District Attorney Sim Gill has proposed policy reform ideas for law enforcement’s use of deadly force. This is good, right?
I was alarmed witnessing the murder of George Floyd. I have been living in a bubble. I want to support Black Lives Matter. I also support the police, however, and I’m finding that the two are not compatible.
The vandalism the protesters engaged in over Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal’s death was out of line and illegal. Bernardo was armed and not complying when police shot him. This was not another Floyd case. Change is needed, but not the total abolishment of the police.
Alexis Scott, who leads the Utah chapter of Black Lives Matter, wants a civilian review board, data collection on the race of citizens that officers interact with, and consequences for officers guilty of racial profiling. Fired officers need to stay fired and not transferred. She wants to end qualified immunity, and she wants to defund the police. Most of this is good. Defunding or abolishing the police is not the answer.
There needs to be communication between Black Lives Matter and the police. It’s understandable that there is none. Scott has experienced firsthand having rubber bullets and tear gas used against her and other peaceful protesters. Demilitarization of the police is in order. The police were never meant to be used to terrorize citizens into submitting to fascism.
On the other hand, there were officers who knelt during protests. Civilians have little understanding of what policing entails. There are officers open to change. It’s time to listen now, on both sides.
Michelle Butler, West Valley City
