Every police agency across the country knows the truth: More unarmed citizens will die at the hands of their personnel. It happened again last month in Cleveland, Ohio, and it will happen again today, tomorrow or maybe next month. But make no mistake, it will happen again.
The deceased might be another African-American man, but it just as easily might be a white kid or a Latina woman.
The truth is, in a melting pot of 300 million people, there will always be hardened criminals on the loose, psychologically or emotionally deranged people, or drug-addicted souls who will do anything for the next fix.
Police officers in the United States have the best training opportunities in the world, but that training can’t compensate for a low-light encounter with a perception of danger or the fearfulness of being under attack by a larger or better prepared adversary. Only someone who has never had to physically fight for his or her life could expect an officer to surrender his or her advantage — any advantage.
While tragic mistakes are always a possibility, as is the likelihood of misperception under stressful conditions, these circumstances don’t turn an otherwise committed public servant into a criminal.
Knowing we will kill more unarmed citizens — who, in hindsight, didn’t need to die — in the righteous performance of our duty, what have we done to prepare our communities for this eventuality?
Many communities have stepped up to the challenge, others have not. I reject the idea that the troubles faced in communities such as Ferguson, Missouri, are because of the African-American communities’ hatred of police or racist sentiments.
Departments across this country are increasingly represented and led by minorities. This doesn’t happen because the communities hate the police or the communities unilaterally determine the police are a bunch of racists. It happens because, like those from other communities, they find nobility in the job; they have respect for the law; they want to make a difference in the lives of those they serve. These are universal ideals that could not possibly be derived from a community that “hates” police.
I believe the history of law enforcement is such that it has done itself a disservice by not proactively seeking out meaningful relationships with community partners who can positively affect the community conversation when difficult challenges present themselves.
Administrators down to line-level staff must get to know those they serve. The failure of relationships trumps the failure of race in this country every day of the week. The lack of a relationship leads to the lack of trust and the lack of appreciation on display.
National figures have earned millions of dollars keeping community relationships with police agencies at a steady simmer. All it takes is an unfortunate event for the cooktop dial to get a quick turn and the simmer becomes a boil-over.
Meanwhile, law enforcement is always caught off guard, like a child who just threw a baseball through a window, when these events occur because they have done very little to prepare the community for the next eventuality. By listening to each other and engaging in meaningful conversations before the crisis, these horrific events can be minimized or effectively prevented.
While all parties must find a way to participate, law enforcement personnel must initiate this dialogue. Where we find resistance, we must try harder and we must not relent. The next death of an unarmed citizen is right around the corner.
Matthew Irwin is chief of the Presque Isle Police Department. He previously served as a lieutenant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, Florida.