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They tell us that sometimes we “can’t see the forest for the trees.” We’ve heard the expression hundreds of times. What it means, simply, is that when you examine things one at a time, you often miss the big picture. But what does that have to do with police misconduct? Here’s the point we’re trying to make. If you glance at the headlines concerning crime in Phoenix, or elsewhere in Arizona, you’ll be inundated with instances of drug offenses, violent crimes, theft, and others. There’s certainly no shortage of criminal charges out there. And most folks would raise their eyebrows just a bit in surprise when they see a report involving wrongdoing on the part of what we used to refer to as a “peace officer.” Those apparently isolated instances are the “trees” we spoke of earlier.
But when you put several of the police misconduct stories together, even those occurring over a relatively short time, you may get a sense that there is a forest here. Of course, some folks will tell you that a few bad apples shouldn’t necessarily spoil the whole bunch – of cops, that is. But we’re wondering whether it’s just a few bad apples here, or whether there is a culture that tells police officers that they’re above the law. And we’re not talking only about police brutality, racial profiling, and similar abuses of authority. We are referring to some pretty serious crimes. You might get a better sense of what we’re concerned about if we take just a few examples from the last couple of weeks:
- A Phoenix police officer has been arrested for his alleged actions during a traffic incident. Police say the officer reacted to a belief that he had been cut off while transporting some inmates to jail. His response was to draw his gun and point it at those he thought cut him off. The driver of the other vehicle happened to be a former Arizona legislator, who was on his way to church. The officer has been charged with aggravated assault.
- A Buckeye officer has been accused to threatening to kill a motorist during what appears to have been a routine traffic stop. The motorist was not charged with any offense, but says that the officer said that he would kill him if he did not comply with one or another of the officer’s requests. Although the incident was captured on video, the officer says his threat was based upon concerns for his own safety, although the driver, who is Latino, calls the actions racist.
- Detectives in Kingman were given the task of investigating the actions of a Bullhead officer, who was accused of sexually assaulting a student at Mohave Community College. Less than three weeks later, while the original investigation was continuing, the same officer was arrested in Nevada; the charge was the alleged rape of another woman.
Look, we could go on. This stuff happens on a regular basis. But perhaps the most disconcerting thing about many of the incidents is that they involve violence and threats of violence, some in the course of performing their police duties. Given what we see, perhaps it’s time for law enforcement to end its denial, and to begin to look at what may well be a culture of violence and abuse among those charged with protecting the public.
Law Offices of David A. Black
40 North Central Avenue #1850
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(480) 280-8028
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