As far as the comments about the sheriff department are concerned, I know the people involved. The only one you would be able to verify yourself would be the narcotics unit being dissolved and officers reassigned. Just stop and ask any deputy but that would only give you the half of the story. I cannot and will not give out names as I do need my job. As far as smearing the good name of Ron Gibbson goes if you where not aware of it, that case went through the sheriff, then Brizzi handed it over to an independent prosecutor out of county to handle it and to file charges. So it is a little hard to claim someone is going after him because he is a dem. Lets say for arguments sake its true, but it is nothing that Julia Carson doesn?t do, example going after Erik Dickerson for a domestic battery case that happened in 91 that was not even filed. I guess turn about IS fair play, if that is the case. None the less, take for example Monroe Grey who frequents pea shake houses and has been caught there several times. I also know one of the officers that stopped him but that seems to be a non issue. I really would rather stay out of a political debate here though as I no longer claim a political party. I did vote for Anderson, Peterson, and Brizzi. Now that is two dems and 1 rep. this time around I will vote for Brizzi. Why the change of mind? Because of all the things that have occurred both known to the public and unknown, I vote for the man, not the party.

I can assure you, with everything I know and love that if you are white, and in a black neighborhood late at night, the chances of you getting stopped are about 80%. Just as if you are black in a white neighborhood late at night the chances of you getting stopped are about 80%. It is not so much a race issue as it is a ?something is out of place, lets find out why? issue. Skin color matters not, what does matter is behavior, attracting attention to yourself, doing something that seems odd as in constantly looking at me when I drive by. The guilty have tells, just like in poker. They do things that innocent people do not do and that draws attention and curiosity. That is what gets you stopped more times then not. It is easy to claim that you (not you specifically) get stopped just because you are black or white or green. If you live in a green neighborhood, that is all that is going to be getting stopped. How can you stop a blue person when there are none around? During my shift if I stop 5 cars more then likely they will all be blue, why? Because there are no green people there, am I profiling for blue people? No, I am profiling for red people, red people are the ones who are more likely to be doing something wrong. More likely to be driving on a suspended lic; more likely to have narcotics or warrants. Drop the black and white for a minute. Lets use red people to describe the type of person who fits the profile of a criminal. The red person is white,black,Hispanic,asian,arab, or any other race who has a certain type of behavior. That my friend is the person that every cop looks for, that is the person that will get stopped. As far as matching the description goes, honestly a common description given over the air is one of 3 things. A white male in his late 20?s scruffy face 5?8 with a ball cap on. Pull into any trailer park and see how many people match that description. Another one is a b/m 5?10 180 lbs wearing a white t-shirt. Now pull into black neighborhood and see how many people match that description. Another one is a Hispanic male 5?6 150lbs wearing a white tank top and jean shorts. Again go into a Hispanic neighborhood and see how many people match that description. Now try being a policemen working a beat when a robbery, theft, battery, or anything else comes out and you are given a vague description and you try to find the guy with out hurting some ones feelings. Witnesses are terrible about getting information that would eliminate most of the population. In fact it is the opposite, we are given descriptions that include just about everyone so are we to not stop you because we might offend you? If you where the victim and saw me drive past the suspect you would be furious that I did not catch them. If I worried about offending someone because of skin color I would never catch anyone.
Your best bet is to befriend a cop, who is not the same color as you, build some trust and then go to work with him a few times. I say a few because anything can happen on any given day. It may take more then one ride along to see what I am talking about.

And I also think that the police force is getting used right now. The FOP is nothing more than a political organization that maintains its political capitol behind the fact that people look at the cops as being a nobel force. They’ve lined up behind all republicans and in my opinion that’s the real reason why Mr. Gibson is having this story concocted against him, just to put a smudge on his character and hopefully republicans can run off of that!!!! (The whole Dems don’t respect public safety bag)!!!! If Mr. Gibson hadn’t went in and made a verbal complaint about that officer we would’ve never heard about this issue. It’s just political chess. When the reality is that the FOP is just lining up with Republicans for THE FOP’s own gain AND FOP’S GAIN DOESN’T MEAN THE ENTIRE POLICE FORCE GAINS!!!!

Plus the real issue with public safety is fare greater than anything Law Enforcement can deal with. It has more to do with what the economics, education and job market of a city look like. Cops get called out to crimes after they happened, communities fail to provide opportunities which leads people into criminal life styles long before they commit that ONE CRIME that puts them in jail. Once the cops get to em it’s all gone too fare by then. What Dems and Reps need to be debating is stimulating the economy, which Reps try to say that they’re GOOD WITH BUSINESS but the reality is that it takes the thoughts and ideas of both political parties to put this cities economics in order, and to get that to affect the criminal element is decades away. Unfortunately alls the police are is crowd control in a city that leaves some of its citzens at the mercy of true and false opportunites to try and ink out an existence!!!!

are all YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE TRUTH WITHIN THOSE GIVEN SITUATIONS!!!! (And given that you say you are a cop so you have a whole lot more -inside insight- but at the same time you also probably have your own alliances and biases as well) That being said when your perception is conveyed in a political argument is nothing less than a ‘Conspiracy Theory’!!!! I’m not saying that the motives behind these actions are untrue, but unless it’s put into a court of law or someone comes out and admits what you are saying is true, it is merely your conjecture!!!!

