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News & ArtsMonday, January 17, 2011
City The Guardian: "City Sponsored Racial Profiling?"
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Last week, we posted several excerpts of The Guardian, the Seattle Police Department union's print-only newspaper by and for cops, which ventilates some incendiary commentary about local policing and politics. Several people have distanced themselves from these cops, including the mayor (who says there isn't "room in this city" for cops with these views).
Here's a quote one of them, by Officer Steve Pomper of the East Precinct, reflecting on how colleagues responded to his columns and then decrying race and social justice programs in a piece titled "City Sponsored Racial Profiling?"
Officers have responded to me enthusiastically, regarding this year’s Guardian columns pertaining to Seattle government’s radical drive to replace equal justice with social justice. The many police officers I’ve heard from have had visceral responses to those in Seattle who want to institute socialistic initiatives and policies in the community they serve and protect.[…]
[One Seattle Police officer] officer pointed out, “Isn’t that racial profiling?” At that moment three things occurred to me: Yes it is, why didn’t I talk to you before I wrote that last article, and lastly, why the hell didn’t I think of it? Seems obvious, but perhaps we’re being so inundated with this extremist, progressive agenda, nationally and locally, sometimes we miss the obvious.
More Pomper after the jump.
Yes, by Jove, it is racial profiling, indeed — and in fact. Don’t you love the irony? After many years of the City and community activist groups unsuccessfully attempting to prove that Seattle police officers are guilty of racially profiling its citizens (and non-citizens), the City offers proof that it’s the one racially profiling, and further, it even wants to pass laws and implement policies to support it. Amazing!So, now we have to ask ourselves, is it okay to racially profile as long as an individual (I know, individual is a bad word in the social justice vernacular — collectivists please bear with me) benefits, by virtue of his or her inclusion in a specific racial, ethnic, or other “victim” group?
At the request of the police guild, links to full articles from The Guardian have been removed from this post.
1
Reminds me of Seattleblues in his uncritical recital of bullshit rightwing propaganda. Who said rhetoric doesn't have consequences?
2
Go read back issues (From October '09 on back) online via Google Cache:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/se…
Warning: most issues are boring as hell - standard church bulletin fare. There's a lot of sort-of creepy ads from real estate agents. Memorials for fallen officers, retirement party recaps, etc... And then occasional article from the editor or guest blaming the departments problems on the city, the citizens, the criminals, the immigrants...
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/se…
Warning: most issues are boring as hell - standard church bulletin fare. There's a lot of sort-of creepy ads from real estate agents. Memorials for fallen officers, retirement party recaps, etc... And then occasional article from the editor or guest blaming the departments problems on the city, the citizens, the criminals, the immigrants...
3
The original coverage made it seem like the guild ( who I generally dislike anyway ) seem like a bunch of good ole boys complaining about coloreds and their causes having too much sway.
This post makes it sound like they are complaining about having to give so much berth to minorities that they have no choice *but* to profile them as to appease interest groups. which lessens their ability to just treat everyone equally.
This post makes it sound like they are complaining about having to give so much berth to minorities that they have no choice *but* to profile them as to appease interest groups. which lessens their ability to just treat everyone equally.
4
Its amazing that a liberal city like ours is policed by Tea Party Types. Yes, I know, I know , not all. But certainly a lot hold the view of the Guardian.
As long as the police force does not live in the city where they work, you will always have this problem. I would guess 80% of Seattle's police force does not live here. Yes, I know most do their job and go home and dont hold any disdain for its poorer citizens, but a lot do and a lot view some of these cities neighborhoods with suspicion. Shouldnt a city police force be from that city?
The SPD's guild is just another tea party like organization and the silence of the rank and file just makes them stronger. I dont hear other cops publicly denouncing or saying the Guardian doesnt represent their view. The only ones doing it are the mayor, politicians and chiefs.
Holden there is a bigger story here. Just saying. Might be worth it to keep digging. But thank you for these posts.
As long as the police force does not live in the city where they work, you will always have this problem. I would guess 80% of Seattle's police force does not live here. Yes, I know most do their job and go home and dont hold any disdain for its poorer citizens, but a lot do and a lot view some of these cities neighborhoods with suspicion. Shouldnt a city police force be from that city?
The SPD's guild is just another tea party like organization and the silence of the rank and file just makes them stronger. I dont hear other cops publicly denouncing or saying the Guardian doesnt represent their view. The only ones doing it are the mayor, politicians and chiefs.
Holden there is a bigger story here. Just saying. Might be worth it to keep digging. But thank you for these posts.
5
Notice this right wing douchebag is in the East Precinct. Awesome placement.
The Mayor and Council need to do something about the right wing steroid fueled storm troopers we arm and give a complete license to kill. Quick. They're lumping "progressives" in with minorities now, which means they'll start shooting and beating us with impunity soon too.
The Mayor and Council need to do something about the right wing steroid fueled storm troopers we arm and give a complete license to kill. Quick. They're lumping "progressives" in with minorities now, which means they'll start shooting and beating us with impunity soon too.
