I was a cop – but I still don't know how to survive a police stop

[babylonsister]

I was a cop – but I still don't know how to survive a police stop
Michael A Wood, Jr

Philando Castile did nothing that should have jeopardized his life, and still he died. Here’s how policing needs to change if we want to escape the nightmare

Monday 11 July 2016 14.46 EDT

I am often asked: how can I make sure I get home safe after I am pulled over by the police? Following the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, I feel I should know the answer to that question – but I don’t.

You might think I’m the ideal person to answer: I served four years in the US Marine corps’ version of Swat, and 11 years as a Baltimore police officer, detective, sergeant and shift commander. I’ve participated in innumerable car stops, 400-plus arrests and every training event that I could. And yet, I have no idea how to respond to that basic question.

Following Castile’s death, my friend, Frank MacArthur tweeted: “Brother got gunned down for no reason. He had a burned out tail light. Complied. Did EVERYTHING cop asked. STILL not good enough. For America.” He is right. Based on what we know from available reports, Mr Castile did nothing that could have jeopardized his life. There is nothing he could have done differently.

It is frustrating that I cannot offer foolproof advice on how to stay safe from taxpayer-funded state-sanctioned violence. You can run, or not run. Make eye contact, or avoid eye contact. Assert civil rights, or be submissive. There simply is no rule on how to stay alive when you interact with the police. And that is a problem.

Police legitimacy is built upon trust from the community and is what enables the rule of law. The very fabric of our society depends on all of us caring about the victimization of others. That is why I cannot answer the question of what the oppressed should do when engaged by the police to ensure they do not get killed. The question is irrational. It is up to the privileged and the oppressors to ensure the question is never asked.

The thin blue line is supposed to be what holds society together, but it has become what divides us. The country needs the good cops to make a stand. They swore, just like I did, to protect and serve. But too many fail to do that.

more...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/11/i-was-a-cop-dont-know-how-survive-police-stop?CMP=fb_us#link_time=1468329247