Positively Good Productions

The systemic disputes ingrained in American

 policing are nothing new. Our policing 

system, in America, has been racist since its 

inception during the slavery era. The system

 continues to treat Black men, in particular, with

 contempt. 

In far too many cases, police exit their

 squad cars with their guns drawn, ordering 

African Americans to spread their legs and put 

their hands on top of their heads. If they patrolled 

white areas as they do African American 

neighborhoods, there would be a revolution.

The first police department in the country was 

in Charleston, South Carolina. It originated 

as a slave patrol to oversee and keep 

under observation the enslaved and prevent 

them from planning any defiance and/or 

resistance in an effort to realize freedom. 

In 1639, South Carolina passed a law 

requiring the enslaved to be kept in 

subjugation and obedience. In Virginia, 

legislators passed a law removing felony 

penalties if the slaver murdered the enslaved

 who resisted.

Clearly, it is the same song... 

different verse.

In the United States, the system

 incarcerates more people than any

 other country in the world. There are 

over two million inmates in prisons, 

jails, and detention centers. 

Why do Latinos and African

 Americans account for the majority 

of the prison population?

There is something very wrong with 

this current reality! Let us reflect on

how and why this crisis of further 

oppressing the oppressed is the norm.

Being stopped and questioned by police in connection 

with a crime can be a deeply troubling experience for 

most, but in far too many cases marginalized individuals 

are being criminalized and their human rights are being

violated. 

The first point of contact with the criminal justice system 

is usually with the police. The police are hired, sworn, 

paid and empowered to patrol and maintain order, respond 

to calls, prevent and investigate illegal activities, keep

 the peace, protect the public and keep communities safe. 

When warranted, they make an arrest and transport 

suspects. Because police are the most visible 

governmental power for the citizens, they are expected to 

deal effectively with crime and disorder and to be 

impartial. They are expected to produce justice through 

the fair and restrained use of their authority.

Police officers are expected to remain level-headed in 

stressful and dangerous situations. However, racial 

profiling and other discriminatory practices, by some, 

targets individuals for minor traffic violations and once 

stopped... out of the woodworks there is a baseless

 suspicion of crime. Many of the baseless claims are due, 

in part, to the individual's race, ethnicity, national origin 

and neighborhood. Their judgments, decisions, actions 

and perceptions are oftentimes based on implicit 

racial bias. 

We are hearing more and more news about police who 

have lost their way and failed to capture the true role of 

police in our society. Some have a cruel and reckless

disregard and indifference for human life, especially in

disadvantaged communities.

These issues are a complete affront to taxpayers who 

fund and expect for officers of the law to protect, serve 

and repair (to lessen the damage), as they were sworn to 

do. 

Where is the justice and service to 

humanity?

Where is the U.S. Constitution's core 

promise of equal protection under the 

law to all and freedom from 

unreasonable searches and seizures?

  There are far too many rotten apples, in policing, who

 see and treat non-whites as sub-human beings. This kind 

of mentality, with a badge and gun, is usually raging, evil,

 reckless, grossly incompetent, insecure and depraved. 

They act with deliberate indifference, and tend to

 intentionally handcuff their victims and violate human 

life. This can result in... unconstitutional and unlawful 

policing. This kind of behavior is unacceptable. 

Is this kind of behavior following law 

enforcement's oath of honor, mission 

and values?

Let us be clear, police officers are people who come in

 different degrees of good and evil, just as the rest of us. 

In far too many cases, reckless officers, targeting minority 

individuals, are enforcing nonsensical rules, on innocent 

members of the public, based on random choice and/or 

personal whim.

People's rights are being trashed and their lives are being 

destroyed by severe beatings, dreadful tortures and totally

 unnecessary, unreasonable, awfully unlawful fatal 

episodes which, in far too many cases, end in

 unjustifiable assaults and/or murders. Many victims who 

often face harassment are the common civilians, the 

vulnerable groups... mainly, non-white Americans. 

