On the subject of a possible hire of Chief Moose, I say it's a great move that will most likely never happen, nor see the light of day. Minneapolis scares the hell out of me, and more recently I came to the conclusion that unless you are a friend of a friend, then all the talk in the world would not matter, nor nothing would change in terms of process. Which means that innocent people will continue to suffer in our communities, mostly the low-income and high crime communities. Everyday a news magazine or other news source runs a story regarding civil rights issues, sadly there are many not just at the national level, but on a local level as well, right here in good ole' Minneapolis.
I, like others want to see a great community/neighborhood, and I am not opposed to those would commit crime to be charged for those crimes, in a court of law. However, no matter what degree of the crime, it is a violation of a person rights when they are abused by our justice system and law-enforcement agency, and this goes against constitutional rights afforded to all who are citizens of United States. More so, the disturbing news is that our minority communities are under increasing amount of worries and often times feel terrorized from those whose jobs are to protect and serve, placing civil liberties, under a shroud of darkness.
Moreover, the struggle for open dialog on race relations in this city continue to block successes for rebuilding communities. Allowing for bogus leadership to pimp and exploit the situations leading to distrust of law-enforcement. Until the issues of mistrust and excessive force issues have been address, there will be continued problems with the police department and communities of color.
"There was a problem and continues to be a problem of excessive force in this community. I'm not going to deny that. I grew up here. - Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, 1994 "
Some say that its bad to hire outside the Minneapolis police force for a new Chief of Police, and that those within it's rank should be hired instead. I say that over the years the Minneapolis police department has shown that the trust to carry out the full rights and the responsibility for all of us who depend upon those rights have been neglected time and again; and until the police department can clean up the current problem's it has with communities of color, racial profiling, excessive force issues, they have not earned the position of high law-enforcement from within, it's just like playing Russian roulette. We only have to view the past to get a clearer picture of the present. The problem between police and community has gone on since at least the mid eighties into our present times:
"Minneapolis's police force has a history of using excessive force. Said former police chief Tony Bouza (1980-88): "Police will abuse their power....They feel themselves leashed. They want to be free to `thump,' free to handle assholes. When someone gives them lip, they want to be able to kick their ass[es], and when you don't let them, they feel shackled. I do not let them [the police officers] `handle' assholes." Bouza says the force was "damn brutal, a bunch of thumpers," when he took over as chief in 1980.
I say, the Minneapolis Police officers are as strong as their Union, and that's pretty darn strong: "People don't seem to realize that [my] job is to defend members and guarantee them due process until the moment they are convicted of a criminal offense." Yet after Minneapolis police officer Kent Warnberg was convicted in Wisconsin for fourth-degree sexual assault, for fondling a female National Guard private in 1993, Berryman publicly supported Warnberg's reinstatement with the Minneapolis police department, arguing, "We all make mistakes. It's a matter of degree of mistakes and the ability to accept responsibility for the mistakes." After the Sauro settlement, Berryman stated, "We do a very good job of policing ourselves." Sauro had been active in the federation, according to press reports.
"Officer Schumer had reportedly been the subject of thirteen complaints, and at least two were sustained. He was accused of picking people up and taking them to deserted areas near the Mississippi River, where he would allegedly beat and question them. Schumer reportedly told internal affairs investigators that it was his practice to take "troublemakers" out of downtown areas to secluded spots. In 1989, Schumer was reportedly suspended for six days for taking two men to the river to intimidate them, and an internal affairs investigator warned him that similar misconduct in the future would be grounds for further discipline, including dismissal. The incident of Charles Lone Eagle and John Boney involved serious misconduct. Officer Schumer, nonetheless, remains a member of the Minneapolis police force."
It's mighty funny that police accused of criminal behavior, are allowed to be given "due process," rather than others in the community. I find this very sad and in bad taste. Having said this, I don't believe that all officers are bad or corrupt, but there are a few that over shadow the work of the good that are doing impressive work out in the community. Not to mention the costly law-suits : "In lawsuits alleging excessive force and/or false arrest, the total amount for settlements and judgments in police misconduct cases were, by calendar year: $570,000 in 1993; $1,367,680 in ten cases (involving eight on duty officers and two while working off duty as security guards) for 1994; and $1,390,000 in nine cases (seven on duty, one off duty, and one off duty working in a security capacity) in 1995." You would think that with these large settlements, that they city would see that there continues to be problems of excessive force in our town, if it were not, then why pay out??
Even if the Chief Moose was to be hired, he would only be a puppet on a string. Why? Because Minneapolis is very political and it serves to their interest to put someone there to have a closed mouth and tied hands. Just like the Civilian Review Board, you would most likely never see someone from the "hood" on this committee because they can not be controlled, and they would indeed fight for justice, after all, they are the ones living it every single day. I also think it would be the fear of elected officials that something might get done.
I just don't get it. Well, maybe I do, but it sure stinks to live here in Minneapolis at times, a town that is just as bad as the corrupt offices held in New Orleans, La. I remember as a little girl, coming to Minneapolis was so exciting for me, but even then fear took over, as my brothers were taken to the Mississippi river and beaten and then let go. Just because they were black and happened to be out on the city's northside late at night, they were coming from a party in the late 1970's.
Where I got information: http://www.hrw.org/reports98/police/uspo84.htm
Vanessa Freeman Hawthorne
"I can live with being "me", I can not live with trying to be Minnesota Politically Nice, not anymore. "
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