Roy Exum: Why Police Are Attacked

  • Monday, July 18, 2016
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

On the night of July 16, 2009, a black Harvard University professor returned to his home in Cambridge, Mass, from an overseas trip and found his front door had become stuck as he tried to unlock it. So Professor Henry Louis Gates and his driver were trying to force it open when a neighbor dialed 9-1-1 and police officer James Crowley responded. Officer Crowley asked the Harvard professor to step outside after he answered the door and the professor loudly refused before allegedly spitting back, “Why? Because I’m black in America!”

And that is when many believe the tragedy now unfolding across our nation got its spark. Mounds of evidence now show Gates was obnoxious, fitting the reputation for the haughty director of Harvard’s W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. At first he wouldn’t show his ID, became angry, and was arrested for disorderly conduct after Gates’ "loud and tumultuous behavior in a public space."

Not to be outdone, the outraged professor called on his dear friend Barack Obama for help. Within days the President of the United States announced, “I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played," he began, admitting too he “may be a little biased” due to their friendship.

"But I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry; No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, No. 3 ... that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately."

Poof! The stage was set for “Black Lives Matter.”

The Cambridge Mayor went on CNN. “This suggests that something happened that should not have happened," said Denise Simmons, “The situation is certainly unfortunate. This can't happen again in Cambridge."

And while the Mayor met with the police chief and the DA dropped charges, Police Sergeant Crowley stood his ground: “There are not many certainties in life, but it is for certain that Sgt. Crowley will not be apologizing!" he said somewhat incredulously after the Obama-led national outcry dominated the news for weeks.

You probably remembered what happened: The President was soon the one who “regretted his comments,” again admitting he knew nothing of the facts, and then he and Joe Biden famously held the “Beer Garden Summit” in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Remember? Prof. Gates, Sgt. Crowley along No. 1 and No. 2 presented a prized photo-op sharing a few laughs. But also remember this: Sheriff Justin Smith of Fort Collins, Colo., and police officers all over America have never forgot a black president who said on national networks, “The police acted stupidly!”

As a matter of fact, I found time to read a bold statement by Sheriff Smith about the ludicrous firestorm the Harvard professor started seven years ago that I had saved yesterday morning, this coming just after a crazed sniper killed five officers in Dallas and wounded nine others as they watched over a “Black Lives Matter” protest less than two weeks ago. Ironically, less than 30 minutes after I read it another horrific attack was unfolding in Baton Rouge yesterday morning.

Justin Smith, who is actually the sheriff in Larimer County, Colo. (that includes Fort Collins,) first stumbled into our view in April when he said – get this – there had been a 31 percent increase in assaults on Larimer County law-enforcement in this unprecedented "war on police.” It is nuts!

But the sheriff claimed back in April, “There is somewhat of a generation that’s come up that just doesn’t believe anybody has authority over them … so we’re seeing that come out as the kind of assaultive behavior that’s driving these numbers up."

After the Dallas massacre earlier this month, he penned an op-ed piece for Coloradoan newspaper that said Sheriff Smith firmly believes “The police acted stupidly!” triggered the distaid for the police that has become the earmark of the Obama administration. Here are some excerpts that need to be noted:

* * *

“In Ferguson, Missouri, the president and his Department Of Justice staff fanned the flames when a young man who had just committed a robbery was confronted by a local police officer and ended up dead. The president, his administration and many members of the media promoted a false narrative that the suspect was surrendering and that the officer murdered him in cold blood. The evidence later showed that the suspect had attacked the officer inside his car, had apparently attempted to disarm him and was again advancing on the officer when he was shot.

Did the president show any objectivity in this incident? No, he sent his top DOJ representatives to the funeral for the suspect while condemning the officer. The officer's actions were ruled justified after a grand jury investigation.

Not satisfied, the president sent in the DOJ to investigate again in hopes of finding a civil rights violation by the officer. They found none. However, to this day, officers around the country find themselves confronted by the false narrative of "hand up, don't shoot."

- - -

Last year, after the death of Freddy Gray, the local prosecutor raced out in front of the media to promise that all the officers would serve time for what happened to Mr. Gray.

The problem was that the politically motivated prosecutor had not determined the facts before she put a bull's-eye on the officers. To date, juries and judges have found each and every officer involved not guilty of criminal conduct. This administration and its supporters were all in with the rush to judgment on the Baltimore officers as well.

In late 2015, two Minneapolis police officers responded to a domestic violence call. Upon their arrival they found the suspect, Jamar Clark, was interfering with paramedics who were attempting to treat the victim. As officers worked to protect the victim and the paramedics, Jamar Clark attempted to disarm one of the officers.

