May 31st 2020
Last week I watched a murder take place at my bus stop.
It was horrendous.
I watched the thug slam a man’s face to the ground and squeeze each last ounce of life from his begging lungs.
I watched as the victim pleaded for breath.
I watched as the tortured man cried out for his mother.
I watched the fellow gang members, clad in their self important uniforms, stand idly by, holding their turf, succumbing to the pressures of tribal mentality.
I’ve stood on that corner a thousand times.
I heard my neighbors shouting for justice.
I watched the people reprimanded and threatened for their attempted heroism.
I saw a life murdered.
You watched too.
I walked the streets in protest, my neighborhood alive with mourning.
And I kept thinking,
“This would never happen to me.”
I’ve stood on that corner a thousand times.
But here’s the difference, when I stand at my bus stop, I’m safe.
I’m white, I’m young, I’m female, I’m middle class, infact I’m usually slurping a $6 latte while I wait there, invisible to their prejudice.
If any man brutally put this pretty little anglosaxon freckled throat under his knee, do you think a policeman would even hesitate to taze/shoot/defend me?
You murdered George Floyd, because he didn’t look like me, didn’t act like you, didn’t fit the build of upstanding citizen.. (Is that your excuse? Please tell me you have some excuse) some explanation for why you’ve decided who merits protection and who merits cold blooded public murder.
We expect you to be better. We expect you to protect us. We ask that you please refrain from murdering our neighbors.
Take a page from your Thug’s Code of Ethics.
As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality, and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.
I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence.
I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession… law enforcement.
To the family and friends of George Floyd, I’m so sorry. I’m praying with you and for you. I’m so so sorry.