This blog is not a stance against law enforcement 

professionals who value the sanctity of life and

 righteously strive to protect and serve, with purpose, the 

citizens and their Constitutional rights. 

We know there are many respectful and respected police

 officers who know that integrity matters. These men and 

women are fair and committed to ensuring exemplary 

legal and effective law enforcement conduct. They tend to 

have a moral compass/conscience which operates as a 

unifying set of shared values, beliefs and behavior within 

our society. 

Many officers are mindful of the fact that they are dealing 

with fellow human beings. These individuals perform 

at their best and do the work they were sworn to do, to 

the best of their ability. They follow the principles and 

values that define their profession and treat all citizens 

with empathy, respect and dignity... the way they would

 want their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, 

aunts and uncles, etc., to be treated. They do whatever it 

takes to serve and protect the community.

 We support and commend those who courteously 

and appropriately, without malice, prejudice, animosities, 

or ill will enforce the law uprightly and value their badge 

as a symbol of public trust and service. 

But, like any career, there will always be some who are 

not a good fit. Most of us have come to realize that the 

actions of a few bad officers can have macro-implications,

 casting a negative light on the entire police department. 

This blog is about the problem police officers who are

perpetuating profoundly dangerous acts of violence and are

 clearly revealing the presence of a depraved mind. 

There are individuals who quickly abandon the idea of

 protecting with courage and serving with compassion.

These individuals have ego-based pride and are

 consciously indifferent to what is right, just, and true. 

The gravity and magnitude of cowards who become 

somewhat inebriated with the power of the badge and 

uniform is alarming. They wear the police uniform, but

 quickly abandon all values, standards, rules, code of

 conduct and use of force policies. 

There are a few criminals, bad officers, in uniform who 

wear their badges to deliberately act unlawfully, and 

they are a disgrace... a major slap in the faces of those

 who take policing as an honored and noble profession.

A good police officer brings more than solid training to 

the table. The best police officers bring to the table...

self-control, uprightness, honesty, intelligence, as well 

as good communication and people skills. They act with 

courtesy and know how to relate and build effective

 interactions with the public, whether they are monitoring

 regular patrols, responding to an emergency and/or 

responding to non-emergency calls. 

They are critical thinkers who seek the truth. They 

respond to people in a cordial and respectful way. They 

realize that a calm and humane attitude will calm, 

de-escalate and best serve the situation... keeping 

everyone safe. 

Approaching a situation with decency maximizes the 

chance for a peaceful exchange. It keeps people calm, 

more cooperative and it helps with community trust.

Integrity is a fundamental trait required for policing

 and quite possibly the most important. The most 

respected and productive police officers believe these

 qualities are key factors in gaining public trust and

 confidence. 

These men and women perform top quality work and see

 public service as a career that is more of a "higher

 calling". They see their careers as their opportunity to 

make a positively good difference in people's lives. 

They follow the department's guidelines and do what 

is honest and decent. They show up focused on serving all 

people, rather than running into a situation "Guns 

blazing", like raging madmen with fearful, stressful,

 hostile, adversarial energy of "Shoot first and think later". 

They realize that viciously combative mindsets are 

unnecessary, unproductive and can threaten constitutional 

rights and public safety. 

The honorable men and women of the police force are 

usually good communicators and they patiently listen.

 This, regardless of the situation, helps to decrease the

 scope and/or intensity of many situations. 

 These mature men and women realize and understand the 

value of de-escalation skills. They have the common sense 

and decency to know that de-escalation has, can, and will

 avert gross misconduct and abuse, which could lead to

deadly tragedies. 

 Good police officers are exceptionally reasonable, decent, 

fair, egoless and upright professionals who play an

 important role in our communities, by maintaining public 

order. These professionals have the ability to relate to 

people who are experiencing a crisis, unresolved issues

 and incredible hardships. 

When they find themselves in the midst of tragedies and 

chaotic moments of people's lives... they don't aggravate 

or stir up the chaos, but faithfully engage in their duties to 

prevent and solve issues, crisis, and/or crime. 

