The Sandra Bland arrest has been a real eye opener for me. It was probably not a big surprise for the African-American community. But after the Freddie Gray taken for a ride death in Baltimore, the cop who shot Walter Scott, an unarmed man, in the back in Charleston, and now Sandra Bland is just remindful of the systemic issue of rogue cops that exist in our police forces.
It’ s akin to the Catholic Church and their rogue priests that molested children for decades and the church leaders looked the other way, did transfers and covered up the crimes. In the 1970s there was a cop named Frank Serpico who outed the corruption of cops on the take in New York City. But how many years have we put up with cops that abuse innocent people just because they have the power. And the “Wall of Blue” has a code of silence that does not out their rogue members.
What is the actual percentage of cops in our police forces that act in a non-professional manner in their daily routines? Is it 5%, 10%, 20%? I once served on a committee for a local community event. It involved the local town officials, fire department, public works, police department, and volunteers. And I was talking with one of the town fathers about what each role the government units would play. We got around to the police department which was assigned security, parking, traffic, and safety issues. And he was preparing me for the fact of all the government units the police department would have its own set of priorities and would just beat to a different drummer. Cooperation would be a problem. And he was right. If the police chief had his way we would not have the event at all.
I once intended to fly into the White Plains, New York airport. For some reason maybe the flight was cancelled I ended up at LaGuardia Airport. But the airline arranged for me and other passengers to be driven to White Plains or other destinations. The limo driver was an off duty cop. He proceeded to exceed any speed limit and when we got into some communities he ran red lights. And he would wave his badge to any fellow cop he saw on our reckless trip.
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And then we have Sandra Bland where a rogue cop seem to be trolling while on traffic patrol for young women. Making a very fast illegal U-turn just so he can catch up to Sandra's car. Then proceeding to speed up behind her making her think she needs to pull over to let him pass by. But it was only a ruse to get her to failure to make a lane signal change. How long has he been doing that trick?
Ten years ago a Frank Jude, a convicted felon and biracial, was at a party in Milwaukee and was accused of stealing a badge from one of the police officers in attendance. Several police beat Jude severely and it took a newspaper investigation to bring this to light and have the police officers finally arrested. Even though they were acquitted in state court they were eventually convicted in Federal Court and some of these cops are still behind bars. Jude received a $2,000,000 settlement.
Ten Years After: Frank Jude beaten by Milwaukee police a decade ago
Here in Wisconsin with all the union fights, Scott Walker exempted the police and fire unions from any effects of Act 10. No one is willing to take on the police departments for some reason.
And what happens today? Cops are walking free after their criminal actions. It’s time for society to take back our police departments and that they are there to serve the public and not be the bullies they have become.