Open Letter from San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland Police Unions

[daredtowork]

At least they don't strike the fascist tone of the NYPD:

https://t.e2ma.net/webview/v0tng/e050569513466e32c618aff7dc27c281

At the same time, I feel that this letter doesn't quite admit that part of the trigger for the protests - especially in Oakland (I can't speak about San Francisco or San Jose - has been misconduct, abuse of power, and racial profiling from the police. It's sad that the police feel unappreciated and maligned, but this is not about their feelings anymore. We're glad that they continued to do their jobs despite the fact "three of their own" were killed across the country: but #BlackLivesMatter is about an empty seat at a black family's dinner table every 28 hours. And I'm under the impression this statistic doesn't even include women. So black families have just a weeeeeeeeee bit more courage and dignity in continuing to do their jobs despite the REGULAR killings of "their own".

The police say they want reconciliation. It seems that reconciliation starts with the simple acknowledgment of the truth of the situation. It seems that reconciliation in this case should start with a remorseful stance on the part of the police instead of "gee, you are hurting our feelings."

Moreover, the mishandling of the protests in the Bay Area only exacerbated the problem. As I have repeatedly pointed out, you don't respond to a protest against police misconduct and abuse of power with police misconduct and abuse of power. By applying measures that didn't discriminated between protesters exercising their civil rights and protesters breaking the law - i.e. using tear gas, rounding up protesters in "kettles", etc. - the police just perpetuated an authoritarian image, suggesting they were there to protect someone else's "order" and their own police "codes", not protect and serve the people The jackboots, armored vehicles, and drones did not help. Waiting until late at night to start with the ultra-fascism didn't help because this is the age of video and the police were on candid camera.

At what point are the police going to finally stop and say "oops - we get what we did wrong here now." When the protest is against the police, the police should focus on arresting criminals (like looters) only, and avoid doing "broad sweep" sort-em-out-later arrests at all costs!

The Berkeley Police Department didn't sign on to this letter. They might belong to the Oakland Union - I'm not sure. In any case, the same advice/wishful thinking applies to them.



UPDATE: The mainstream media has started to pick this up. The narrative they are crafting seems to be a stand off between the extremes of whiny speech-controlling police and the radical frak-the-police extreme fringe of the protests. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_27197719/police-union-leaders-say-protests-have-devolved-into

[marym625]

1. Not one single admission

Of wrong doing. Not even an acknowledgement of protests having anything to do with racial profiling. And still implying that the murder of the police officers in New York and Florida had some link to protests.

It's a "see how wonderful we are even though people are mean to us" letter.

I find it completely reprehensible that they are not honoring the murdered police for their service and, instead, are using them to vilify an honest outcry for justice.

[foo_bar]

2. it seems passive-aggressive for a press release

Police officers must swear to uphold our constitution, and we also take seriously our responsibility to protect the First Amendment rights of the public we serve. Unfortunately, recent events threaten to bring these two great responsibilities into conflict.

Wait, why is upholding the constitution two responsibilities?

[marym625]

4. I wondered the same thing

And how does anything that has happened recently bring those "two things" into conflict? It's a mind numbingly, stupid comment

[daredtowork]

15. Yes - passive-aggressive

I'm not a FTP person, and I don't think the Berkeley PD is bad in the scheme of things. However, I do think they are messing up this whole protest-reconciliation thing. This letter may just underscore the fact that their underlying attitude is wrong even though it isn't hostile. It's still all about them.

[pipoman]

3. I don't know about the letter....

I do wonder how many protesters and critics would be willing to actually make a difference by joining law enforcement. There are a finite number of people willing to offensively confront and involve themselves in life threatening situations every day for $50k. Willing to risk their freedom, savings, home, retirement, children's education fund, health insurance over split second decisions and the reality of human error.

That said, every police car and officer should have 360 degree camera coverage with sound. Twenty years ago this would have been very difficult, today it is simple and relatively cheap....in comparison to the overall equipment budget for each car and officer...there is no reason this shouldn't be statutory for all departments.

[marym625]

5. What does that rhetoric

Have to do with anything? The people who tried hard to get the job of police officer, and landed the job, are supposed to do that. And they're supposed to do it without brutality because they don't like the color of someone's skin. Whether or not someone protesting the evils perpetrated on the civilians by cops, want to be cops or not, is a completely useless question. It is nothing but a detractor from the actual problem.

I agree that cameras are needed but until cops are held responsible for miscarriages of justice, it won't make a difference.

[pipoman]

8. Which of these most recent cases include a shred of evidence of

Racist motives without repercussions?

