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8 comments:
1. If you want to change things in the predominantly Black community, you have to change the leadership in your community. Only vote for those committed to knocking down the walls of institutional racism especially within the safety forces. The article showed there are communities that have changed policies and procedures in order to have more diversity in the safety forces. Why didn't Maple Heights?
2. The African American community needs to see if there is a pattern of abuse and intimidation against African Americans who run for public office or serve in a public office, and a pattern of abuse and intimidation against African Americans who speak out and ask questions, complain, or request information that they are entitled to receive. If there is, it must be reported to federal authorities and/or the colorofchange/NAACP/etc
3. Need (more money going to) community/neighborhood (paid) policing by people who actually live in our communities, and there should be regular public meetings with those who "protect and serve" and residents.
4. It's your community ... you can design whatever kind of police/security presence you want (public or private), with advisory boards (under federal purview), and policies that protect you from abuse by law enforcement and protect your constitutional rights
Police unions and local gov’t attorneys also bear a huge responsibility for institutional racism remaining in force in the predominantly African American community.
The police union leadership which is predominantly (or all white) protects its members who are predominantly white. They also negotiate with city attorneys.
The city attorney, mayor (who is often the head of the safety forces, such as is the case in Maple Hts), council and union leadership must negotiate with a commitment to diversity in the safety forces. They must come up with policies and procedures that insure an objective of diversity. All these people often fall short of that commitment.
"There is a problem when police forces lack diversification and there must be a shift in policies to ensure that all police forces reflect the population being served. The lack of diversity issue is not limited to policing. The same happens in schools, social services and many other government services. Unfortunately, this leads to a subconscious unified group that develops their rules for engagement and fosters a tradition of similar ilk. I've worked in the government sector for a long time and persons who look the same or share cultural values associate with one another at lunch, for advice, celebrations, etc. The culture of separation in the minds of individuals and the mission of organizations needs to be penetrated. Blacks want career opportunities and a piece of pie at the same rate as others. However, one does not want to enter into an environment where they will feel isolated or inferior if they do not walk, talk or think like the members of the majority group. It is ridiculous to postulate that blacks do not want certain jobs or that hiring standards have to be modified. There has to be a commitment towards the eradication of group conformity and increased efforts towards the acceptance of a diverse society and workplace."
Saw the NY Times article and something was missing.
There was a statement that Black officers are just as abusive or more abusive.
The point is Black officers will rarely shoot to kill, while white officers it seems consider killing Blacks as no big deal.
These officers make a choice every time they confront a suspect. White cops in dealing with black suspects (armed or unarmed)in too many instances, choose to shoot to kill.
Would you rather get a beat down or be killed?
Excuse me but Blacks do pass the test. It's at the interview segment that a lot get discarded. People often like to hire those who look and act like them and reflect similar attitudes and cultures.
Also: One of the keys to getting more minorities hired is to look at the city's policies/procedures (which includes the points system) when choosing applicants.
Another point ...
There's a lot of favoritism, nepotism and sharing of information with friends (ex. how to pass police exams) among public employees already on the force (that includes both police and fire).
That code word "qualified" is often used by whites. It's a smoke screen.
Finally, when minorities are hired, the community and federal authorities must make sure they are not harassed and threatened (by other law enforcement officers) on the job. All hires must be assured a safe and hassle free work environment when dealing with their peers.
"Asked why Maple Heights considered only one candidate at a time, Chief Popielarczyk said: “We’ve always done it that way. My understanding is that that’s how we’re supposed to do it.”
What the hell? I'm sorry but this is a shocking revelation and is a serious leadership problem.
These police unions are something else. They had to know they were devastating communities when they fought (in the courts) to not have to live around the people who paid their salaries. SHAMEFUL!!!
Luckily a lot of communities are taking a second look at how a union won battle created financial havoc in their cities and they may press all the way to the Supreme Court to rectify the harm these unions did.
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People spend their money where they live. By allowing these officers and firefighters to live outside the communities in which they served, they assured a huge chunk of cash to be circulated outside the community instead of within. Cash flowing outside one's community does not stimulate the local economy. It devastates it. Millions of dollars of devastation.
and on top of the previous comment, you've got an almost 10% unemployment issue in Maple Heights ... more devastation to the local economy
Do politicians down at city hall understand this?
NO
These politicians want to continue the devastating policies .. like for instance, "speed cameras" which collect revenue that simply puts money back into the hands of people (police and fire employees) who spend their money outside the community; and also into a Maryland company who pays no taxes to Maple Heights and hires no Maple Heights residents.
Never allow politicians and lawyers to shape your economy people. These people only know how to take your money and give it to everyone but you.
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