Three photographs were posted on Facebook from sources within the African American community. Is there truth to what the photographs allege?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:06:06 -0400

Three photographs were posted on Facebook from sources within the African American community. Is there any truth to what the photographs allege? Is there a disparity in treatment when law enforcement apprehends suspects to a crime. African Americans have alleged that innocent African American are brutalized when suspected of illegal activity and that others, that are not of African American heritage, are treated with dignity and respect. The first photograph depicts the treatment of an individual that massacred nine African American who were attending church services in South Carolina and compares it to the treatment of a New Yorker suspected of selling cigarettes from a street corner. The second photograph depicts a comparison contrast of the treatment an innocent young African American teenager received at a pool party. The third photo depicts the treatment Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received while peacefully protesting in support of state law, federal law, and the constitutional rights, of all American citizens. Shocking and disturbing. Are modern African American citizens unlawfully receiving the same horrific treatment their forefathers received after more than 50 years post civil rights movement? I have not formulated an opinion but I do petition the opinions of Rallypoint professionals on this issue. It is a national concern.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 10:20 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:20:09 -0400

"I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

Are we a hypocritical oath? Enemies both foreign and domestic? What defines domestic? The police? Sedition groups? American citizens want answers.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Jul 1 at 2015 10:23 PM

SFC Maury Gonzalez — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:23:17 -0400

The church guy photo is him walking out if court after arraignment, the other is of the ongoing arrest

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Jul 1 at 2015 10:29 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:29:58 -0400

Of the photos, who was compliant? Who wasn't?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 10:41 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:41:08 -0400

Beltway Sniper (black kid), was arrested without a struggle. Followed all commands. Given a vest and was handcuffed in front of him

Response by SSgt Charles Edwards made Jul 1 at 2015 10:42 PM

SSgt Charles Edwards — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 22:42:03 -0400

If the argument for how one is arrested is based on the photo of the Charleston shooter being escorted by law enforcement, then stop. That's not him being arrested. Cops don't take time to secure an apprehended subject with a second-chance vest.

As for the pool party, my understanding was things got way out of control to the point where a mother of three was assaulted by a few of those kids. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic as most of those kids had no business being there in the first place. The first officer on scene was alone, so he had to take measures to protect himself before he was caught in a no-win situation. The police only have but a split second to make a decision and I firmly believe that the officer would have utilized the same level of force on a white kid.

The third picture (am I to assume that is Dr. Martin Luther King?) addresses an issue during a turbulent part of this nation's history. Granted, I wasn't around (born in 1980), but I've read enough books and watched many historical programs regarding the Civil Rights movement that both whites and blacks were targeted by southern law enforcement and lynch mobs.

We've come a long way in terms of equality. I don't believe that race determines an officer's response in any given situation. People are human--flawed in every particular way. I served as a cop for 10 years while serving my country. Race was never a factor. Every case was addressed with the same degree of professionalism as the previous one.

In closing, people can twist a story to fit their own agenda. Pictures are easily manipulated like that. Eventually, the truth will surface.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jul 1 at 2015 11:53 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 23:53:14 -0400

There's a disparity on how non-law abiding citizens act when questioned/confronted by law enforcement.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 7:43 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 07:43:18 -0400

Are we really entertaining race baiting, biased/skewed discussion on a military forum generally intended for professional development?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 11:15 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 11:15:53 -0400

I'll just have to speak from my own experience as a police officer.

The monster in Charleston sat & waited to be taken into custody. He did not resist. He did not have a suicide pact (as the shooters in Columbine did once they realized LE was coming for them). Hence, there was no force other than custodial force, used to apprehend him.

Eric Garner was breaking a NY ordinance by selling "Loosies". He may have said to be not guilty of this crime by prosecutors after the fact, but he was guilty of breaking this ordinance, which is why the police were called to his location. He actively resisted arrest. The sergeant in command of the officers attempting to arrest Mr Garner was a black female & she gave the order to escalate force. He screamed that he cannot breath, but those that have gone through first responder training know that if someone can talk, they can breathe. Mr Garner died of heart issues - perhaps due to weight issues. Mr Garner was known to the NYPD as a repeat offender of ordinances & known to be resistant to arrest, therefore officer automatically go into a situation w/ him thinking that he is going to resist - it was his M.O.

The pool situation. Put yourself in that officer's shoes: You get a call to a disturbance. You have no idea what is going on, only basic details of numerous teenagers at a location they do not belong at. You show up & are outnumbered severely w/ backup en route, but still several minutes out. What is your course of action? You are faced w/ an unruly subject that appears to be inciting others. The logical choice for LE officers is you assert control over the apparent leader. You place yourself in a position in order to best protect yourself, even if that means drawing your firearm due to being severely outnumbered.

The photos from the Civil Rights movement are relevant, but do not reflect today's law enforcement. It is relevant to the practices of those in the south during that time. Those who made those laws, and the officers that upheld those laws.

AS a patrol officer, whenever someone would challenge that I was profiling, I would pose this question:

Were you breaking a law immediately before I stopped you?

As to those that think traffic stops are racial motivated, I challenge you. As you drive in to work, or home today, you look at the car in front of you. Can you tell me what race that driver belongs to? How about at night? Did that particular driver do anything that made you pay attention to their car? Was their tag expired? Were they swerving between lanes, not using their blinkers? Are they speeding? Is their taillight out?

There has to be reasonable belief in order to be stopped for a traffic violation. That reasonable belief can range from broken taillight (Safety violation) to warrant associated w/ that license plate.

I must have been an outlier in police work, if you are to believe those that are pushing racism so hard (hmmmm...could it be because they make a hell of a lot of money by pushing said subject?). The only subjects I ever had to use force on were white. I don't ever recall having to use force other than placing hands on/handcuffs on anyone that fell outside of the Caucasian descriptor.

Remember, a photo can be manipulated to tell you whatever story the editor wants it to tell you...