CAN OUR (CIVIL) MORALITY BE RECAPTURED?
What’s up for review and discussion yet again is hearing the word ‘reform’ from the Chicago Police Department. This charge of reform occurs in the wake of the rash, insensitive, and dehumanizing actions of individual police officers sworn to uphold the law by fair and unbiased law enforcement. The oaths taken by the privileged are selected fall short of that mark, and that saddens me. Having the ability to reason without prejudice of any kind should be the cornerstone of a complete skill set that distinguishes those chosen to serve. Rather than recognizing, many officers are extinguishing our society’s moral fabric and people.
When I think of ‘reform,’ I expect a critical and surgical change in thought, word, and deed, and in my lifetime, that has never been seen. The policies and guidelines created, administered, and taught by the department is a ‘farce.’ These policies and procedures that serve as the departments ‘ Bible are by far a misleading, misguided tool used only to shackle those officers of color. Instead of following the law and department policies governing all fairly, the opposite occurs repeatedly. Since the outcry of unwarranted shootings in this city, there has been no mention of the ‘proper use of force.’ For those unfamiliar with the term, it merely means that some procedures/protocols control and govern what excessive force means, where the actions ALL police officers are obligated to abide by unconditionally.
The proper use of force used police officers to perform professionally without unnecessary harm to civilians. When a situation occurs, and an officer’s life is in imminent danger, the proper response is a defense. On the other hand, and much of what the city sees, no direct threat is ever seen to justify savagely killing another, especially when that other person bears the ‘color costume’ of racial difference. Imminent danger is explicit by definition, and when that danger doesn’t exist, the taking of a life is NOT justified.
It’s appalling to handle ‘force’ only to discover that this and all things that fall into a category of misuse of power are merely a smokescreen to advantage a few. What will it take for this city to recover from the sordid reputation while fraud, greed, and power abuse prevail?
Those of us who stand in the cross-hairs of what could happen must stand together and stand firm. We must be that force; we must become that presence and voice that communicates a resounding cry for justice and means it. As we move from lynchings in the south to literal assassinations in the present, we must not be allowed to continue in this city or any city.
These words from a former police officer who took his job seriously and understood the consequences of ‘bad policing’ has to settle for a discriminating fall-out not only affecting me but everyone in my family. To know racial bias and be considered a third-rate citizen in the 21st Century is troubling, and that trouble continues to mount. What will we now do to even ‘quail’ a matter that is totally out of control?
I say without reservation, my best years were spent as a Chicago Police Officer. That opportunity brought me pride and taught me to respect ALL people’s ‘rights.’ That police experience taught me to continue moving forward with my current exploits to make a difference in someone else’s life. But now I see more clearly that enough people don’t share the truth of my own beliefs to render a verdict of NO MORE!
As a retired police officer and a proud veteran of the Marine Corps, my standard of performance, therefore, the moral climate on all fronts, is missing. What I’ve just described are the masks of comedy and drama. The humor is the attitude that the rank and file display, and the acting is watching the families of victims taken down by the police without remorse or regret.
This Article was Last Updated On: February 4, 2021