They earn the trust of the communities they serve because 

they try to develop a good rapport with the community,

 fellow officers and with those from diverse cultures. They

 show compassion and tend to empathize, while still

 remaining professional. 

They are men and women who are focused on keeping

 our communities safe, thus, allowing society to thrive.

 The general public tends to respect those who have not 

lost the human touch and, for the most part, the 

community views them as strong authority figures. 

Many sworn police officers are well-intentioned, noble,

 and prefer to be seen as heroes... the good guys, not the

 agitating bad guys with a gang-like mentality, no 

accountability and evil, brute-like hidden agendas. 

Many police officers desire to protect and serve all people,

 but that doesn't mean they are not influenced by their 

surroundings, straying behavior of corrupt friends, 

coworkers, etc. Rotten apples have been known to spoil 

their companions. One bad apple can become a few bad 

apples.

Many can become susceptible (indoctrinated) into a

corruption cycle by watching the actions of veterans and 

superiors. These behavior patterns can result in acting 

on implicit biases, racism, prejudices and use of 

unnecessary force protocols, which have proven to be, in

 many cases, dangerous and/or deadly.

Police and urban community relations are incredibly 

complicated.

Could police brutality, racism and 

mass incarceration be an attempt to 

maintain white supremacy?

The Police Force Evolved From 

Night Watch Officers and Jim Crow

Slave Catchers.

Over 100 African civilizations were destroyed by the

 European invasion. Most of the historical buildings and

 monuments were destroyed. The Europeans brought in

 diseases, i.e., smallpox and influenza, which spread and 

killed many African people. The invaders plundered,

 raped (men and women) and executed those they felt

 needed to be executed.

Millions of Africans were scattered and faced horror and

 death as they were forcibly taken from their African

 homelands, arrived on American soil and enslaved.

Even after the Civil War, Slavery and its despicable racist

 rationalization that African Americans were sub-human...

resulted in America experiencing a long, shameful and 

inexcusable mangled history of exploiting and meting out 

harsh and inhumane punishment on African Americans. 

day, and cannot be ignored. 

The traders/enslavers captured slaves for revenue. The 

enslaved Africans performed all of the labor and the 

enslaver prospered from their toil. The enslaved were 

denied a rightful share in the economic, social and/or

 political progress in the United States. 

Physical and psychological violence took many forms, 

i.e., the brutal beatings, purposely dividing families, 

depriving the enslaved of food, etc. This kind of brutal, 

terrorizing, "law and violence" policing imposed on

 enslaved Africans was a means of dominance and social 

control. 

Fear was used as a weapon to render 

the African American men docile and 

weak before the insecure white men.

Slave patrol was one of the earliest forms of policing and 

their influence lives on. In fact, it set the tone for modern 

day policing. Just take an honest look at the sickening 

consistency of atrocities in our society with law

 enforcement and African Americans.

Could it be that the oppressed and marginalized has a 

special place in God's heart?

The kinship between the Slave patrols and American 

policing are very discernible. The institution of slavery 

and the control of minorities were two of the more 

formidable historic features of American society shaping 

early policing.

The legacy of slavery and racism did not end after the 

Civil War. It can be argued that extreme violence against 

people of color became even worse. Vigilantes, the Ku 

Klux Klan and/or lynch mobs were notorious for 

assaulting and hanging minorities first... and asking 

questions later.

In 2020, when a Black person is killed by police, we learn 

more about the black victim's criminal past than the police 

who killed the victim. If the victim does not have a 

criminal record, we hear demonizing, twisted, ignorant  

remarks about the victim once driving with a broken tail 

light or talk about when the victim was seen jaywalking.

If the victim has ever been arrested, and far too many have 

been arrested without cause, they will find mug shots of 

the victim or a bad looking snapshot that makes the victim 

appear threatening. Then they will juxtapose it with a 

flattering portraits of the killer, with the American flag in 

the background, crisp uniform decorated with things most 

of people associate with honorable.