The utility of the question is reality vs. presumption/guessing...a mile in his shoes, and all that. ...

[marym625]

9. What?

You mean the case of a black teen being shot, when surrendering, by a white officer who was previously fired from his last job for racism?

Or do you mean a black child being shot by a white cop for playing at a park?

Or the black man strangled to death by a white cop for suspicion of selling cigarettes?

Or the black man gunned down by white cops in a Walmart for having a toy gun he picked up in the store?

Or maybe you mean the black teen severely beaten by a white cop for for jumping the turnstile at a subway station?

Sorry, maybe you're talking about the black man shot by a white cop because he went to get his license from his vehicle as instructed?

Maybe you mean the black, mentally ill, unarmed man shot by multiple cops while standing in a parking lot?

Give me a break

[pipoman]

11. He was previously fired for racism?

Making sit up don't count....

I'm talking about which ones, after an incident, we're found to have made overtly racist writings, comments, memberships, eye witnesses coming forward with credible claims, etc....

Let's take the first example. Wilson. Without regard for the specifics of the minutes of the incident. He has worked over 5 years as a street cop in predominantly black communities yet no group of people coming forward with anecdotes of racism, no writings or memberships in racist circles, not a shred of evidence Wilson is a racist.

[marym625]

12. Not making "sit" up

The evidence that wasn't credible was the proven and admitted liars who committed perjury in front of the GJ ,the ones that backed Wilson.

Do some research before you state things. Obviously, you are not familiar with what has come out about Wilson. Or maybe it's selective facts you choose to acknowledge.

Unbelievable.

Show me all the unarmed white men killed by cops at this rate. Then we'll talk

[pipoman]

13. Well by all means....educate me....anxious to read

About Wilson's membership in the klan, and volumes of racist complaints against him...

Rates haven't anything to do with specifics of a single incident. Surely nobody is denying all races are killed by police?

[marym625]

14. OMG!

Those statements are so out there! Unbelievable! I can't even begin to try explaining to you how blatantly...

I don't want a hide because of addressing your statements. There is proof out there. Educate yourself.

Good day

[pipoman]

18. Yet nary example...

Out there? Well I suppose if you've just recently became aware and haven't bothered to educate one's self of the actual why's, in favor of the sheer speculation of the outraged neophytes kidding themselves into a fury based on erroneous input.

And yes, while at a lower rate, significant numbers of whites and hispanics are killed by police too.

Pretend what you wish, police are given great leeway for snap decisions and human error. This legal, statutory leeway goes to the ability of a grand jury to find a feasible charge. Would a reasonable officer used lethal means in the same circumstances? Then there are those pretenders who state these juries and grand juries are racist. ..they take the cake.

No, body cameras and better car cameras are the only serious possibility any time soon. The sooner the better, imo, and they should be 360 degree cameras with sound..

[marym625]

19. When you assume

You make an ass of yourself. There is almost nothing in your comment that is correct.

But I guess when you just jump on a bandwagon, do no research and write as if you know something, you are going to make gigantic mistakes.

What you said speaks for itself. You know nothing about any of this. I

[pipoman]

20. Two decades. ...

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Policing is not even one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. 11.1 on the job fatalities per

100,000 officers. Loggers are over 90 per 100,000. Roofers, trash collectors, fishing workers and pilots are among the jobs that are way more dangerous than being a cop. Los Angeles starts cops in Academy off at 57,000 and they hit 60 the day they hit the streets as probationary officers. Sergeant rank gets 113,000 a year as base salary.
How much does your garbage collector get paid? Do Loggers start with a guarantee of 60K, do you think? Did it ever cross your mind to wonder?

[pipoman]

10. Surely nobody would deny the inherent danger of confronting

Criminals? I am pretty critical of the "officer safety" meme on one hand, on the other hand officers can't be expected to delay responses of self defense.

Average patrol officer salaries are in the 50's nationally. I have never had to depend on a lumberjack or garbage collector to make decisions of life and death beyond their own and their coworkers. Risk has nothing to do with salaries beyond luring in enough qualified applicants,, ability to do the job and supply and demand for same is what determines salaries. Bottom line...your question is irrelevant to the conversation at hand...

[daredtowork]

16. I would!

They make a good living in the East Bay!!!

I wouldn't pass the physical to become a police person, but I think it would be a very good office person. I'd love to try to be an "incorruptible cop". I'm sure a lot of people start out like that, though.

[bemildred]

7. If they want reconciliation, they are free to start acting better any time. nt

[daredtowork]

17. Yes, this is the part that makes me wonder

The longer they wait, the more injury/offense is caused. They don't seem to realize that "hold out" in itself is a problem.