Understanding that just because someone wears a blue uniform doesn’t automatically make them a ‘good’ person is something society is lacking. Society can’t get past the idea that not all cops are good, but cops are supposed to be good - not problematic and abuse their power. We don’t focus on the “good things” cops do because that’s in their job description. When cops do awful, prejudice based acts - yes it's going to be televised, yes people are going to pick it apart, yes it’s going to get ugly. Cops pick and choose who they decide to protect, and often their protection doesn’t encompass minority communities.
Men and women of color and the LGBTQ community are shamed, killed or injured. Especially black trans women, who are most at risk for being subjected to violence against police officers. Every year trans black women are killed and their killers (cops or others) are protected by either the police bureau or our culture and never held accountable. Society holds some lives higher than others and considers them of more value.
Police are aware of the hostility these certain groups face, yet cops help perpetuate this violence even further. There have been reports made by individuals in the LGBTQ community stating they faced more opposition, indifference and hostility from cops for coming forward with their testimonies of violence. As this discrimination continues, LGBTQ people continue to not report violence and this mistrust will continue to lead to survivors of violence not getting justice or help.
Society already has the habit of re-traumatizing survivors, often even blaming them for putting themselves in certain positions. In minoritized communities, cops often punish survivors for being victims. There has been outrage that LGBTQ and communties of color have been arrested and charged for defending themselves against violence. Since homophobia, transphobia, sexism (and more) is clearly still prominent, these are driving motivations in targeting young, black trans on the street. This system works against minoritized groups, never allowing justice or healing for those who have suffered. Cops shouldn’t be able to pick and choose who they defend and fight for, protecting and serving is meant for society as a whole.
My father was a police officer and growing up I watched him bring his work home with him. I would overhear conversations about the injustices and lack of resources people faced and how he didn’t understand the hate that drove the violence. He wanted to be a “good cop” but ultimately he couldn’t fight against the bad cops anymore. His heart broke when he realized being a cop wasn’t what he once thought it was. There is hate, politics, bias and too much money involved in police work. The bottom line is, police are meant to protect everyone. Until ALL cops are good cops, and treat all of society equally, there will be no change in how police officers abuse their power. This is an institutional problem, it happens from within the police system. Everything the police system upholds and maintains is systematically and directly linked to violence against highly marginalized minorities.
Lopez. “‘Walking While Trans’: How Transgender Women of Color Are Profiled.” Vox, Vox, 21 July 2015, www.vox.com/2015/7/21/9010093/walking-while-transgender.
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