The silliness of designating people pro cop and anti cop

whynot_31

There are people around us who believe that police officers can do no right. This group frequently describes the police as being a force that is homogeneously united in oppressing specific groups in our society (poor people, black people, non-white people, etc). In other words, they view the police as being incapable of doing anything right.

Likewise, there are people around us who believe that police officers can do no wrong. This group frequently sees only the positive outcomes of police policies, and believe that the ends (i.e. the control of crime in NYC) justify the means.

In my view, people in either group seem to be at the margins.

-The vast majority of the public seems uncomfortable when confronted with statistics about how practices like "stop and frisk" are implemented, as well as their possible long term impacts.

-The vast majority of the city seems to hope that we are doing everything possible to minimize the number of unarmed black men killed by police.

Sadly, mere discomfort and a dose of hope changes nothing.

We need those in charge of the police ("the brass and politicians") to be thoughtful and influenced only by intelligent, rational arguments.

An article in today's NYT seems to argue that if we helped the police, they could do their jobs in a way that was safer, and better.

It makes sense to me that more improvement from the police can be obtained as a result of more support from the public, and those who directly oversee them. If we are going to continue to try to enforce our drug laws, it makes sense to me that we do it with officers who have the support they need.

...while working for a utopian future, we can also make the best of the present.