6
I can't say I was impressed by Officer Pomper's writing style. He strikes me as the sort who likes the sound of his own voice too much. But he claims the city set up a special layer of bureaucracy to prevent racial minorities from being fined for traffic violations. If this is true would you sloggers really be in favor of it? Don't you think Pomper's claims warrant just a little investigation?
7
I don't think this story is particularly helpful in bringing together Seattle's police force with its constituents. That's not to say it's bad journalism, but it's clearly written from the angle that the opinions in The Guardian are not that out of line with the SPD as a whole.
These Tea Party-ish opinions, in my book, are all about blowing off steam. Officers get pissed off, and who can blame them? It seems like a really hard job, where no money or benefits on earth could really pay them what they're worth. And they seem to feel that Seattle is ungrateful, even antagonistic towards them. We can sit around all day talking about who is right and who is wrong, but I believe progressive organizations and business owners need to reach out to the police force -- not as people trying to condescendingly teach them progressive politics, but just as community members who want to support them. Maybe that just means making them cookies. I believe those small actions would go a long way towards building a bridge between two cultures that are clearly never going to see eye to eye but need to figure out how to get along.
These Tea Party-ish opinions, in my book, are all about blowing off steam. Officers get pissed off, and who can blame them? It seems like a really hard job, where no money or benefits on earth could really pay them what they're worth. And they seem to feel that Seattle is ungrateful, even antagonistic towards them. We can sit around all day talking about who is right and who is wrong, but I believe progressive organizations and business owners need to reach out to the police force -- not as people trying to condescendingly teach them progressive politics, but just as community members who want to support them. Maybe that just means making them cookies. I believe those small actions would go a long way towards building a bridge between two cultures that are clearly never going to see eye to eye but need to figure out how to get along.
8
@4 Yes, you nailed it. Make 'em live here if they want to work here. My guess is that some of these bad seeds wouldn't even be part of the force if that requirement was in place, because they'd have to live around and interact with our diverse, progressive population, and that might just be too much for someone like Officer Pomper to deal with.
9
@8: There are plenty of right wing people sprinkled around Seattle, and they tend to just dig in their heels and think of themselves as a persecuted minority. There are probably a lot of officers who would like to live near the city, though, and we should offer them the opportunity, financially, to be able to live within Seattle city limits.
10
8%of the population, blacks, commit 60% of Seattle's murders. That's not profiling, that's called a fact.
11
@10: Are you insinuating that police officers are being instructed to let black people they believe are murderers go free? That's a pretty big claim.
12
@11 I think the point he was making is that the cops would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't subject african-americans to great scrutiny. I once asked an african-american police officer if he ever racially profiled young black males. He answered "Well of course, I wouldn't catch many bad guys if I didn't."
13
@4, @8
Except that it is against State law to require public employees to live in the communities they serve.
Imagine requiring a Clyde Hill cop to live in Clyde Hill. . . . .
How many thousands of dollars an hour would you need to pay him to be able to afford a home?
Except that it is against State law to require public employees to live in the communities they serve.
Imagine requiring a Clyde Hill cop to live in Clyde Hill. . . . .
How many thousands of dollars an hour would you need to pay him to be able to afford a home?
14
@13 is correct, we can't force police officers to live in the City. We tried that a number of years ago and it didn't get anywhere. These yahoos also have free speech rights so they can't be singled out for any type of punishment or harassment for what they write in the Guardian. Successful management can make people like Pomper want to leave, want to find a different employer. That can be done, but it is difficult and I have my doubts that the SPD administration is up to the task.
16
@14 for the current force you're right, you can not make em. But Im thinking upstream , long term real solution. the city, the employer can certainly make it a requirement, condition of your employment that you live here. the city certainly as an employer have that right, you as a candidate don't have a residency right under any law.
17
If you have read the Guardian over the years, as I have, you would have seen a fairly consistant attitude of "it's us against them." The us is the police and the them is everyone else. The them is also city government. That's a position held by right wing groups like the T.P.s, neo Nazis, John Birchers etc. All one has to know to join these groups is government is bad, ACLU is bad, NRA is good. The strange thing is that police are a part of government. They take their pay from you and me.
I'm not saying that all police hold this attitude, they don't. I should know, I was one. But the ones who do, seem to rise to the top or at least hold positions where they can run their mouths. Dissenting views in the department aren't, for the most part, well received. It's the "ain't it awful" crowd who get the ink in the Guardian.
As for living in the City, why would the group that hates this "Socialist" city live here? They drive in the collect a check then leave. Granted, they do a job, an often times dangerous and thankless job, but don't a lot of others?
Just know that the attitude isn't going to change any time soon. Until those in the department who don't hold the "ain't it awful" and "it's us against them" find back bones and their voices, it will stay the way it is. And that goes for the City government as well. Getting the endorsement of the Guild should not be the path to election.
