History Matters

Here are some general resources on the long history of mistrust between the police and communities of color. As you view and read we encourage you to make connections between the historical past and our contemporary moment. Are there things to learn from this history?

Chief Tony Bouza speaks about the disconnect that can exist between officers and the public. Police Tapes 1977.

Chief Charles Ramsey TedTalk discussing the history of policing and the need for law enforcement needs to shift its perceived mission from one of enforcing the law to one of protecting the rights of all.

editorial by Dr. Yohuru Williams reflecting on what the history of police violence and racial protests can tell us about the present. HuffPost, Jun 29, 2015

Perspectives from Law Enforcement Professionals

Those employed in law enforcement are a wide and diverse group that include police, troopers and sheriffs; investigators, detectives and special agents; and guards, parole officers and civilian operators. They can be found in local, state, county and federal organizations, under independent and sometimes overlapping jurisdictions, with their own training and engagement protocols. There is no singular voice of law enforcement and no one way to characterize how people in those professions think. Here are a few voices that have attempted to help others understand the danger and fear that officers face in the line of duty.

A look at the dangers deputies face. Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV, Apr 6, 2018

TEDx Tryon Talk by law enforcement veteran Dean Crisp, on repairing the often rocky relationship between law enforcement and those they protect and serve. Oct 19, 2016

TEDx Northbrook Library Talk by former officer Shannon Spalding, who, as an undercover narcotics officer with the Chicago Police Department, exposed a ring of corrupt law enforcement agents who terrorized the South Side housing projects of Chicago. July 25, 2018

Conversation with current and former law enforcement officers about "defunding the police," and what reforms they believe are needed to improve relations between them and the communities they serve. PBS NewsHour, April 14, 2021

Legal Considerations

Here are a few resources that document the legal protections extended to police in the United States? As you familiarize yourself with these, here are a few additional things to consider: What are the specific protections extended to police in your community? Is it time to reconsider the legal protections we have extended to police as we seek more equity in the criminal justice system? Are there other means that might balance the socially desirable goal of protecting officers in the performance of their duties with the equally legitimate desire to deter police brutality?

Community Resources

Wondering how to respond during an encounter with police? In the aftermath of a troubling incident involving police? So are others! Here are some helpful resources. What might be an effective strategy for your community? What constituents would you need to engage? 

Reimagining What’s Possible: Next Steps

Here are a few resources on reimaging policing from a number of different perspectives. Which of these seems most promising to you? Which would you adopt and why? What obstacles or challenges do you foresee? How might you address these?

Suggested Books & Films

Here are a few books and films that explore the issue of race and policing. How might these be used to foster greater understanding and conversation on the issue? What films, documentaries, or books would you add and why?

Fiction

• Beacon House Writers, The Day Tajon Got Shot (2017)

• Walter Dean Myers, Monster (2001)

Films

• Do the Right Thing, 1989 

• Fruitvale Station, 2013 

• Jason’s Letter, 2018

Non-Fiction

• Paul Butler, Chokehold: Policing Black Men (2018)

• Rosa Brooks, Tangled Up in Blue: Policing the American City (2021)

• Michael Quinn, Walking with the Devil: The Police Code of Silence (2004)