Columnist Anna discusses why most police officers serve honorably, despite recent events involving those who did not.
Whether it is a byproduct of the media frenzy of today or simply human nature, our tendency to judge many for the mistakes or crimes of a few makes it much more difficult for the light of good to shine in our lives.
Yes, the incidents in Ferguson, New York, Baltimore all deserved the calls for change they incurred. But to group the men and women who serve honorably to protect our towns and cities together with those who have disgraced their duties is truly wrong.
In 2011, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that more than 1 million full-time law enforcement employees in the United States. The overwhelming majority of those officers risk their lives every day to make our country safe and play a hand in stopping criminal activity, not partaking in it.
Should those officers be wearing body cameras? Absolutely, that would be tax money well spent. Should dash cameras always be on? Yes, with the ways of our time, justice and technology must work hand in hand. These changes would also allow the truth to be very transparent: that most police officers are good people just doing their jobs. Those who tarnish the badge they wear deserve to face justice, but they should not be allowed to drag down the rest.
In a 2015 Huffington Post poll, only 19 percent of people nationwide said that they have a “great deal” of trust in police officers, while 37 percent said they have a “fair amount” (of trust in police officers). That is clear evidence that "bad cops" are dragging the image of the police through the mud. But if you drove through the streets of Gainesville, Florida, right now and found a group of kids playing basketball in the street, they would tell you a different story about cops.
Jan. 15, officer Bobby White responded to a noise complaint regarding a group of kids playing in the street. White could have told the kids to get off the street (for no good reason) or told them to go home, but he didn’t. He parked his squad car, approached the kids and chose to "hoop it up" with them instead. And it doesn’t stop there. Wanting a more even-sided rematch a couple days later, officer White decided to call in backup. His on-call reserve turned out to be 7-foot-1-inch former NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. In the end, the only paperwork officer White will have fill out on this case is on Shaq’s foul shot and the officer’s own rather "questionable" set shot.
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This story surely attests to the good nature of many of the individuals in uniform. It may seem easy to be goodhearted about a game of street ball, but imagine the heart and courage it takes to respond to an armed gunman, a potentially fatal car accident or to hunt down a serial rapist (something our local law enforcement officials are faced with currently). So, perhaps the next time you see a man or woman in uniform don’t judge them for what you know of others, but instead let their actions speak for them.
Anna Ayers is a freshman studying journalism and finance. Do you agree with Anna? Email her at aa183414@ohio.edu.