I'm not saying that all police hold this attitude, they don't. I should know, I was one. But the ones who do, seem to rise to the top or at least hold positions where they can run their mouths. Dissenting views in the department aren't, for the most part, well received. It's the "ain't it awful" crowd who get the ink in the Guardian.
As for living in the City, why would the group that hates this "Socialist" city live here? They drive in the collect a check then leave. Granted, they do a job, an often times dangerous and thankless job, but don't a lot of others?
Just know that the attitude isn't going to change any time soon. Until those in the department who don't hold the "ain't it awful" and "it's us against them" find back bones and their voices, it will stay the way it is. And that goes for the City government as well. Getting the endorsement of the Guild should not be the path to election.
18
Having read the article I can’t seem to find the "uncritical recital of bullshit rightwing propaganda?” Isn’t he quoting the 14th admendment? Isn’t equal protection equal?
@12 "the point he was making is that the cops would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't subject african-americans to great scrutiny.”
I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion, please explain??
I grew up in Seattle, used to take the bus from SeaTac to the kingdome to watch the Mariners as an 11 y/o. I wouldn’t let my 16 y/o walk around the block in SeaTac now. I moved away from Seattle for 19 years, I brought the family back to Seattle to see the Mariners in the new Stadium and parked in the parking lot by the viaduct. Our car was broken into all $300 worth of birthday toys was stolen along with my wife’s purse. The credit card was used an hour after we reported it stolen (oh by the way the SPD wouldn’t send an officer because they don’t do that for robberies, there are too many they say) it was a Black American (video). I have had over $15,000 worth of merchandise stolen from cars, houses and rooms on ships. I have two videos and one thief was caught, all were Black Americans, I am not a racists nor is my family we have gone to great lengths to ensure they never feel like that. This SPD officer is not promoting an agenda other than “equal protection under law” I want that equal protection for my family!
@12 "the point he was making is that the cops would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't subject african-americans to great scrutiny.”
I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion, please explain??
I grew up in Seattle, used to take the bus from SeaTac to the kingdome to watch the Mariners as an 11 y/o. I wouldn’t let my 16 y/o walk around the block in SeaTac now. I moved away from Seattle for 19 years, I brought the family back to Seattle to see the Mariners in the new Stadium and parked in the parking lot by the viaduct. Our car was broken into all $300 worth of birthday toys was stolen along with my wife’s purse. The credit card was used an hour after we reported it stolen (oh by the way the SPD wouldn’t send an officer because they don’t do that for robberies, there are too many they say) it was a Black American (video). I have had over $15,000 worth of merchandise stolen from cars, houses and rooms on ships. I have two videos and one thief was caught, all were Black Americans, I am not a racists nor is my family we have gone to great lengths to ensure they never feel like that. This SPD officer is not promoting an agenda other than “equal protection under law” I want that equal protection for my family!
19
Having read the article I can’t seem to find the "uncritical recital of bullshit rightwing propaganda?” Isn’t he quoting the 14th admendment? Isn’t equal protection equal?
@12 "the point he was making is that the cops would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't subject african-americans to great scrutiny.”
I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion, please explain??
I grew up in Seattle, used to take the bus from SeaTac to the kingdome to watch the Mariners as an 11 y/o. I wouldn’t let my 16 y/o walk around the block in SeaTac now. I moved away from Seattle for 19 years, I brought the family back to Seattle to see the Mariners in the new Stadium and parked in the parking lot by the viaduct. Our car was broken into all $300 worth of birthday toys was stolen along with my wife’s purse. The credit card was used an hour after we reported it stolen (oh by the way the SPD wouldn’t send an officer because they don’t do that for robberies, there are too many they say) it was a Black American (video). I have had over $15,000 worth of merchandise stolen from cars, houses and rooms on ships. I have two videos and one thief was caught, all were Black Americans, I am not a racists nor is my family we have gone to great lengths to ensure they never feel like that. This SPD officer is not promoting an agenda other than “equal protection under law” I want that equal protection for my family!
@12 "the point he was making is that the cops would be pretty damn stupid if they didn't subject african-americans to great scrutiny.”
I’m not sure how you came to that conclusion, please explain??
I grew up in Seattle, used to take the bus from SeaTac to the kingdome to watch the Mariners as an 11 y/o. I wouldn’t let my 16 y/o walk around the block in SeaTac now. I moved away from Seattle for 19 years, I brought the family back to Seattle to see the Mariners in the new Stadium and parked in the parking lot by the viaduct. Our car was broken into all $300 worth of birthday toys was stolen along with my wife’s purse. The credit card was used an hour after we reported it stolen (oh by the way the SPD wouldn’t send an officer because they don’t do that for robberies, there are too many they say) it was a Black American (video). I have had over $15,000 worth of merchandise stolen from cars, houses and rooms on ships. I have two videos and one thief was caught, all were Black Americans, I am not a racists nor is my family we have gone to great lengths to ensure they never feel like that. This SPD officer is not promoting an agenda other than “equal protection under law” I want that equal protection for my family!
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