You and I have heard much about the fact that most black parents have “the talk” with their children. “The talk” being what to do and how to act when confronted or stopped by police. (Here is what I mean.)
The purpose? To keep their children safe and out of harms way.
I think there is another “talk” that needs to happen; an ongoing conversation between police and citizens of color with regard to expectations, trust and respect.
I recently ran across this excellent training video from the California POST program. It bears our discussion — and action!
I served over 20 years as the chief of police in Madison (WI), four years as chief of the Burnsville (MN) Police Department, and before that as a police officer in Edina (MN) and the City of Minneapolis. I hold graduate degrees from the University of Minnesota and Edgewood College in Madison. I have written many articles over my years as a police leader calling for police improvement (for example, How To Rate Your Local Police, and with my wife, Sabine, Quality Policing: The Madison Experience). After retiring from the police department, I answered a call to ministry, attended seminary, and was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. At the present time, I serve a small church in North Lake (WI), east of Madison. Sabine and I have nine adult children, eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also a retired police officer and we both continue active lives.
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You and I have heard much about the fact that most black parents have “the talk” with their children. “The talk” being what to do and how to act when confronted or stopped by police. (Here is what I mean.)
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 
Reblogged this on World4Justice : NOW! Lobby Forum..
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