Running head: Moving Forward 1

Law Enforcement Race Relations: Moving Forward

James Kidd

University of San Diego

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Law Enforcement Race Relations: Moving Forward

Upon examining former FBI Director James Comeys 2015 speech and question and

answer session, which focused on law enforcement and race relations, many points were made to

what got us to this point and possible remedies moving forward. Comey mentioned areas of

debates which includes law enforcements relationship with communities, appropriate use of

force, and the real and perceived biases within and outside of law enforcement. Several points

were made during the speech and question and answer session, which included data driven

intelligence, understanding racial bias, cynicism, unjust laws, militarizing the police, and the

impact of the media. Of the many points made by Comey, the two points that I found most

important and compelling were understanding and utilizing data and conscious and unconscious

biases. The two points that were least compelling were the topic of unjust laws and militarizing

the police.

Comey believed that we must find a way to see each other more clearly, which is in

part to collect and share better information about violent encounters between police and citizens.

Data is the key to understanding trends and demographic circumstances. Comey mentioned that

several areas of data collection were incomplete as agencies provide the information on a

voluntary basis. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics also acknowledges underreporting and

inaccurate reporting, but statistics continue to be gathered through the National Incident Based

Reporting System (NIBRS). Comey encourages all agencies to report data on police shootings

and other violent crimes. Texas is also encouraging departments to provide the data. In a recent

legislative session, C.H.S.B 11 directed the Texas Department of Public Safety, (DPS) to

establish a goal for all local law enforcement agencies to implement an incident-based reporting

system that meets the requirements of NIBRS no later than September 1, 2019 (Bill Analysis).
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Ultimately, this point is most compelling as we will be able to take the data along the criminal

justice system in order to analyze and find programs and practices that create the best outcomes

for all involved.

Comey understood the challenge of biased based policing. We must recognize and

identify the hard truths of our past in order to move forward. He identified One reason we

cannot forget our law enforcement legacy is that the people we serve and protect cannot forget it

either. So we must talk about our history. It is a hard truth that lives on. The second hard truth

is the existence of unconscious bias. We all carry various biases with us. Knowing this, I believe

intentional policing and training to identify biases is critical to move forward. This is one tool

that police leaders are using to help really ensure their agencies engage in conscious policing,

said Ron Davis, the head of Justice Departments Community Oriented Policing Services

program, which officers the training to departments (PoliceOne 2015).

Two points that have value for discussion, but were not compelling during the question

and answer portion of the speech were unjust laws and militarizing the police. A junior in

Foreign Service studying history, asked about the Rule of Law and that at times law

enforcement is commanded to enforce unjust laws. The question was what is the role of law

enforcement when ordered to enforce laws that are unjust? Comey basically replied as to raise

their hands to recognize the law and to understand what we do may be inconsistent to what our

beliefs of what the right thing is. I do not believe this was as compelling as the other points, as

the topic did not produce an example of a current unjust law or that there was no sufficient

discussion that focused on the impact of unjust laws.

Another question was posed by freshman, (Thomas) Spanish student, who explained the

trend in militarization in police in which coming from Europe and seeing police with handguns
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and machine guns was strange to him. Comey responds that its not about the stuff we in law

enforcement need that stuff but the issue is how to use the stuff and that may be the

breakdown, training, discipline, judgement on how we use the equipment. According to Dan

Marcou, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) completed a 98-page report on its

perception of equipment used by SWAT teams, and quotes the ACLUs point of view as it

would appear that U.S. Law Enforcement, even in the smallest and safest communities, is

suffering from a collective inferiority complex that can be relieved only by military-style

clothing and arsenals of formidable firepower, (PoliceOne 2014). Similar to Comeys response

Chief George Hatfiled stated, In these times you dont know what you are facing. We want the

maximum safety of our officers and the public. We want to be prepared for whatever comes up.

This is another tool that will allow us to be quicker and faster in our response (Fisher, J. 2010).

FBI Director James Comeys 2015 speech and question and answer session, which

focused on law enforcement and race relations, brought up several points on many important

issues concerning the relationship between law enforcement and their communities. Moving

forward law enforcement and communities must see each other understand the hard truths

and to know each other. This can be accomplished by making informed decisions by both parties.

We must show compassion for everyone involved and recognize that relationships are hard work.

Moving forward we must be intentional in how we talk and how we listen.

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References:

BILL ANALYSIS. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/analysis/html/HB00011H.htm
James Comey Full Speech. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from https://www.c-span.org/video/?
c4528067%2Fjames-comey-full-speech
Fisher, J. (2010). SWAT madness and the militarization of the American police: a national
dilemma. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger.
Police agencies line up to learn about unconscious bias. (2015, March 09). Retrieved June 25,
2017, from https://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/8415353-Police-agencies-line-up-
to-learn-about-unconscious-bias/
6 arguments against the ACLU's flawed 'police militarization' report. (2014, July 30). Retrieved
June 25, 2017, from https://www.policeone.com/SWAT/articles/7404043-6-arguments-against-
the-ACLUs-flawed-police-militarization-report/