The masses are not ignorant. It is ignorant to 

underestimate the intelligence of people. Most are very 

well aware of all the subliminal and antagonistic

 messages, psychological warfare and white supremacist 

systems plaguing and harming our friends and families. 

That is disrespectful.

Unarmed black men are getting killed by police. Armed 

white boy walks past police and is apprehended the 

following day. He was not slammed to the ground. His 

face was not slammed pounded into the sidewalk, his neck 

was not held down with a knee. He was treated as if 

nothing had just happened.

WHERE IS THE 

JUSTICE???

How is it okay to associate black with guilty and not have

 equal rights to a fair trial?

One might wonder, just how many times has one dressed

 in police uniform... hidden behind the badge and

committed heinous crimes, i.e., maiming or taking the 

lives of unarmed black Americans... then destroying  

evidence and evading justice?

Most perpetrators consider themselves to be racially 

superior and others... inferior. Some would rather believe 

that blacks excessively contribute to the high crime rate.

 Biased and slanted reports from mainstream media, 

serving their own interests, can further warp unsuspecting 

viewers, listeners and readers... without producing any 

reliable evidence to support their claims. 

Some people never consider the fact that statistics 

are influenced by a disproportionate rate of biased 

arrests and convictions of blacks. 

The over-focus on demonizing blacks may very well be 

camouflaging the critically high crime rate that could very 

well be within the white populace.

Research supports the idea that many

are turning a blind eye and are 

refusing to challenge this brutal, 

inhumane status quo which deprives 

black people of justice and equality.

Most would agree, we can no longer

deny the realities of implicit bias and

systemic racism anywhere in this

world! 

So much has to change. Mistreating 

people of a particular race is 

racism. Using tactics like intimidation

and threats when blacks are seeking to 

exercise their rights is devilish.

People, in the United States of America, are being

terrorized, traumatized, brutalize and killed by violent and 

aggressive officers who were sworn to protect and serve.

How would you feel if this person was your child, your 

sibling or parent?

Please help us to understand or see the humor in this 

dehumanizing photo?

Research has found that both systemic and individual 

racial biases operate against African Americans and other 

people of color in police departments nationwide. Studies

have found that police officers use force against African 

Americans seven times more often than against whites 

who were engaged in behaviors very similar to their 

counterparts.

In 2011, Paul R. Allen, 55, of Oakton, Virginia, was 

sentenced to 40 months in prison after being convicted of 

fraud for participating in a $2.9 billion scheme that caused

 the mortgage and lending firm Taylor, Bean & Whitaker 

to go under. 

Two years earlier, Roy Brown, 54, a homeless African-

American man, was sentenced to 15 years hard labor 

without the possibility of probation, parole or suspension 

of sentence for robbing a bank in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

According to reports on the story, Brown, the homeless 

man, only took $100 from the three stacks of money 

handed to him and returned the stacks back to the teller. 

He told the teller he needed it because he was homeless,

 hungry and needed the money to stay at the detox center. 

After feeling remorseful, he voluntarily surrendered to the 

police the next day and told them his mother didn't raise 

him that way. He received the 15 year sentence.

The CEO was given a relatively lenient sentence of 

months for his involvement in a multi-billion dollar fraud

 scheme versus the homeless man who only took $100

 from a bank... 

where is the justice for all?

The majority of people in the system are 

disproportionately poor, black and Latino. They are rarely

if ever treated with kindness, leniency or compassion. 

Many, in our multi-racial and 

multi-ethnic society are deeply

 concerned over the unequal police

enforcement, the unnecessary and

 often excessive use of force, racial

 profiling and militarization, 

especially... against people of color. 

Do the police use one set of strategies 

with white people and another with 

people of color?

Does one's socio-economic status have 

anything to do with who is targeted by 

police?

Police agencies are operating more 

like adrenaline fueled occupying

 soldiers than community protectors.