And the white people getting profiled thing still isn’t holding any water to me!!!! I grew up in an all white community, actually where I grew up and have lived most of my life, where there was a bigger problem with drug use than anywhere in the entire state, I can bet money that white people weren’t gettin pulled over for lookin suspicous when they drove anywhere, that includes when they went into black neighborhoods, I’ll bet a ton of money on that!!!!

LOOK I KNOW THAT THE COPS HAVE A TOUGH JOB!!!! BUT WHEN YOU’RE COMING HOME FROM A LONG DAY OF WORK, JUST BECAUSE YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT’S CONSIDERED BAD, YOU DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ‘THE GREATER GOOD’ AND GETTING PULLED OVER BECAUSE YOU’RE BLACK AND LOOKING SUSPICIOUS MAY SEEM LIKE A DECENT POLICE TACTIC BUT SO DOES GETTING HOME TO YOUR LOVED ONES!!!! And, another thing that me and my friend discuss is the psychology that pulling over innocent people creates, it creates a certain amount of guilt, and self-critcizing!!!! You’re trying to be honest but you still get pulled over, you ask youself ‘What’s WRONG WITH ME!’ it’s so demoralizing, you have no idea!!!! I KNOW THAT POLICE ARE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB, I KNOW THAT LAW ENFORCMENTS GIVEN A HARD TASK!!!! But it sucks when as an African-American you get treated as equal to the less of your culture. LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY SPEAK UP ABOUT RACIAL PROFILING most of them are just honest people that have been pulled over, then you catch 1 dude with weed in his car, but you never say HEY SORRY TO THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT WE PULLED OVER AND TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL!!!! (And the face down stuff, I’ve never seen in Nap, but where I grew up at and where I recently moved from {and I moved because I got pulled over about 3 times per month} I ate a lot of concrete)!!!!

I’d also like to put this forward to you as well, as an officer discuss this with whomever cause it’s real talk and maybe it can help you all refine your tactics in some kind of way! Because you seem like an honest man, and probably a good cop as well. A lot of people ask ‘Why are some Black people so angry at cops?’ Then look at it, you all have probably ruined the day of so many people in the name of ‘finding that 1 or 2 criminals’ that those law abiding frindge people have a hidden FEAR or ANIMOSITY towards law enforcement. When I hear about people getting arrested I’m always sceptical because as many times as I’ve been pulled over it’s my opinion that SOME law enforcement members have no clue what a criminal or non-criminal looks like!!!! I’m not trying to spit flames at the police department but if you all pull people like me over for fitting ‘the desciption’ than you’re barking up the wrong tree. (Please just digest those sentiments and contemplate things from my point of view)

As far as profiling is concerned, don?t think for one second that black people have the market on it, as I said before if you look like a thug, white, black, Hispanic, or Asian you will be stopped and investigate. I am a police officer, I work the inner city, every cop I work with which is about 30 does the same thing. I have worked multiple districts and it is the same story all the way around. When my partner and I set out to fight crime we do not waste our time on the hard working black American, they are fairly easy to spot you see. They do not have there base bumping, they normally don?t have spinner wheels, gold teeth are usually absent also. If by chance we do stop the hard working man or women we don?t harass them, we don?t give them tickets as long as they are respectful as we are to them and as long as they have a valid lic.

While working a white area guess what happens? They get stopped too! Its amazing how that works, Hispanics get stopped in there neighborhood, whites get stopped in theirs, and so do blacks. So are you trying to say that blacks are the ones getting harassed and the other two ethnic group?s are left alone? That would be untrue just as many non blacks get stopped. The difference is Hispanics and whites don?t complain as a rule when they get stopped. There have been many occasions that I have been accused of being racist while working, the simple fact is I work in a non white area and that is an easy excuse for anyone looking for sympathy.

Is there racism in the police department? Of course there is, cops are human they have there own views and opinions. I do not agree with a lot of them but that doesn?t change them. I will also tell you that it is not as wide spread as you would like to believe. In fact there are just as many black racist as white. The department has done a good job of hiring quality people for the most part. Most people get along regardless of color and are friends on top of co-workers. Racism is strangely absent when people do not ?beat the race drum?. When people treat each other as equals, when they don?t point out the difference of skin color, when they don?t hire or promote based on that, things are equal and run smoothly. It is when someone gets a position, promotion, different treatment, based on color that causes problems. Don?t take that statement out of context, that applies to whites hiring other whites over blacks and vise versa. It is long past time that color became a none issue with the majority. Which I believe already has happened. It is the small incidents that get blown out of proportion and way to much attention is given to it. For every instance of someone getting stopped ?because they are black? I can give you an instance of someone being stopped who is white. You want to know what it is really like? Take my advice and do a ride along and find out instead of simply drawing conclusions with out actually seeing it first hand.

