Police Brutality Part II

I hope those who have commented on my piece on police brutality (or my previous posts, for that matter) will forgive me: Four entries into my new HuffPo blog, I'm just now figuring out how to join the conversation. "Learned helplessness" is a lousy excuse for rudeness, as is technophobia. I'm anxious to join the fray on future topics.

Judging from some comments, a little perspective on my career seems to be in order: After coming to grips with my behavior as a rookie, I set out to reclaim the values I thought I'd brought to the job--and turned myself into a hydrophobic gasbag of a police reformer. Alienating many of the people I most wanted to influence, i.e., my superiors and fellow cops.
Can you say compensation?

I engaged in nonstop, self-righteous finger pointing, got myself quoted in publications condemning the racism, sexism, homophobia, and brutality I saw as rampant in the police field. I railed against the paramilitary structure of American policing (senior thesis at San Diego State: "The Community as DMZ: Breaking Down the Police Paramilitary Bureaucracy").

In both San Diego and Seattle I argued for rigorous, genuine civilian oversight of police policies and practices. (Still do.)

I fired a lot of cops for excessive force and other abuses, and advocated for prosecution of police officers who criminally misused their authority.

I also learned along the way that if I wanted to be respected--and influential in my field--I had to show some respect, and listen to my cops. Especially when we disagreed.

Against that backdrop, let me respond to several themes in your comments.

Yes, police work is delicate, demanding, and dangerous (I helped bury over 20 officers in my time). Which is why I have tremendous respect and admiration for those who do it well, cops who are part of not apart from your community.

The sheriff's deputy whose actions prompted my post has been charged by King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. To which I say Amen. More prosecutors need to be willing to file charges against police officers. And more juries, when presented proof beyond a reasonable doubt, need to find the spine to convict them; convictions of law enforcement officers are notoriously difficult to obtain.

By the way, the deputy is being defended by a first-rate local attorney. And that's also as it should be. As angry as I got watching that tape (over and over), Paul Schene is every bit as entitled to due process as any other defendant.

Your comments about increased militarization in police work are spot on. Blame distortion of the lessons of 9/11, the perverted definitions of "homeland security," as far as I'm concerned. But the War on Drugs is also hugely implicated, and I've not written my last on that topic.

For those who cited Milgram and/or Zimbardo's famous experiments on how decent human beings can morph into sadists, a hearty thank you. For those who believe it could never happen to you, dream on.

Peer pressure, in-group solidarity, rewards and punishments, the very structure and culture of an organization have a way of sucking people in, as several readers pointed out. Happens in the military, happens in a police department. Happens...everywhere.

That said, let me register my unconditional belief in personal responsibility. And accountability. I was wrong to do what I did, and apologized for it years ago (not over a cup of coffee, incidentally).

I believe in the power of apology, and forgiveness. And redemption. I also believe if we allow ourselves to wallow in self-pity, or to get hooked by personal smears we might as well hang it up right now. Hate mail, which I used to attract by the bagful, most of it from colleagues, used to sting. No more. Goes with the turf.

Today, I prefer a focus on issues, but I do enjoy the occasional ad hominem attack. Like the one I got when I marched, in uniform, in Seattle's gay pride parade. "You, sir, are a dried up, useless scrap of scrotum," one fan wrote.

Let me repeat something I said in the original post. True, fundamental and lasting police reform requires civilian oversight, an eagerness of police chiefs and sheriffs to fire "bad apples," prosecutors to haul them into court, and an organizational structure (nothing less than a new apple barrel) conducive to policing a democratic society. But it also desperately needs good cops willing to stand up, speak out, and seize control of their own culture.

Comments

[Norm Stamper - Huffpost Blogger]

What to do about the brutality many of you have described?

Well, if you're a sheriff or a chief, a captain or a sergeant, you make it clear to your subordinates: use excessive force, find another line of work.

But what if you're on the outside looking in? Which, after 34 years in the business is where I find myself today. I'm retired. I write. I give speeches. I post. It's what I've chosen to do with the rest of my years (along with spending time with family and friends). If you're motivated to do something about police brutality here are some steps to consider.

Make yourself an expert on use of force. Study your agency's policies and practices. What's the union have to say about internal discipline? When I arrived in Seattle, my investigators were forced, by guild contract, to conduct "interviews" on paper. That's right, incredible as it sounds, no face-to-face interviews­....invest­igation by correspondence, if you will. It took time, but we finally got rid of that absurdity.

"Strength in numbers" is a cliché for a reason. Consider joining NACOLE, the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. I've attended or addressed several of their regional and national gatherings. They bring together tested experts--cops and "civilians"--who can help the bewildered outsider understand the mystique, the barriers of local law enforcement. And to bring about long overdue change.

