Defunding police nationwide is not the answer

OPINION:

The recent incident concerning the death of George Floyd was a tragic incident that should never occur in our country.

As a former assistant chief of police, I am enraged by the actions taken by the officers causing a man his life. It’s unfortunate that the actions of these officers have made it hard for other officers who respect the uniform and badge and take pride in being a police officer. Real change and policy reform is necessary to put a stop to the abuse of police policy and the blatant disregard for citizens’ rights within the police department.

Recent incidents in our nation’s cities have shown us that there is a dire need to have community re-engagement between local citizens and officials and law enforcement. Racism, astounding rates of inter-generational poverty, a lack of economic opportunity, and a long history of incidents (oftentimes unwarranted) between low-income communities and law enforcement officials are problems all cities continue to face; the recent examples in 2020 have shed a spotlight on this oftentimes forgotten reality. 

Massive income inequality, separate and unequal schools, abandoned neighborhoods and political dysfunction will not be fixed overnight. Instead, communities and their citizens need to work together and not against one another.

I know the lack of trust and frustration can be overwhelming at times. However, rioting and looting are not the answer. These images flashing before the nation’s eyes are a mere distraction and draw attention away from the matter that needs to be addressed: police brutality.

There is massive distrust between the police and the African-American community, related to race or class or both factors. Incidents in Minneapolis and other American cities provide an opportunity for civic and community leaders to address and improve police-community relations, once and for all. 

The days of racial profiling should be addressed swiftly and without delay from the police agencies and departments. In today’s policing, we do not have the room for prejudice and nefarious actions on behalf of police officers; a failure to act on behalf of police agencies will continue the community unrest that we are experiencing. The only way to civil discourse and better working relationships between law enforcement and the African-American community is to have consistent dialogue and an understanding that practices and changes are being made that will be better for everyone within the community. The time for this open dialogue has come. 

Police must do a better job with hiring from within their communities. Further, I believe officers should live within the community they service.

Police work in the 21st century is more complicated. Sending officers into the field without proper vetting and up-to-date training, and without the government working to communicate with and economically empower their communities, is irresponsible. Better arrest protocols and policies will not, by themselves, constitute justice. But they are an essential component of it.

Defunding police departments nationwide is not the answer. The way to change the culture of policing starts with training, the police unions and an officer bill of rights. Everything needs to be reviewed and re-evaluated and it’s time that changes were made.

Let’s partner with the leading organizations in law enforcement and corrections such as the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Major Cities Chiefs Association and others with Black Lives Matter and other organizations to make sure we can understand each other’s concerns and make sure we are all on the same page so that there is meaningful progress and meaningful changes moving forward.

• Derrick Parks is CEO of Metropolitan Protective Services Inc. and a former assistant chief of police in Maryland.