple of weeks ago from cancer and was a Democrat and retire Idaho investigator for the State, but the numbers quoted are the same that Steve gave. sounds like a universal
truth to me.

[Iggo]

12. So 85% of them shouldn't be cops, and at least 18% of those should be behind bars.

[BrotherIvan]

14. So let's start replacing the leaders and force them to change the culture

And demand they put in place firing procedures if a cop shows that he or she is racist or abusing authority. A kid flipping burgers would be fired on the spot for talking back to a customer but a cop with a gun can do whatever he wants, including shoot somebody?

Is there a way for the federal government to draw up guidelines for hiring practices and workplace conduct or is it all just a freeforall and up to states or individual cities?