[heromonger]

Another group you might be interested in deals directly with people who are usually the ones that end up victimized by police brutality: urban young adults. Take a look at www.99problems.org, their current focus is on police brutality. never hurts reach out.

http://www.blackplanet.com/99ProblemsDotorg/

[tbone99]

Another horrifc attack by police- on a 12 years old girl by three police offices in galveston
read it and weep -the girl has been neurologically impaired after she was attacked in her front yard mistaken for call in nearby. Police have yet to apologize.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2008/12/galveston_false_arrest.php

[Gidster]

Happened 2 years ago.

Of course Galveston called it "Appropriate"

[gaebolgaes]

every playground bully...ev­ery winer...ev­ery brownoser.­.every snitch...e­very kid i grew up with that was banned from sunday school...o­r that i was told i was not allowed to play with because they were disrespectful and obnoxious.­.wound up on the hometown police department.go figger.

[rjmiller]

I'm not going to lavish praise on you for being honest, because that's something that should just be assumed of everyone. What I want to know is what you are actively doing to combat this problem. As I see it, the primary problem is that police officers see themselves as authority figures instead of public servants. Are you lobbying police departments to change training so as to remove the indoctrination of the idea that police are above civilians, and therefore above the law? Are you trying to push for greater enforcement of punishments for police brutality and misuse of force?

The truth is that "spreading awareness" isn't going to cut it. Anyone that is even the slightest bit informed already knows about this problem, and has known about it for decades. What is being done?

[zizyphus]

LAPD...in the 50s, my uncle, a diabetic, was stumbling and the cops thought he was drunk, beat the hell out of him and threw him in jail, where he went into a diabetic coma. I wish they had thought to sue the cops, but it was back in the day before that was common.

I have only the highest admiration and respect for Norm Stamper, a man of immense courage. Police everywhere, like the military, are necessary evils. They must be watched and controlled by civilians, who are paying their salaries, and whom they are supposed to protect, not terrorize.

I wish you would come to Hilo and speak to our cops. We voted here to make busting potsmokers the lowest law enforcement priority, and the Chief of Police had a fit. He wants to keep his cash cow going.

We live in a large residential area, and yesterday while I was in the backyard, I saw county helicopters spend an hour cruising at tree top level over the neighbors backyards, looking for plants. All the dogs were barking and the sound of numerous choppers buzzing back and forth overhead finally caused me to begin feel panic, as well, and I was never in a war zone, except here, in my own backyard.

What country are we living in? What has happened to our constitutional right to privacy? We vote to make the cops do our will, and they ignore us and treat residents like criminals.

[lungfish]

Indeed, our last chief claimed - and I quote - "If you are pro-drugs or pro-marijuana you are automatically pro-terror­ist." This was Chief Mehune's comment after we voted for defacto decriminalization on the Big Island. As it is the local police are working with the DEA against MEDICAL USERS who have cards - basically the PD come to your house to look at your plants. If they are doing too well - you are allowed seven plants by the medical law - the DEA show up and cut them back or tear them out. As far as I know its against the law for the locals to work with the feds on this.
And I feel for you about the helicopters. I have had them well under 500ft looking into my windows and my neighbors and they do it with impunity. If you call the pd and go through all the referrals until you get to the DEA the just hang up on you. I have video, nobody cares. Its like the DEA has its own little fiefdom out here. Its really strange given that Hawaiian grass doesn't even leave the island.
Meanwhile its pretty clear that the island ICE problem is a direct result of the intervention of the feds in the pakalolo situation.
And, brutality and corruption drive the police forces here.....

[BlackJAC]

I repeat my original observation on the subject, with some additional clarificiation: if police brutality is really the result of an overload of frustration and anger over having to deal with the worst elements of society on a regular basis, would it be possible to find some sort of controlled outlet for that frustration? I don't mean some support group where they talk everything out, I mean taking a baseball bat to a dummy dressed like a street thug.

[tbone99]

perhaps police need to be assigned a number of days per month where they work in the community shoulder to shoulder with youth and community members so they can be reminded these people are HUMAN BEINGS , not enemies.

[orangepetal]

and vice versa

[orangepetal]

This topic IMO is one of the most important out there. Also nice to read a blog with so much sincerity and purpose.
I hope you will speak, that others will listen and that it will lead to changes. There are so many crimes, so many passioned points of view, I think only people on the inside could get the credibility one would IMO need to seriously broach this subject. Abusing authority should be unacceptable, yet a certain level of expected respect and safety precautions for service members does absolutely need to be maintained.

[Rule Of Law]

Andy, thanks for being so forthright.

