To begin with, I reference this as SOME police officers only to underscore the point that not all officers are bad or doing bad things. I know several officers very well, respect them, and have seen them operate in a friendly, professional manner. As we're looking at a situation that has a lot of problems, I think we have to be careful of blaming ALL of any group.
Further, I suggested that the firing of the police is only one step, if only one step happens in any process then it is not complete. I think it's a little demeaning to suggest that this is just blowing off steam. The job is not being done, and I for one and tired of being stopped for Driving While Black. More specifically and in response to David Brauer's point of marshalling arguments, in the last month we've seen three major incidents of police officers out of control, one resulting in the loss of life. How much more of a clear argument do you need at this point? And while I'm not certain, from what I've heard through the grapevine, it was the Chief, not the Mayor's office who went public with this situation. I was under the impression that the Mayor was trying to do this quietly and in a way that would allow Olson to move to something else and save some face. Correct me if I'm wrong in this someone. WRT Neal's response, I'm not certain what you're asking when you say "Which community members and what needs to be done?" For the first part, are you asking for specific names of people or demographics of groups. If you read through the archives of the List and the Strib, you will see plenty of incidents of problems between community members and police. Critical Mass, the U of MN and Abu Jeilani are just three major incidents in the last month. As for what needs to be done, again I in my post and a number of other people have talked about the need for changes in the policy and practice of the Police, I think it does start with the change of leadership. As you do this, conditions of the new Chief can be other changes that need to be implemented, you can get some who will be more effective in handling the matters, and it also sends the message that this situation is serious enough to everyone that the proper changes must be made by any means necessary. As for the Jeilani shooting, your recount is a bit away from the facts. He was not a perp, as he had committed no crime, and was mentally ill. He had not attacked anyone when the police assaulted him, and they turned down efforts from other people to assist in resolving the situation with someone who does not speak English, and none of the officer's spoke Somali. Neither the public nor the peace had been disturbed, and again if you read my or other person's past posts on this issue, you'll find that there were a number of other methods that were not tried, and if your job is to protect and serve then the sanctity of human life has to be paramount, and if you believe that I think giving a situation more than 15 minutes is essential. As for what you call bad, I call bad not being able to drive down the street without being pulled over, harassed or assaulted for the color of my skin, I call it being able to watch the crack deals go on in the street, and the broad daylight assaults on vulnerable adults. The bad crime is happening out there, and it's worse when it's perpetrated by those who are supposed to be protecting us. For many people bad is happening everyday where they live, and that's the measure that must be used to gage the effectiveness, not well off areas where people life comfortably without serious crime. Jonathan Palmer Stevens Square-Loring Heights _______________________________________ 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
