Arthur C. Donart, Ph.D., wrote this essay.
Unfortunately, Police violence has been in the news constantly, as has violence by shooters, rioters, and others. There is a saying, that “violence begets violence.” We are still in the Easter season, and Christians are supposed to be celebrating that Jesus overcame violence. If Jesus’s resurrection means anything, it means violence did not win; love did. Preachers are constantly proclaiming, Christ died to save us from our sins. Sin is violence! It may not necessarily be physical violence, but it is violence!
Violence occurs when one is trying to accomplish something by force. Unfortunately, we all recognize that there may arise circumstances when force, or the threat of force, becomes necessary. This might be because other alternatives have failed or are not available. So, the harm done by failing to use force is greater than the harm done by using force. Allow me to relate a few examples.
I was returning to work from eating lunch in the employee’s cafeteria one sunny afternoon, when I heard a commotion. It seems a couple of old men suffering from dementia had escaped their ward and were pounding with rocks on the trunk of someone’s car. The Security Guards were struggling with the men, while they were cussing and screaming. I was easily recognizable to the Security Officers, because my work uniform was a white shirt, black bow tie, and a white jacket. Quickly I stepped in and told the Officers that I would handle this.
“I asked the old men, “What’s the problem?” They replied, “We got to get our G-d damned chickens out of this trunk.” I responded, “You need a crowbar. Follow me, and I’ll get one for you.” One of them replied, “Damn good idea, let’s go.” They followed me up to their ward and, by the time they got there, they had forgotten all about those damned chickens. Problem solved. No one hurt. Few scratches on someone’s car trunk.
Another time, I was sitting in a fast food restaurant, when a woman was screaming obscenities at the workers behind the counter. The owner happened to be sitting in a both. He jumped up and ordered her to leave, or he would call the Police. Her husband then popped up from heavens knows where and told the owner he’d “kick [his] ass.” As fists started to fly, a crisis interventionist inserted himself between the two combatants and exclaimed, “You’re not solving the problem. You’re creating more problems for yourselves.” The husband and wife left–still uttering profanities.
I would like to offer a suggestion that might help improve our policing.
Have the Police hand out a survey. For instance, at a traffic stop they could give the driver a survey and then proceed. The survey would have the Officer’s name and badge number on it and an address where it should be sent. Questions could be:
1, Did the Officer treat you with respect? If not, please explain.
2. Were you immediately told why you had been stopped?
3. Did the Officer listen carefully to your concerns?
4. Were you provided with assistance if needed?
5. Do you have any suggestions how we could better serve you?
Handing those involved a survey would be unexpected and divert their fight-or-flight tendency. Surveys could be adapted to various situations and provide a talking point if needed.
Other civil servants get rated by the people they serve, in order to improve service and better public relations. Perhaps it is time our Police try it.