However, will you on the same token accecpt the sentiments of HONEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN’S!!!! When it comes to the issue of profiling!!!! (Stop assuming that all of the people that get pulled over are ridin’ 4 deep and wearin’ gold teeth)Most of the people that make claims that they are being profiled are hardworking law abiding citizens. Hmmm lets think about this, would a criminal be getting politcally active about racial profiling.

My other question is that you say “if by doing a little profiling catches one out of 10 bad guys then it is worth the life of the person it might be saving.” are you condoning the American Police State. Where we set up check points and curfews for the entire city, uh my bad, just the black neighborhoods, not mine, huh!!!!

The ride along comment is suspect at best because someone can always present certain things because they know someone is watching!!!!

White people getting profiled, THAT’S LAUGHABLE!!!! I have friends on all sides of the race color and religious spectrum, I’ve surveyed college students and co-workers, ’suspicious’ looking white people getting profiled is a joke and a front argument to throw off the true racial profiling that goes on towards African-American’s. The reality is that you’re indifferent to the history of racial aggression that has plagued America; and when a Black person brings up certain issues dealing with race you attempt to through them into the ‘conspiracy theory’ category. MY REALITY IS THAT ALL OF MY PEERS ARE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, NONE OF THEM HAVE GOLD TEETH IN THEIR MOUTH. (We all sometimes where our hats to the side)But that aside explain to me how it is that at every phase in my life and that of my peers, we can all recall being pulled over by cops for ‘looking suspicious’ or ‘fitting the desciption’ — then put face down on a curb while your car was searched. I really think that people just do not care about the deep sentiments that HONEST AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE!!!! Pulling over 10 suspicious looking characters to find 1 criminal might sound good when it’s typed on a post, but try being the person that’s being accused of being a criminal when you are not!!!! Do you know what sort of emotions that envokes in young black males? Do you know what sort of sentiments ‘profiling’ expresses to African-American’s? Let me restate this!!!! I really respect Cops, I think that they are given a very tough task and that’s nobel!!!! So don’t lump me into the ‘cop hater’ category. But, I don’t commit crimes, I never have and I don’t plan on it, and speaking for the other African American’s that don’t commit crimes as well, when we politically condone socially criminalizing an entire segment of a population that’s just sad commentary on the state of American affairs!!!!

First let me say if you work for the Sheriff department as this officer does, don?t think for one second that there isn?t a price to pay for doing your job. If you arrest a friend of the Sheriff, or one of his friends you WILL ANSER FOR IT. Also the officer probably felt it wise not to start a riot downtown in the middle of black expo, she knew who the person was and knew charges could be filed later when the risk of injury to herself and others was not present. I have worked black expo for 8 years and I can tell you from firsthand experience if you arrest someone you better have back up on the scene (which she did not) and you better be ready to fight, which she wasn?t. Now she could have called for other officers and made a huge scene but chose discretion instead. She was also afraid to make the arrest to begin with because of who he was, not all officers re-act the same. She did not want to find herself working in central records until Frank is gone.

As far as profiling goes, of course it is used and not just on black people. If you are white and in a black neighborhood late at night you are going to get stopped before a black man will. Why? Because that person does not belong in that area they are there for a reason and guess what? More times then not they are doing what they shouldn?t be doing. If you are driving around in a SUV with your radio rattling windows you are going to get stopped, it doesn?t matter if you are black or white. Why? Because people who behave in this manor are more likely to be breaking the law, like it or not believe it or not, it is the fact of life. If you are driving around in a 89 caprice at 38th and post with 4 black males inside with gold teeth you will probably get stopped. Why? Because those are the types of people who are more likely to be doing something wrong. If you are white, wearing your hat to the side, have a long chain on with a tattoo on your neck you are going to get stopped. Why? Because this type of person is more likely do be doing something wrong.
Don?t believe me? Do a ride along with a police officer, find one that is willing to let you, pick out cars to stop for traffic violations (everyone makes traffic violations every day so that shouldn?t be a problem) see what the results are. Now, tell the officer to pick out cars to stop based on what he thinks and profiling, see what those results are. Keep score, and see who is right me or you. You think this isn?t right, this isn?t fair? Incase you haven?t noticed people are dying everyday and if by doing a little profiling catches one out of 10 bad guys then it is worth the life of the person it might be saving.

By the way, Police officers lie! It happens. They racial profile! It happens. Quit calling black people stupid, or crazy, when issues of race are brought up. Racial aggression is a part of American history and its present times. It’s very saddening that when I tell SOME white people about issues that I have had with cops, that flat out DON’T BELIEVE ME!!!! As if I’m not telling the truth!!!!! The pain of racial profiling is imaculate, I speak with my friends about it all the time, and in the end, we usually come to the conclusion that many people just look at us as being liars. It hurts to be violated and to have your pain spoke away as paranoia or untruth.

The other instances of black people on this list I think all live and die on the merit of the individual cases. Knowing what I know of those cases, race could play a role, but nothing that seems outward. That’s just my opinion!