As a criminal justice major, it is extremely disheartening to see people bashing law enforcement in everyday life. I encounter at least one person a day, whether it be in general conversation with a friend or online, who says that law enforcement is the main problem for racial divides in our society today. I disagree with that whole-heartedly , and here's why.
Law enforcement is just that, it's the law. It's what governs us, it's what keeps us in line, and it's what protects us. The men and women in blue are those who are out there for us every single day, who risk themselves for us, and who serve for us. We as a society need to realize that. Officers give up holidays, birthdays, and important life events so they can be available to the public for our safety. No officer goes into work thinking "I want to kill someone today." No officer goes into work thinking "Today, I want to target someone of an opposite race." No officer takes an oath just to destroy their life, their career, and their morals.
When there are tragedies, officers are the first ones on the scene. They put themselves in danger for all- regardless of color, regardless of sex, religion, or sexual orientation. They protect our society in a way that we cannot. They do what we should all thank them for, which is put themselves on the line for our safety each and every day. However ,some people think that it is okay to target our law enforcement. It isn't in any way, shape, or form, acceptable to trash or endanger an officer.
Law enforcement representatives are just doing their job. Sure, there are corrupt cops. There are also corrupt doctors, corrupt lawyers, corrupt veterinarians, and corrupt people in the Army. Those few bad apples (yes, that's an actual criminal justice term, it isn't just something people throw around to lessen the severity of the situation) do not at all represent the whole embodiment of law enforcement.
As i've stated in my previous articles: White cops shoot white people. White cops shoot black people. Black cops shoot black people. Black cops shoot white people. Yet, it is hyper-criticized if a White officer were to shoot a Black person. From a criminal justice and law standpoint, the term "unarmed" means nothing. If a person is disobeying the law, regardless of color, they are in the wrong. Just because the suspect does not have a gun or a weapon, does not mean they are not endangering law enforcement.
If a cop says "hands up! Don't move!" and the suspect moves, he or she is disobeying law enforcement. If law enforcement says "stop what you are doing, and turn around and face me" and the suspect doesn't, they are disobeying the law. If the suspect at all tries to fight law enforcement, they too are disobeying the law. If the suspect reaches for a weapon after being apprehended and use of force is in play- they are still disobeying the law.
Use of force is the absolute last resort. But, the common person sees it as the automatic response to someone who encounters a cop. More than likely, this happens with African Americans. Truthfully, it does not matter what race you are. If you are doing something wrong, at all, law enforcement has the right to get involved.
Here's a scenario: Cops get called to an African American man selling CD's. They are notified that the man had been threatening someone who wouldn't buy his CD. Officers arrive, and tell the man to explain the situation. The man becomes agitated, and mouths off at officers. Officers tell the man to put his hands up, and stop arguing. The man does not, and continues to be agitated and argumentative. Cops use use of force once the man lunges at police, given the fact that they feel threatened. The man reaches for a gun that the officer has, after reaching for his own weapon. Officers shoot, killing the man.
Sound familiar? That was Alton Sterling. The side that news didn't show. The side that law enforcement saw, but nobody took into account. I'll be blatantly honest: If I was in a situation where I was disobeying law enforcement, and appeared to be putting law enforcement in danger such as moving a certain way or disobeying what cops said, I would expect to be shot. I would expect an officer to use whatever force they deemed necessary to get me to stop whatever I was doing if I didn't listen.
An officer is a person. They too, can feel threatened. An officer wants to make it home to their families at night. They don't want to lose their career for possible misconduct and investigations based on racial claims. They just want to do their jobs. Officers are told to shoot for two targets, consisting of the head and the chest. Why? Not because they are lethal. But, because they are the largest targets to aim for.
Officers are now forced to attend rallies with herds of people attacking them. I have talked to cop friends, and they are terrified for their lives. Some people may think "Good. This is justice for the injustices they have caused people of different races. This is justice for the killings of people of my kind." It isn't. It's scary for them, they are people too. Having to witness people saying they are pigs is just a small notion of what cops are viewed as. When you add violence, such as broken bottles, jumping and smashing cop cars, and outright hatred towards law enforcement, it is an entirely different ball game. Even when being attacked, officers still protect the groups that are against them. Even when being discriminated against, officers still come within minutes when called regardless of race.
Officers don't shoot to kill someone because of the color of their skin. Officers shoot to kill because in that moment, in the split second they have to make a decision, their life and safety has to come first. Their training has taught them that they must react, and fast, to whatever is thrown at them.
Today, people think that they are above the law. Sure, cellphone videos have provided a hell of a lot of information as to what really happens when an officer commits an act against a perpetrator. But, what those videos don't show, is the behind the scenes of law enforcement, and why law enforcement took the actions that they did at that moment.
Enough is enough. We need to respect those who are there for us when we need them. We need to educate ourselves more on what it truly means to be a part of law enforcement, and what their job truly entails. It's time we thank them for their service, tell them to stay safe, and obey the law,
