Yes - there is an insinuation that the system is failing to protect the people of Mpls on the basis of race and economic status.
The mistrust that Mr. Bowman is reacting to is born out of police ignoring the 911 calls of mainly poor, non-white residents whose garages have been broken into, whose property has been stolen, destroyed, or vandalized, and whose streets or alleys are home to hookers and dealers. It is born out of police shootings of the mentally ill or young people who posed no significant threat to those who gunned them down, most of whom are poor and non-white. It is born out of incident after incident of excessive force when police have broken into the wrong home, or have injured innocents - mostly poor, non-white people - who have happened to be in the wrong place when the police came knocking.
That mistrust is only furthered by the lack of civilian review, whitewash of incident after incident by police, and police statements that underscore the police's willingness to judge and unwillingness to affirm the human worth of those who have been shot or injured - such as in the flack following Natalie Johnson Lee's National Night Out message months ago.
Under the circumstances, questioning whether the police are taking seriously the death of a woman who has been mowed down on the street is fairly mild, when news sources don't indicate any followup or concerns by the police. It often seems that to raise police concern about a death that didn't occur in a Hollywood crime-blockbuster fashion, it takes a heck of a lot of agitating by family, friends, and community. If the death occurred at police hands, it definitely takes a lot of agitating in this town before citizens' concerns are responded to.
At this point, there may not be enough to go on to know whether this incident will be given all the attention it deserves from police. However, understandable concerns are raised by the community early because Minneapolitans have come to feel that if they are not proactive in raising questions up front, an incident may well not be given the attention it deserves. Several days or weeks down the road, the best opportunity to investigate may be lost. Mr. Bowman writes "If indeed the police haven't done the job they are instructed to do, then questions should be asked." That's too late - we all know the adage about locking the barn doors after the horses are stolen. The fact is, the police have lost the trust of many of the citizens of Mpls, and they will have to earn that trust back as residents see job after job well done. It doesn't come with the badge.
Roxana Orrell
Central
On Monday, December 23, 2002, at 09:35 AM,Gary Bowman wrote:
Message: 14
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 06:43:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Gary Bowman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Minneapolis pedestrian killed -- but no charges, no investigation?
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Gary Hoover writes, "From what I understand, Janet
Jones was a poor woman with no immediate family in
town. I understand also that there will be no
investigation of the crash that took her life, and
that no charges will be filed precisely because she
was a solitary poor person."
What is the source of this information? I think
before we can make such accusations, it is fair to ask
and know what the source of the information is, and
furthermore if this source is a reliable one.
Gary Hoover also writes, "I read in the newspaper that
no charges were filed. Why not? How did the crash
occur? Were there witnesses? Were they interviewed
by police? Did the police fully investigate to
determine what happened and if charges are warranted?"
There is an appearance, at least to me, that there is
an insinuation of some type of "system against the
poor woman" conspiracy. Why should we automatically
second guess whether the police did the job they were
supposed to do, that is to ask the proper questions
and seek out the witnesses to asceratain if charges
are warranted? If indeed the police haven't done the
job they are instructed to do, then questions should
be asked. However, let's not assume the police are
"out to get the poor woman".
Gary Bowman
Audubon Park
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