Police Reform: Why Now?

The year 2020 will be remembered as “The Year of COVID-19”.  COVID-19 did what no man could do.  It shut down the world. 

 During this time of death, sickness, economic setbacks, fear, deprivation, stress, and social isolation, came time to reflect on what really matters in life.  We learned how to care for family and friends, from a distance.  The fortunate among us learned to grow gardens, to cook, and to enjoy their homes.  Just as the world began to adjust to the slower pace and the new normal, the world witnessed the killing of George Floyd.  The virus took away life’s distractions.  You had to focus on what you witnessed.  You had to confront your comfortability.  Children watched in horror and parents had to grasp for answers to their question, “Why did the police officer hold his knee on his neck?”.  What once could have been ignored as someone else’s problem, or the police were just doing their job, was now a world community issue with many questions and very few answers.    

 Now is the time for police to initiate the dialogue and answer questions regarding how the killing of George Floyd was due, in part, to the tacit approval of police using deadly chokeholds to subdue individuals.   Now is the time for police to initiate change in their organizations to be admired as protectors rather than feared as warriors.  Now is the time for police to become change agents to promote integrity and valor.  Now is the time for police to confront the cries to defund the police with real solutions that demonstrate their dedication to the communities they serve.  Now is the time for police to become the professionals that future generations should aspire to be for decades to come.       

 So why police reform now?  Because we all deserve better.