As I watch the racial tensions in the USA between their law enforcement agencies and black communities, I can only wonder if there will ever be a solution. Not that a solution isn’t possible, it’s just the gap between the two sides seem so wide, with opinions so different and passionate, it’s hard to believe they’ll ever make any progress. Despite all of the negative press showing a handful of thugs and racists, it’s pretty safe to assume the ones getting all the camera time do not represent an entire race or profession. Just as all black people shouldn’t be viewed as defiant or confrontational with police, I don’t believe all police officers should be viewed as racists. The recent deaths of several black men have been nothing short of dismal, and something has to be done to prevent another tragic loss of life? A good start would be to acknowledge that no side is without their share of unfortunate casualties, and all sides desperately need to find a solution.

Media Coverage: is there a double standard… are police victims of racism as well?

As media outlets use racial headlines to exploit authorities and provoke community groups when a civilian is killed, their approach is the exact opposite when reporting the fatality of a law enforcement officer. Race is never mentioned and headlines are limited to politically correct statements. Not that there’s anything wrong with that; lawmakers would much rather maintain calm and peace, even when it involves their own, but it does show a double standard seldom mentioned. As community’s protest and demand retribution for fatalities at the hand of authorities, often resulting in increased tensions and hostility, the same is not true after the death of a law enforcement officer. Their fatalities typically result in uniformed personnel sombrely lining up in solidarity during the funeral procession, and then it quickly becomes yesterday’s news.

Below are just a handful of examples of white officers killed in 2014 and their headlines. In each case I’ve identified the suspects’ color, but only to illustrate that if you simply looked at these statistics you could argue that white officers are being targeted by black men. Even though that’s a completely inaccurate statement, it emphasizes the power of using select information, headlines, and media coverage to either defuse or escalate events. Crime is crime and comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. There are plenty of examples of white suspects; the point is not to divide issues between the two colors, rather to argue they both exist.

November 16^th, 32 year old Police Officer Justin Winebrenner was shot by Kenan Ivery, a 35 year old black man who was asked to leave a bar for being unruly. Ivery returned later and killed Winebrenner, who’s death left behind a wife and 4 year old daughter. Headline: ‘Off Duty Officer Killed During Altercation in Akron Bar’.

September 3^rd, 32 year old Police Officer Daryl Pierson was shot by Thomas Johnson III, a 38 year old black man who was fleeing police after a traffic stop. Pierson left behind a wife and two children, ages 3 months and 4 years old. Headline: ‘Rochester Police Officer Killed While On Duty’.

23 year old Rookie Officer Melvin Santiago (left) was ambushed and executed by Lawrence Campbell (right)

July 14^th, 23 year old Rookie Officer Melvin Santiago was ambushed and executed by Lawrence Campbell, a 27 year old black man who moments earlier had told people to watch the news because he was about to become famous. The community actually set up a make-shift memorial for Campbell. His wife claimed police stood over him like a dog and he should have killed more of them. Headline: ‘Police Officer Shot and Killed While Responding To Robbery’.

July 6^th, Patrolman Jeffrey Westerfield was shot on his 47^th birthday by Carl Blount, a 25 year old black man. Westerfield was responding to a report of gun shots and still sitting in his patrol car when Blount killed him. He left behind a fiancé and 4 daughters. Headline; ‘Gary Police Office Found Shot Dead in Patrol Car’.

July 5^th, 51 year old Officer Perry Renn was shot by Major Davis Jr., a 25 year old black man wielding an AK47 rifle as officer responded to a backyard BBQ. Renn actually held his fire because women and children were present, even though Davis was pointing the AK47 at him. Headline; ’Indianapolis Police Officer Perry Renn Killed in Shootout With Suspect’.

March 31^st, 22 year old Officer Alexander Thalmann was shot by Bryan “Fluke” Stallings, a 35 year old black man who ran away from police when they stopped to question him. Thalmann suffered a fatal bullet to the face while chasing Stallings. Headline: ’New Bern Police Officer Shot, Killed During Chase’.

November 1^st, 45 year old Constable Robert White was killed by Devon Huerta-Person, a 19 year old black man. White was clearing out a haunted house when Person punched him in the face, fatally wounding him. Constable White left behind a wife and 4 children. Headline; ‘Texas Sheriff’s Constable Killed During Brawl’.

