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Letter to the Editor: Where Are the Black Cops?

 

Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, have given us glaring hindsight of the potentially explosive mix of a predominately white police force within a predominately black neighborhood where some racial tensions are bound to exist. But it doesn’t take much foresight to see this would be the case in many similar circumstances. So, where are the black cops?

As a former police reserve officer, patroling in my own neighborhood in which I’ve had a very vested interest, I have seen the value of a close rapport between cops and community. I recall my training sergeant, a man of color by the way, remarking that within the black community, a black police officer is regarded as one level lower than whale droppings. So, where are the black cops?

It would seem, as many believe, this is more than a matter of a few racist cops with unacceptable behavior but rather a widespread systems problem within the entire justice system. As citizens, we are all affected by this in one way or another. As one citizen, I propose the following assignment for leaders of both cops and communities:

  1. Put aside, at least temporarily, all your accusations, excuses, and in particular all your supposed good reasons why the problem can’t be solved.
  2. Look up the definition of the word “system.”
  3. Answer the question: Where are the black cops?

 

Stan Russell

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

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