His partner employed deadly force, shooting Clark. The case was investigated by the Hennepin County Attorney and when the prosecutor made his announcement that the shooting was justified, the mayor, flanked by her appointed police chief, instead of backing the officers, immediately "reassured" the public that this wasn't over yet. Both an internal investigation as well a federal civil rights would be initiated. She seemed insistent to punish the officers, no matter what the facts revealed (Again, the DOJ conducted a civil rights investigation that found no fault.)

After almost eight years of facing this false narrative, promoted time and time again, officers around the country are beginning to feel the consequences.

- - -

Now, America witnessed an attack of unprecedented proportions on her police officers in Dallas (on July 7). Twelve shot in one single incident with five fatally wounded. Take a moment and let those numbers soak in. These were officers that were protecting the public's right to peacefully protest when they were picked off by a race inspired sniper.

What was NPR's response? It questioned the ethics of the Dallas police using a robot to kill the mass murder. It is time to say enough is enough.

Am I angry? Absolutely!

In the day and age of instantaneous communications, video posts go viral in hours, garnering millions of views, sometimes stirring up great emotion and anger. All too often, these kinds of postings are used to forward inaccurate narratives about police officers and race.

Meanwhile, reams of research data are published by organizations like the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Much of this data refutes the current narrative about police officers, the criminal justice system and race. But that information not only doesn't go viral, it's ignored by those promoting the anti-police narrative. I personally read dozens and dozens of news sources a week, culling through to find what is written and comparing it to what is promoted by mass media sources.

It's become popular to proclaim that the system is inherently racist, that it thrives on continually increasing incarceration rates. That sells newspapers and for politicians these days, it garners support and votes. However, it's inconvenient to read the actual research showing that incarceration rates started a downward trend in 2007 and 2008, led by decreases in African American incarceration. Sadly, the latest spike in crime threatens this trend.

- - -

Hours before the murder of five Dallas police officers, I watched, read and listened as time and time again, politicians and many media sources promoted false narratives in the cases of two recent officer involved shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana. Time and time again, I heard it reported that the man in Louisiana was "unarmed," when just the opposite was known.

The shootings were promoted as racially motivated, when no proof has been offered to back up that claim. It was reported as fact that Philando Castile, who was shot in Minnesota, was stopped simply for having a taillight out, when evidence had emerged that the officer initiated the stop because he matched the description of a robbery suspect in the area from a few days earlier. In fact, Minnesota's own governor proclaimed that officers never administered CPR to Mr. Castile, when that was absolutely wrong.

The facts in both of those cases need to be reported accurately, or at least reporting needs to differentiate between the known and the unknown.

Police officers don't deserve special treatment, but they do deserve fair treatment. When they are shown to be wrong, they must be held accountable, as was the case recently in La Junta.

Over my three decades in policing, I've watched as time and time again, officers, troopers and deputies pour their hearts and souls into protecting people they've never met, with no regard to the person's background, religion or skin color. I've witnessed as these officers go beyond anyone's reasonable expectation, risking their own safety for their community. More times than I can even count, I've attended the funerals as these fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives and husbands were laid to rest after making the ultimate sacrifice for their community.

Police officers are not perfect, but overall, they are some of the most amazing, talented and dedicated people I've met.

In the end, as the community's elected sheriff, I am tasked with addressing issues of crime and criminal behavior.

When I see officers around the nation unfairly under attack, I will use my bully pulpit to speak up for them. With 12 officers in Dallas shot down, I spoke boldly. I called out those who I believe have helped incite such violence and I stand by those statements.

* * *

This “war on police” must stop. Our black-on-black shootings must stop. If ever this nation needed to get back to rules and fundamentals, this time is now. After the carnage in Dallas, Baton Rouge should never have happened. When is this madness in America going to stop?

royexum@aol.com

Opinion
Democratic View On Top State Senate Issues - March 27, 2024
  • 3/27/2024

Gov. Lee reveals $797M of new spending, but withholds funding for legislature’s voucher proposals View the Lee Administration’s Budget Amendment — The Lee Administration made its last revisions ... more

UTC: Cradle Of Coaches
  • 3/27/2024

Given recent events, the UTC Athletic Department should put up a billboard or start a marketing campaign with the following message: "UTC: Cradle of Coaches" Michelle Rogers more

Education: A Brighter Future For All
  • 3/26/2024

Education is one of the critical pillars of the American dream, providing hope and opportunity. Our organization has worked hard to shape education policy because it invites innovation and encourages ... more