The Memphis Tragedy and what Law Enforcement want us to learn from it

No one is justifying the horror that took place with Tyre Nicholas at the hands of several Police Officers in Memphis, Tennessee. The galley of outstanding Officers throughout our nation are still in shock, and embarrassed at the bad actions of a few. They know, like the majority of Americans know, what unfolded is not a true reflection on the heart and quality of service of Law Enforcement in America. 

Any wise, critical-thinking citizen should be asking deeper questions beyond the fervor and click-bait headlines. We need to step back and ask ourselves, “This is so out of character of law enforcement: what happened? How did this scenario manifest and develop? What can we learn from it as citizens who appreciate the service of Law Enforcement?” 

​As a civilian who is not shy about her support of police, I am 100 miles away from truly understanding the day to day job of Law Enforcement Officers. Personally, I believe that 98.99% of Officers are outstanding civic servants and community members. They - more than anyone else - want the ill-behaved officers off the job. 

We as concerned citizens need to be asking: what did we do to allow Law Enforcement Departments to become so vulnerable? We should be asking: 
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• Our Local Sheriff and Police Chiefs: how are you doing, what do you need to build your own department morale right now? Also, what do you know that we do not know? How can we - even as citizens - learn from this? 
• Our local county commissions and city councils (who oversee budgets for Police Departments): are we giving our Law Enforcement Officers all they need to hire the best of the best? Do we need to increase budgets and give back pensions (where applicable) to departments? Do we need to raise money to give Officers more training? 
• Those who know the field better than we do: were these Officers in Memphis too young?  Did they need more training? Were their red flags on their personal behavior months before? What was the roadblock to remove them off the street sooner? 

Officers are in low supply right now which forces departments to hire “less than ideal” candidates. Officers are retiring earlier than normal; this means departments’ senior officers are younger and less experienced in oversight and accountability. Good officers are departing the job for better paying scenarios or due to lack of a pension. In some cases, standards have lowered: officers in key positions may not have the ideal amount of training that is crucial to their tasks, like for a special unit division. 

The burden of what happened in Memphis is heavy on all departments across the nation. They know that their officers are better than this and that they need to figure out how to make sure this never happens again.

It is imperative that we as citizens acknowledge the importance of training, and that there is a great cost to having well trained Law Enforcement. Right now departments are extremely strapped for resources. As caring communities, we must find out what Law Enforcement leaders say is needed and then rally to get them the tools, facilities, and opportunities that will aid them in preparing their officers. More quality real world training will help create and grow a greater culture of service and excellence.

Officers need our support and the support of those who oversee their budget (the elected leaders). Let us as citizens not shirk our duty at this moment: we need to be asking hard questions of the elected leaders who have been limiting Officers’ budgets, training, resources, and pensions for a long time. It is time that we as a state - and a nation - get Officers all they need and more so that this Memphis tragedy does not happen again. 

We have a plethora of ideas for how people can rally around Law Enforcement at www.policeweekmichigan.com