U.S. police chiefs group apologizes for ‘historical mistreatment’ of minorities

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post

By Tom Jackman October 17 at 2:26 PM

The president of America’s largest police organization on Monday issued a formal apology to the nation’s minority population “for the actions of the past and the role that our profession has played in society’s historical mistreatment of communities of color.”

Terrence M. Cunningham, the chief of police in Wellesley, Mass., delivered his remarks at the convention in San Diego of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, whose membership comprises 18,000 police chiefs from around the world. The statement was issued on behalf of the IACP, and comes as police executives continue to grapple with tense relationships between officers and minority groups in the wake of high-profile civilian deaths in New York, South Carolina, Minnesota and elsewhere, the sometimes violent citizen protests which have ensued as well as the ambush killings of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

Top police chiefs have long recognized the need to maintain good relations with their communities, of all races, and not allow an us-versus-them mentality to take root, either in their rank-and-file officer corps or in the neighborhoods where their citizens live. Cunningham’s comments are an acknowledgment of police departments’ past role in exacerbating tensions and a way to move forward and improve community relations nationwide.

“Events over the past several years,” Cunningham said, “have caused many to question the actions of our officers and has tragically undermined the trust that the public must and should have in their police departments…The history of the law enforcement profession is replete with examples of bravery, self-sacrifice, and service to the community. At its core, policing is a noble profession.”

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2016/10/17/head-of-u-s-police-chiefs-apologizes-for-historic-mistreatment-of-minorities/?wpisrc=al_alert-national

[TheDebbieDee]

1. Acknowledgment of the problem is a FIRST step...

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Yep

hopefully they start addressing it.

[Rose Siding]

2. K&R This is remarkable.

A good place to start changing the culture is at the top. Wait and watch, of course, for action to follow words, but isn't this how the beginning of victory will look?

[mountain grammy]

4. This is a start

[Dustlawyer]

5. I hope they are serious about making changes.

Prejudice and stereotyping are dangerous and wrong.

I work with biker clubs and in the Waco Twin Peaks shootout. Biker stereotypes and prejudice caused the DA and cops to arrest them all if they had a bike or a jacket. All were chargedoing with conspiracy to commit murder. There was a legislative update meeting to discuss motorcycle only checkpoints. There were clubs that only help abused kids, Christian clubs... in addition to the 1% clubs. To the cops they were all the same.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Far too late, but a good starting place. n/t