Dallas Police Chief David Brown has a difficult job to do. With five officers assassinated, Dallas became the scene of the deadliest attack on police since 9/11.
At a press conference, Brown was expected to give an update on the officers injured at an otherwise peaceful Black Lives Matter protest. Those officers were ambushed by an army veteran who stated he was acting alone.
Brown’s update was followed with a very personal message. Brown used this opportunity to comment on the state of policing.
Brown said,
“We’re asking cops to do too much in this country… You’re asking us to do too much.”
He went on to discuss how the low pay and thankless nature of the job was unsustainable. Brown said that the police were never meant to fix the shortcomings of the mental health industry, the public school system, and poverty.
Brown directed some advice to young black men,
“We’re hiring. Get off that protest line and put an application in. We’ll put you in your neighborhood, and we will help you resolve some of the problems you are protesting about.”
Typically, telling a protester to “get a job” is used in a dismissive and condescending tone. In this case, I believe Brown was not implying protesters were without employment of worthwhile endeavors. Instead, perhaps Brown was saying, join us. We need you.
Brown is a man who can relate to personal tragedy. On Father’s Day 2010, Brown’s son and namesake killed a police officer and another man before being shot and killed himself. Brown’s younger brother was killed in 1991 during a drug deal. In 1988, Brown’s former partner was killed in the line of duty.
While the interpretation of Brown’s statements may vary, one thing remains certain. If policing isn’t seen as an attractive job, police departments won’t be able to attract quality candidates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMrZA81Y–w
Featured image screengrab via YouTube
