From Ch 1 to 4 of the ‘Cop in the Hood’, the part I found most interesting is in page 79–
80. The author talks about talks about how people get “bad ideas” about the police from
the media, about how racist and corrupt they are.
I find this interesting because, although nobody would ever say that the entire police
force is filled with racist officers, there have been a number of reports in the news and
media about incidents regarding confrontations between the police and African–
American communities. In my experience, I see cops having a certain dehumanizing feel
about them along with a generally hard-edged sense of humor. It makes me wonder
whether they emotionally armor up as a coping mechanism to face the hazards of their
job. However, when it comes to targeted attacks on a racial community, I feel the police
cross the line and this should be condemned.
However, one or two isolated incidents regarding police brutality should not hinder our
image of the entire police force. The news and the media, who are only out to make
headlines, do not fully showcasing the whole story. I believe we as a society should not
be quick to judge and have to change our view of the police. We have to understand that
cops are actually vulnerable as they patrol the streets. They are usually at a disadvantage
because they have to intervene in unfamiliar terrain, on someone else’s territory. One
false move and they may put themselves or bystanders in jeopardy. Racist police
brutality has to be punished. But respect has to be paid. The police serve by walking that
hazardous line where civilization meets disorder.