1

Optimism in the Face of Adversity:

Law Enforcement and Race Relations in 2020

Gregory Deger

Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership

LEPS-500: Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement and Public Safety

Professor Jeffrey Jordon

September 27, 2020

 2

The prevailing feeling throughout our country currently is that we have never been more

divided. In fact, evidence suggests it is more than just a feeling. In the recently released

documentary “The Social Dilemma”, this division is highlighted with reference to a recent Pew

Research Center study of 10,000 American adults that showed political polarization at a 20-year

high. The study showed one-third of Republicans viewed the Democratic Party as a threat to our

nation, and more than one quarter of Democrats shared the same sentiment against

Republicans (https://www.netflix.com, 2020). Amongst topics that have highlighted that division,

perhaps none is greater than race and race relations between law enforcement and the public,

particularly minorities. In the Pew Research Center article entitled “Behind the Badge”, a

majority of Police Officers said fatal Police-Black encounters are isolated incidents (67%), while

a majority of the public completely disagreed and said the encounters were indicative of a

broader problem (60%) (Morin, R. Parker, K. Mercer, A. 2017). However, as the saying goes,

the night is darkest just before the dawn. It is my sincere belief that despite the perception, law

enforcement and the public are not truly as far apart as some would suggest.

One would be hard pressed to find someone who is ready and willing to defend former

Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin’s actions in kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for 7

minutes and 46 seconds. That includes law enforcement personnel. As a law enforcement

professional, and one who networks extensively with other law enforcement professionals

around the country due to the nature of my current work assignment, I have not heard a single

person support and/or defend Mr. Chauvin’s actions. Yet, we allow mainstream new outlets to

control the narrative and keep our attention away from the most salient facts. A perfect example

of this is shown in the recent CNN article entitled, “Ex-cop: Video of George Floyd feels like a

monstrous rerun”. The author, Cedric Alexander, draws similarities between George Floyd and

Eric Garner in that they were both committing low level crimes when contacted by law

enforcement (suspected fraud, and selling loose cigarettes, respectively) (Alexander, C.L.

2020). The inference is that they did not deserve to die for such petty offenses. What is not

mentioned is that both physically resisted the police when contacted. Had Mr. Garner and Mr.
 3

Floyd followed lawful orders, the physical altercations that caused the chain reactions leading to

their deaths would likely not have happened (although in the George Floyd case, he may have

perished regardless due to the amount of fentanyl found in his system during his autopsy)

(Raguse, L. 2020). The bottom line is that a Police Officer committed a terrible act. He was fired,

then arrested, and will stand trial for his actions. The system worked, which should result in

some level of satisfaction, not cause for division. We must also reject the same biased,

inflammatory rhetoric from our elected leaders. In the same CNN article mentioned previously,

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is quoted as saying, “Being Black in America should not be a

death sentence.” Mayor Frey is indicating that our current situation is such that Police Officers

are executing Blacks simply because of their race. There is no other way to interpret that quote.

However, the facts show that despite there being 44.1 million Blacks in America in 2019, only 13

were shot while “unarmed” by Police in the same year (Stellino, M. 2020). That math works out

to 0.000029%.

Bridging the divide starts with communication in its proper form. That is to say we must

talk and listen, instead of yell and become violent. As retired police lieutenant Frank Borelli

stated in his article “Law Enforcement, George Floyd and Riots”, “…discussion about varying

opinions is a great thing. Discussion decides what is right. Violent confrontation decides who is

stronger…and that’s all,” (Borelli, F. 2020). We must make that discussion a two-way street,

instead of a one directional endeavor. We must aim to educate. Educating law enforcement on

the error of some of its past practices, as well as educating the public on how law enforcement

personnel do their jobs and the structure and functionality of the criminal justice system in its

entirety. Imagine a future where, just like with driver’s education, there was mandatory training

in high schools that taught the basics of United States law (for instance detention vs. arrest,

reasonable suspicion vs. probable cause), as well as what law enforcement are allowed to do

and how citizens should conduct themselves when interacting with police, to include how to

properly file grievances and follow-up on alleged police misconduct. Wouldn’t that be

enormously beneficial for all involved parties? Education and communication are the key.
 4

We must also, at all times, be fair. Holding all parties accountable pursuant to the laws of

our great nation. When law enforcement personnel commit criminal acts, they must be

punished. Frank Borelli, in the previously mentioned article, stated, “…we (law enforcement) are

entrusted with a special power: the authority to detain, investigate and arrest citizens in the

name of keeping the peace and maintaining public safety. ‘The public’ has the absolute right to

know how we do this and to question our actions when it seems we acted inappropriately (at

best) or criminally (at worst),” (Borelli, F. 2020). However, when “protestors” destroy and set fire

to entire city blocks, they must be punished, as well. When we aim to compromise in the

American spirit of excellence and achievement, with both sides seeking to make the other

better, we can overcome differences and turn weakness into strength. This is much easier said

than done, of course, but it is certainly achievable.

I would like to close this address with a quote from Former FBI Director James B. Comey,

spoken while delivering a speech on Law Enforcement and race relations to students and faculty at

Georgetown University in 2015. While explaining that improved relations between law enforcement

and minorities (particularly the Black community) will take action by both sides, former Director

Comey stated, “Young people in ‘those neighborhoods’ too often inherit a legacy of crime and

prison, and with that inheritance they become a part of police officer’s life and shape the way

that officer, whether White or Black, sees the world. Changing that legacy is a challenge so

enormous, and so complicated, that it is unfortunately easier to talk only about the cops, and

that’s not fair,” (www.c-span.org). Throughout history, there have been two choices for resolving

conflicts. One is diplomacy and compromise…working together. The other is struggle and

strife…working against. There are certainly times where evil needed to be confronted. See Nazi

Germany in World War II. However, when it comes to bridging the perceived divide between law

enforcement and minorities, we must not resort to violence and anger. The goal must not be to

“beat” the other side into submission. We must remember that we are all on the same team, the

team of the United States of America. We all have a vested interest in making this country the

safest and most harmonious it can be. This can only be achieved through compromise,
 5

understanding, and a reliance upon data and evidence as opposed to emotionally driven

responses. Thank you.

 6

Reference Page:

Morin, R. Parker, K. Mercer, A. (2017, January 11). Behind the Badge. Pew Research Center.

https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2017/01/11/behind-the-badge/

Alexander, C. L. (2020, May 28). Ex-cop: Video of George Floyd feels like a monstrous rerun.

CNN Opinion. https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/opinions/minneapolis-george-floyd-

video-a-horrific-rerun-alexander/index.html

Borelli, F. (2020, May 29). Law Enforcement, George Floyd and Riots. Officer.com.

https://www.officer.com/on-the-street/article/21140157/law-enforcement-george-floyd-

and-riots

C-SPAN. (2015, February 12). Law Enforcement and Race Relations – James Comey Full

Speech [Video]. C-SPAN.com. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4528067/user-clip-

james-comey-full-speech

Rhodes, L (Producer) & Orlowski, J (Director). (2020). The Social Dilemma [Video File].

Retrieved from https://www.netflix.com/watch/81254224

Stellino, M. (2020, June 23). Fact check: Police killed more unarmed Black men in 2019 than

conservative activist claimed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/

2020/06/23/fact-check-how-many-unarmed-black-men-did-police-kill-2019/5322455002/

Raguse, L. (2020, August 26). New court docs say George Floyd had “fatal level” of fentanyl in

his system. https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/george-floyd/new-court-docs-say-

george-floyd-had-fatal-level-of-fentanyl-in-his-system/89-ed69d09d-a9ec-481c-90fe-

7acd4ead3d04