Ken Berwitz
This story, reported by WISC-3 news in Madison, Wisconsin, which describes an incident between a White police officer and a Black crowd, may give us important insight into why the crime rate in urban minority areas is soaring this year:
A Madisonpolice officer was confronted by a crowd and punched after a street fight onPrairie Road Wednesday night, according to a release from Madison police
Theofficer stopped in the area of Prairie Road and Jacobs Way around 6:20 p.m.after spotting a large number of people in the street. He said that as heapproached he saw a woman punch a man in the face, and he could see that thewoman had a can of pepper spray.
Theofficer said that as he went to arrest the woman he was surrounded by a crowdthat was voicing anti-police sentiments, including “We need to startkilling these officers.”
Policesaid the woman\’s daughter was grabbing the officer while trying to free hermother. The officer said he tried to diffuse the situation by explaining to thecrowd that the woman had just punched someone and was armed with pepper spray.Police said his words were ignored, and the struggle with the two peoplecontinued.
The twowomen were arrested when more officers arrived.
“Hedemonstrated fantastic patience and restraint in dealing with thesefolks,” Madison Police Department Capt. Vic Wahl said. “He was ableto literally get assaulted in the midst of a large crowd and still take thesewomen into custody without causing any injuries to anyone.”
Policesaid Latonya B. James, 40, of Madison, threatened many times to kill theofficer while on her way to jail. She was arrested on suspicion of battery to alaw enforcement officer, possession of pepper spray, disorderly conduct andresisting.
NanyamkaN. James, 20, of Madison was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct,resisting and on a parole hold.
The report goes on to say that this particular officer was thought of in highly positive terms by the people of the neighborood.
Now, tell me: suppose you are the officer, and this just happened to you. You were lucky to get out with just being punched and verbally assaulted. And with people running their smart phone videos, you knew there was a possibility that a partial video – one which might show you doing something that could be misunderstood without seeing what happened beforehand – could end your career, empty your life savings with lawyers fees, and put you in jail.
What will you do next time something like this happens? Will you wade into the crowd and take your chances? Or stand back and let it happen, for your own self-preservation and that of your family?
What do you think police officers around the country are doing?
And how much do you figure that emboldens the street thugs within those neighborhoods to take advantage of the situation….which, in the preponderant number of cases, means to victimize other Black people?
That is worth thinking about. Most especially if you are a Black person in this kind of neighborhood who wants nothing more than to live your life in peace.
You may fear, based on history, or current stories you have been told, or personal experience, that a police officer, especially a White police officer, might mistreat you because of your color. But do you – should you – fear the street thugs you live with every day even more?
What an ugly, unfair situation to be in.