April 9^th, 38 year old Officer Dennis Guerra was critically injured and later died from a fire set by Marcell Dockery, a 16 year old black youth who said he was bored. Guerra and his partner were the first responders to the fire and overtaken with fumes and toxins on the 13^th floor of an 18 story apartment building in Coney Island. He left behind a wife and four children. Headline ‘NYPD Officer in Brooklyn Fires Dies’.

If anyone in the US Military family is killed abroad, the entire country rallies around the loss. After all, anyone wearing an American uniform is there to serve and protect, and should be respected. Unfortunately, the same respect is not always extended to uniformed men and women on home soil. In 2014 there were 121 law enforcement officers’ deaths in the USA; that’s more than twice the amount of American Military fatalities. To put it in perspective, there were 5 fatalities in Canada, and 3 of those were at the hands of one maniac; the other two were the result of a car accident and heart attack.

So how do you reduce racial tensions?

In order to determine a possible solution, let’s start by removing the emotions, colour, and history leading up to the latest issues, and try to view the events objectively. Could some of the most recent clashes have been avoided or defused before they spun out of control?

One of the latest high profile events was the tragic choking death of Eric Garner. The Media headlines everywhere read; ‘Unarmed Black Man Choked to Death by NY Police Officer’. The video evidence and Coroner’s report were both clear; the man was choked and died as a result of the incident. However, the headline could have just as easily read; “Man with Health Conditions Died from Choke Hold While Resisting Arrest”. On one hand you have a cop using excessive force, on the other you have a group of cops who would have been relieved if Garner would have just cooperated. What if he simply allowed the officers to arrest him? There would have been no headlines at all or any reason to video tape the event. It looked like such a minor offense; he would have likely paid a small fine for selling cigarettes and been home in time for dinner.

The Michael Brown incident was one of the most heated in quite a while; setting off riots, vandalism, and destruction that divided both a community and a nation. As arguments were made from all sides on who was to blame, the media kept the intensity up with massive coverage and headlines that read; ‘Unarmed Black Teen Shot to Death by White Police Officer’. After reading the Grand Jury’s findings and from what was reported in the press, the headlines could have just as easily read: “Robbery Suspect Shot Dead After Assaulting Police Officer”? Would things have escalated or spun out of control if Brown simply went to the sidewalk and off the road as he was asked to do by the officer? Again, there would have been no headlines, no riot, no destruction, and absolutely… no death.

Headlines in the recent Rumain Brisbon case read; ‘Unarmed Black Man Killed by White Police Officer’. One friend of the victim said he was just getting dinner for his family, and a community leader claimed it was open season on black men. The event and comments outraged the black community and many marched to Police Headquarters in protest. Was this really the case and were authorities out of line? Could Brisbon’s death have been avoided? Police were told Brisbon was engaged in a drug deal while sitting in his car. When approached by the police and asked to show his hands; he didn’t comply and ran when the officer drew his weapon. When asked to get on the ground he refused and was eventually shot while scuffling with the same officer. The headline could have alternatively read ‘Fleeing Suspect Killed While Scuffling With Police’. From a distance you have to ask; if he’s simply out getting food for his kids, why wouldn’t he just identify himself to police and move on? Not only would Brisbon have fed his children, but he’d still be alive today.

The internet is inundated with press releases and YouTube videos showing negative headlines, some with profane titles; all illustrating police confrontations where things have intensified. In almost every case, situations were escalated out of control when they could have been defused by the person(s) involved cooperating with the authorities. It would have made the videos less interesting, but they would have ended better. As Media thrive on juicy headlines, community leaders cry foul, talk show host’s try to increase ratings, and politicians determine which argument is most popular; any potential for a resolution appears to be at a stalemate. The answer seems simple to someone watching it all unfold from a distance; there needs to be less sensationalizing from the media, more respect between police authorities and the people in their communities, as well an increase in compliance. I understand respect has to be earned and law enforcement agencies, like many professions, have their share of irritable mavericks. However, it appears if we just cooperated more and challenged police less… there would be no need for big headlines, racial tensions would be reduced, and chances are pretty good everyone would go home alive. Isn’t that the outcome we are all looking for?

What do you think?