Institutionalized racism, also referred 

to as systemic racism, is inequality 

based on race within an organization. 

Systemic racism has been defined as

 those established laws, customs and 

practices which systematically reflect 

and produce racial inequalities. It 

negatively affects the bulk of people 

belonging to a racial group.

Institutional and cultural practices 

can perpetuate race inequality.

Systemic racism has brutalized  

multiple generations of black people! 

Systemic racism is much like a new 

spin on "Jim Crow". It can be enacted 

individually or institutionally.

The term "Institutional racism" describes societal patterns 

and structures that imposes oppressive, prejudiced-

ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping or 

otherwise disadvantaged conditions on certain groups of 

people on the basis of race or ethnicity. 

Institutionalized racism is the underbelly of the subtle

 jabber or double-talk of 

"Greatness".

There is indisputable evidence of the indignations, the 

dehumanization and police brutality black people are 

subjected to, on a regular basis, in the United States of 

America, 2020!

African Americans still face significant discrimination in 

the labor market. Blacks are statistically less likely to get 

employed or call backs... less likely to get housing... less

likely to get justice... and more likely to be racially

 profiled, pulled over, falsely accused, unfairly targeted

 for suspicion, physically abused (with deadly force),

 verbally harassed without cause... arrested, shot or killed 

by police.

has been committed.

Struggles between African American 

communities and the police have 

existed for centuries. The roots of 

racism run deep.

Civil Rights in Selma, Alabama 1965. Attempt to register to vote. Rev. C. T. Vivian of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC, is telling the Dallas County Sheriff Jim Clark (a staunch segregationist) that by not letting them into the courthouse, he's breaking an injunction. He continues to berate him and says that he (sheriff) is trying to intimidate them by making the marchers wait in the rain when they just want to register to vote.

,

.

The psychological impact of bad encounters with police 

can have lifelong consequences. One can leave a bad 

experience with an officer and associate policing with 

potential hurt, harm or danger.

 In many cases, once a black person exits their vehicle,

 they may be tried, sentenced and executed without real 

justice being served in a courtroom. 

A disproportionate number of Blacks

have been stopped, agitated and 

arrested for trivial reasons by the

police who are abusing their power.

Many individuals who have been 

pulled over have yet to see justice

served. 

Citizens are now better equipped to inform the proper

 authorities and get justice with their eyewitness reports

 and real-time video footage... which we would hope is 

sufficient evidence to back up their claims. Citizens have

become the sidewalk journalists. They are now able to 

capture bad behavior as it unfolds.

Blacks are disproportionately targeted and subjected

 to biased and corrupt police bullying.

Statistics indicate that some officers are using excessive 

force against African American people seven times more 

frequently than against whites. 

When the constitution was written, the time between 

sentencing and execution could be measured in days or 

weeks. Some trigger happy vigilantes, hiding behind the 

uniform, have drastically cut that time frame down to

minutes. They become self-appointed judge, jury and 

executioner.

What should "Serve and Protect" mean to the black 

community? 

How can our black communities be assured that when they

interact with officers... the interaction will not take on new

meanings?

Among us, live courageous protectors of the public. They 

believe the oath “To Serve and Protect” means more than 

a slogan on a shield or the side of a patrol car. These brave 

souls are representatives of law enforcement who stand 

for more than just that slogan. 

Some refuse to accept the status quo.

The concept of “Internal Affairs” stands for more than 

protection of those in power. Policies and Procedures 

Manuals demand accountability. 

Not all police officers are bad guys, but camaraderie, 

brotherhood, and institutional pressures from chain of 

command can affect even the noblest officer.

What a major discredit and disappointment to the upright 

and dedicated police officers who serve, protect and build 

trust. They would never betray or dishonor their 

profession. It would be beneath their dignity to betray

 their badge or public trust. 

There are, indeed, police officers who hold themselves

accountable for their actions. They would not even 

 consider stooping to the level of brutes. 

Upright officers protect with courage, serve with