The recent video highlighting an interaction between Phoenix Police and a family member is inexcusable. At the same time, the rest of the almost 3000 member department were having appropriate, compassionate interactions. As an LEOW, I fear my husband will be targeted for the behavior of the few rather than his own.
Like many, I’ve seen the video. I wasn’t aware it existed until one of my co-workers asked me what I thought of it. I’ll admit I saw it pop up either on social media or a news notification but didn’t take the time to watch after just a brief glance at the headline. The way it was phrased lead me to believe it was another anti-police rant and I just wasn’t into seeing one more narrative deepening the divide between “us and them” regardless of who was the us and who was the them that day. When my co-worker mentioned it while we were waiting to brief as part of our city police department’s Community Outreach and Response Team (CORT), it made me wonder if it was somehow related to my best friend’s text earlier that day about DPS bringing their comfort dogs down to dispatch. She had mentioned it was because things were tough after the video. So, I watched it.
A bystander filmed an interaction between Phoenix (AZ) police officers and a family: dad, mom (who was pregnant) and their 4 year old and 1 year old daughters. So many of the details including what happened before are still unclear. The video was released due to the family suing the police department. There are also questions about whether the officer’s reports are accurate. None of us know all the facts. That will be up to the courts and IA to determine. What I do know is that the officers’ behavior appeared inappropriate, Seemingly out of control, both handled the situation in ways that are not in line with good policing and certainly don’t reflect the majority of police-citizen interactions. I was horrified.
After watching the video, I watched Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams’ interview on Channel 12. I thought she was well-spoken and fair, not only to the citizens but also to the officers reminding everyone that this is an on-going investigation and we don’t know all the facts yet. She assured the audience that the officers involved were not having face-to-face interactions with community members while the matter was assessed. She also mentioned what so many of us in public safety were thinking: the actions of a few do not reflect the integrity and actions of the majority. Because this is often forgotten by members of the community, I started worrying about what the aftermath of this incident was going to look like.
My husband is a Phoenix officer. He is one of the majority. His interactions with the community are respectful and when he has to use force it is justifiable and the lowest level necessary to neutralize the threat. He will not hesitate to go hands on to protect others or himself. He also knows how to use his words and his body language to keep a situation from escalating and to deescalate the conflicts he often finds himself forced into. He is kind, compassionate and fair. Although he is special to me, he is not special among his colleagues. Most of them are kind, compassionate and fair. Officers all over the country are putting on their uniform, kissing their families goodbye and hitting the street to make the world a safer place. They are willing to take on those who want to hurt others. They are willing to be our shields. And they do this day in and day out with professionalism and integrity.
During briefing, after the video aired, my husband and his squad were told to be careful of being baited. When he told me about this I began to worry more. In my heart of hearts I wanted to believe that people will view the video as a few individual officers who made a bad choice-not villainize every one who wears the same patch. Then I thought of Dallas and my heart stopped. What if my husband is targeted because of what happened? What if someone ambushes him while he is sitting in his patrol car just because of the uniform he wears? What if he ends up fighting for his life in an out of control mob? All of these thoughts rolled around in my head. I couldn’t breathe. But I had to relax and pray for the best. Then I thought about what I would say if I had the chance.
If I could say anything to the public after an event like this, it would be this: Please don’t target my husband for the bad behavior of others in his profession. Please don’t target any of them. Hold those who don’t uphold the integrity of the profession accountable. Let your outrage and anger be directed towards those directly responsible. Expect the leaders of that department to make sure that if consequences are warranted they will be doled out. Trust that the investigation will be fair and just and that we (the public) may never know all the facts. Remember that underneath every uniform, behind every badge is a human. Stop and realize that they are someone’s father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, son, or daughter. Remember they are not at fault and they are so very, very loved.
Michelle Perin
Michelle Perin has been a freelance writer since 2000. In December 2010, she earned her Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Indiana State University.
