Are US police above the law?

Feb 26

Episode

Are US police above the law?

One year after Trayvon Martin's death, communities say they still don't trust law enforcement.

New York Police Department officers monitor a march against stop-and-frisk tactics used by police on February 23, 2013 in New York City. Andrew Burton/Getty Images/AFP

One year after local Florida police received criticism for their investigation into the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, public distrust in US law enforcement continues to simmer. With reports of corruption, racial profiling, and an increase in “justifiable homicides”, what steps need to be taken to re-establish trust between the police and the American public? Join the discussion at 1930GMT.

In this episode of The Stream, we talk to:

Gilbert L. Moore
Deputy Director, Department of Justice Community Relations Service
justice.gov/crs

Michael Skolnik @michaelskolnik
Editor-in-chief, Global Grind
globalgrind.com

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

View the story "Are US police above the law?" on StorifyAre US police above the law?One year after Trayvon Martin's death, communities say they still don't trust law enforcement.Storified by The Stream· Tue, Feb 26 2013 11:12:50Here is the police recording of George Zimmerman's 911 call the night of Trayvon's death:Trayvon Martin Case [SHOCKING FULL] Murder Caught on Tape | Killed By George Zimmerman 911 Call # 1nizzydWatching this Trayvon Martin case, they wonder why black people don't like, don't trust, and hate the police, still no arrestShane Sanders@MilenaTCK @lsarsour @AJStream Distrust long preceded Trayvon Martin in indigent and of color neighborhoodsKhaled BeyWhile Trayvon's case was unique in the national attention it garnered, "justifiable homicides" of young African American men by both police and civilians are common. This map shows the location of all the killings of African American men deemed justifiable by the law in 2012, numbering 120: Police Killings MapAJstreamJustifiable homicides are on the rise nationally, with Detroit experiencing the most significant increase. This local news report attributes the increase in self-defence killings to a lack of trust in law enforcement. Reports claim slow police response times cause many citizens to feel the need to take matters into their own hands:Detriot Justifiable homicides up 79% in 2011libertylover522Documents uncovered by the media show that George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin's killer, was motivated to join a neighbourhood watch group and start patrolling the streets because he did not trust the police to effectively do their job.“I also have had the opportunity to take ride-alongs with the city of Sanford Police Department and what I saw was disgusting. The officer showed me his favorite hiding spots for taking naps, explained to me that he doesn’t carry a long gun in his vehicle because in his words, ‘Anything that requires a long gun requires a lot of paperwork, and you’re going to find me as far away from it.’ He took two lunch breaks and attended a going-away party for one of his fellow officers.”mediaite.comJustifiable homicides, along with policing policies that disproportionately affect minorities, have eroded trust between minority populations and law enforcement. In New York City, the NYPD's controversial "stop and frisk" tactic has caused tensions between the police and the African American and Latino populations that comprise the vast majority of stops:The Hunted and the Hated: An Inside Look at the NYPD's Stop-and-Frisk PolicyvideonationIn Los Angeles, an ex-cop named Chris Dorner murdered two police officers and wounded several others. Dorner cited allegations of bigotry and lack of police accountability as his motivation for targeting police officers and their families. Although most didn't agree with his actions, his manifesto resonated with many. Here is one of several facebook pages expressing support for Dorner:Christopher Jordan DornerAJstreamCitizens who distrust the police for a variety of reasons have adopted their own means to try to hold police departments accountable for their actions. The New York Civil Liberties Union has developed a smartphone app that enables citizens to record and report stop and frisk encounters they witness:NYCLU Expands Their Surveillance of NYPD From Android to iPhoneTom Arana-WolfeThe international Copwatch network has a dedicated YouTube channel for posting videos citizens capture of police brutality, ineffectiveness, or misconduct: 7-19-2012 COPWATCH Films NYPD Transit Cop Assaulting Youth Sunset ParkbosefodOrganisations like Communities United for Police Reform work to pressure police departments to adopt broader oversight reforms.
THOUSANDS PROTEST NYPD'S STOP-AND-FRISK TACTICScopwatchnews#AJStream ExternAl overSight will add a certain level of professionalism to the reform programme and accountability on their own hmm.The Speaking PenMany police departments have recognised the threat to safety caused by a lack of trust in law enforcement and have stepped up their efforts to reach out to citizens. This local news report from Cincinnati details how new outreach efforts to the Latino community led to an increase in crime reports from that segment of the population:
Hispanic Outreach Paying Off, Police Saywlwttv@AJStream actually work to address the needs of the sets of communities. be seen as an arm of public safety not oppressionDarakshan