Now just tell us how to prevent our public safety officers from becoming the Gestapo when the Patriot Act is invoked during civil disobedience or Union organizing marches during the coming Depression?

The thought of American law enforcement spilling the blood of innocent, unarmed American citizens, as has been done before in other times, chills my blood.

[Rule Of Law]

"Norm." Sorry.

[jmcalli]

Thank you for your honesty. I grew up in San Diego, was a college student about the same time you joined the SDPD. A friend of mine, a free spirit Vietnam war protester, was thrown into the San Diego city jail one night in 1965 for a minor infraction. Bob had was epileptic and would never hurt a fly, but that night he was beaten so badly by a jail trusty that it fractured the bones in his face and he needed many sutures. The police never pressed any charges and Bob was released the next day. He tried to sue the SDPD but they said he had fallen and injured himself. There there were no witnesses to corroborate his story. I was shocked when I saw him a couple of days after the incident. He still has the scars.

When I was living in Washington, DC I attended a party at the home of a friend. One of his guests was a Virginia policeman, drinking heavily. We were discussing something and he started arguing. Suddenly he put me in a headlock and held his revolver to my temple. It was a power display for him, a way to impress my girlfriend that he was a bigger man. Tragedy was avoided, but I wondered what kind of police deparment could tolerate him.

I disagree with your fan: You are not a "dried up, useless scrap of scrotum". You have some big cojones!

[tbone99]

Given that he was at a social event with many witnesses it 's not hard to guess how he used his power and gun privately.

With police like this who's afraid of terrorists?

[iblogleft]

You tell us where the email campaigns are, we will fill em' out and send em' in.

Tell us when you need supporters, and where too show up, a lot of us will come.

Thank you for what you do.

[FloridaMelbourne]

Please support Norm and sign up for LEAP! http://www.leap.cc
Accounts-Register.
I will do my best to make sure you get involved.

[Truby]

You are quite an impressive individual. Very unusual for someone from law enforcement to be so open to solutions that might actually work. It is always nice to read a post from an American willing to speak his mind, letting the chips fall as they may.
Best part is were you admit to being flawed, we all are but too few will admit it.

[robXdion]

You need to be preaching the lessons of your past on Foxed News and other rightwing demagoguery outlets that say blacks are just whining and making this stuff up. You're just posting to the choir and the Deacon's meeting on this site. Better yet, lobby Congress on these issues and give the Obama Administration some backbone and cover since he's obviously afraid to talk about this (see AG Holder comments) and upset white voterss so heavily in denial.

[Nommo]

New York City paid out 35 million dollars in various settlements for suits against the NYPD. If one goes back over the last 10 years, that figure gets really large. It is all taxpayer ducats. If taxpayers prefer this route over that of keeping their money, then all those things will continue to happen until one day that class action suit hits and the settlement of that matter will jar even the most detached citizens.

As long as municipalities are willing to pay...

[FloridaMelbourne]

Sage wisdom.
Let's hope we all don't have to learn the hard way that affecting a change in a culture requires kid gloves and political capital, but that we absolutely must police our own, lest it be decided that someone less qualified must police them for us.

[tomangell]

Another great post, Norm! Keep up the good blogging!

[macdarling]

What I admire, among many things, related to this post is your courageous honesty while looking at everyone's behavior. Admitting wrongdoing is a mark of courage. You are a courageous man.

What is it about our society that now rewards the actions of cruelty, greed, arrogance, and a total disdain for both the letter and the spirit of the law? Your words--from your past experience--need to be read by MANY people and not just those of us who find this post because of our admiration for the many writers showcased here.

Keep it up, Norm.

[morgan1]

In the '70, the LAPD has the reputation of their officers being Storm Troopers, it was a common fear for a civilian being stopped by one of them, to hope for the best and not become a victim of one of their trigger happy uniforms. I was friends with several (As a writer doing research for a novel), heard the tales of excessive force, threats, false arrests, disappearances into the county facility by someone who said the wrong thing to an officer, intimidation, illegal stops just to get a date from a female driver. They all laughed about it, they had the power, the uniform, the weapon and the brotherhood of the Blue Wall. Under Bush the King with No Clothes, this country became a Police State from the DHS all the way down to the local departments of police and Sheriffs. I don't know who has the worse record-- NYC ,or LAPD, but I would not want to be stopped or ask for assistance from any of them. There are hundreds of suits against various departments, dozens of payouts of what officers have done and still have their jobs. With the militarization of all law enforcement and the Feds threatening to take over control, the military to be used as an additional tool to aid and assist, I see no end in sight for this "tradition". I admire your stepping into the light, taking responsibility, becoming an activist for change and to make officers (All) accountable. Good luck.