At the age of 21, I became a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan police officer assigned to the Third District working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. By this time, my beloved city was overrun with crack cocaine and heroin, the drugs of choice.
Before I proceed, let me tell you about my own encounters with law enforcement.
Feared dealers and cops
During my youth, D.C. went from being known as a “Chocolate City” to the murder capital of America. Unfortunately, my friends and I had to fear both the Metropolitan Police Department and well-armed drug dealers and thugs wanting to be gangsters.
One of my first youthful encounters was at age 16. My oldest sister had just purchased a 1974 Chevrolet Nova Spirit of America hatchback and she would let me use it in exchange for weekly car washes and other errands.
Two of my friends had gathered at the Riggs Park bowling alley in D.C. on a Saturday night, when one of them mentioned that another alley had installed electronic counters that automatically calculated your score. This was a major advance in bowling technology.
Off we went to the Silver Spring Bowling Alley in Montgomery County, Maryland. Although it was only a 30-minute drive away, in the 1970s, Black Americans were not yet welcomed or tolerated. Blacks were expected to know their places when it comes to neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
Stop breaking the law
In the many videos I have seen where an individual is “mistreated” by an officer, there is plenty more video that depicts how the individual escalated the situation. If they obeyed the lawful orders of police officers, they would have been on their way.
It should be taught in schools.
In health class.
How come cops are the only profession everyone else needs to handle with kiddie gloves? What a bunch of thin skinned morons. Get a real job.
With all his “training and knowledge”, can he write an article on how to be safely White in a black neighborhood, school, or any other predominantly black area, or can he help form a WhitePac to help non-black people safely go about their days? I’m guessing not, as that would be racist.