I absolutely agree with Robin. Watch out...the gay, progressive, man of color is about to rant again...I'm sure some of our more "thoughtful" list-serve members will have something to say...
Further, I absolutely believe that there should not be any police officers who serve on the CIVILIAN Review council. I believe that the conflict of interest, or the "code" that many police seem to follow, would not allow for a police officer on the committee to offer an objective viewpoint. I highly doubt a prosecuting attorney would allow a police officer to sit on a jury where the defendant is a police officer, why then should the general public allow the same to happen in this process. Civilian Review Boards are designed to keep the police accountable to the communities that they are sworn to "serve and protect." When there is not a civilian review board with subpoena powers and other legal enforcement options, the police can (and have) felt free to keep doing business as usual. Look at the statistics surrounding the number of times police in this community (or any community) have been actually convicted of excessive force, brutality, etc. I know quite a few wonderful police officers. Officers that believe that their job is to serve and protect the community. But I have seen to many police officers that believe their job is to suppress the community, beat it down and force it to comply with the law as they see it. How many images do we have to see of police attacking non-violent protesters? How many more people need to be shot 10, 20, 30 or 40 times for picking up their wallet? Historically, police forces have been oppressive forces in Italy, Germany, the US, Mexico, Russia, etc. I believe the police can serve a vital function in our communities, but until the police are accountable to the communities that they are supposed to serve, I want to know who is going to protect the people from the police. -Brandon Lacy -Powderhorn Park 9-4 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Garwood, Robin Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 9:12 AM To: 'Mpls List' Subject: RE: [Mpls] More Dinkytown coverage Walt Cygan wrote: "It seems to me that if we are asking for a new Chief, and we want the MPD to change, we need to be able to articulate what we want them to change *to*." The answer to this question is, in my opinion, fairly simple. We must have a police department that views the use of violence as their last resort in any situation. Currently, the MPD approaches many situations seeing violence as either a foregone outcome or the ideal response. Walt then wrote: "Some people have expressed a need for a civilian review authority with subpoena power and no police participation. Why would police have any respect for that process, if they felt it was simply a way to get back at them for perceived wrongs?" If the new CRA has the power to examine police policies and change them, and the power to discipline officers, the MPD and all its employees will have to respect the process. Even if it's grudging, grumbling respect. I suppose this assumes that the officers in question would like to keep their jobs. Though I don't think the populace would be badly served if certain MPD officers were to find us "impolite" and decide they want to find employment elsewhere. A related but--in my opinion--more important question is this: how can the people of Minneapolis have any respect for the policing process when our police invariably approach us in a state of either fear or aggression, with one hand on the nightstick or the gun? I've asked this before in different ways, and I'll answer it myself. We can't. So we need to change the system. Call your Council Member. Robin Garwood Seward Elected Member, Minneapolis/5th District Green Party Steering Committee _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
