More Senseless Violence

Wow… Just wow…

 

That was my initial response to the violence over the weekend. Three police officers (I’m aware of) lost their lives to senseless violence. Two officers in Brooklyn were both shot “execution style” while sitting in their patrol cars by a man, depending on who you ask, was either mentally disturbed or out for revenge. However it’s framed, there are two junior officers, a woman (the killer’s significant other), and an obviously troubled man (psychologically or otherwise) are dead that probably shouldn’t be. Already the pro-police camps are saying the cop-killer planned to kill those officers in retaliation to the Eric Gardner and Michael Brown murders (yes, I’m calling them murders).

 

This was a man from Georgia, who killed his girlfriend in Baltimore, then traveled to one of the most dangerous areas of Brooklyn and shot two random policemen. The pro-police crowd is saying that because this man posted anti-police messages on Facebook he had a clear motive. Those two events aren’t mutually exclusive. I post anti-police bullying/violence stuff quite frequently. That doesn’t mean I’m going to kill a random officer.

 

I don’t want any unnecessary dealings with law enforcement than what they are required to do. If I’m in an accident, come to the scene and take a report. If my home is burglarized, come there, investigate, and make a report. If something happens to my son, do your job.

 

I don’t need a police officer to go shopping with me, trying to make nice with me when we clearly wouldn’t be buddies under any other circumstance. I respect the idea of law enforcement and am thankful for the men and women who perform the job honorably. I wish nothing but safety and a host of other good things upon them. The ones who are just in it to satisfy some thrill or looking to oppress the citizens in their charge, I wish they’d find some other line of work. They make the job of the decent officers and troopers exponentially harder than what they should be.

 

I seriously don’t believe the average American wishes death on any individual (particularly law enforcement in this case) and if they do, there’s a fundamental problem at hand. Those protesters shouting “Kill Cops!” – way out of pocket. That’s not to say those select few spurred this man on to kill to unsuspecting policemen. Every person is responsible for his or her own actions. What the public at-large wants is to not feel targeted by law enforcement. As a man of color, I don’t want to feel as if my son or I am part of some sick game. This doesn’t have to be a pissing match between citizens and law enforcement, but this is what it’s devolved into. We don’t need to bury any more citizens or police.

 

Down in Florida, a felon out on parole shot, killed, and ran over a policeman. Clearly uncalled for. This man violated his parole, was being served a warrant, and decided to flip out. There were no winners in that tragedy.

 

My sincerest condolences to everyone who has experienced loss. Our prayer is the senseless violence stops.

 

-MB