Forum highlights differences between law enforcement, community
SAN LEANDRO (KTVU) -- Racial profiling, shooting of unarmed men of color and police brutality has long been issues that separate law enforcement officers and many people in the community they serve.
Representatives from both sides of the debate came together recently at Master's Barbershop in San Leandro to air their differences.
The idea for the joint meeting resulted from a request by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, which asked KTVU to reporter Paul Chambers to moderate the conversation.
More than 30 men and women from all walks of life -- barbers, lawyers, law enforcement officers and community members -- gathered for a town hall style discussion about issues facing the African American and Latino communities.
"There exists this gap between the community and police officers and the criminal justice system," said Terry Wiley of the Alameda County District Attorney Office.
The participants agreed that the misunderstandings between police and minority communities is not new and has, in fact, existed for generations.
"During slavery . . . the brother that wanted to read and wanted to run away and be free was the black criminal," said Alameda County sheriff's deputy Jinho Ferreira.
"I've been in situations where I did not like the police," said Alameda sheriff's deputy Eric Adams. "I grew up right here in Oakland."
A majority of people at the meeting said they have had negative interactions with law enforcement officers or felt discriminated against at different times in their lives.
But the differences started to mount when the discussion turned to difficult topics like fatal officer-involved shootings.
- In 2009, a BART police officer fatally shot Oscar Grant, an unarmed black man. "Johannes Mehserle spent less time in jail than Michael Vick. That's a very difficult thing for a community to accept," said Rodney Brooks of the Alameda County Public Defender's office.
- In 2010, police shot and killed Derrick Jones, an Oakland barber, because police mistook a scale for a gun. Jones was unarmed when the incident occurred.
- In 2015, Mario Woods was armed with a knife when he was shot and killed by San Francisco police.
"It's a situation to me where officers appeared to be overly aggressive and or afraid of a situation and therefore respond in a way that's inappropriate in those cases," attorney Adante Pointer said.
During the community gathering, some asked why police resort to lethal force.
"We don't train officers to kill," said Oakland police Capt. Leronne Armstrong. "That's not what they're trained to do. They're trained to stop the threat."
Other people in the audience asked the officers why they can't just wound a suspect by targeting a leg or an arm instead of deploying lethal force.
"I know my capabilities and I know how I shoot," said Alameda sheriff's Lt. Michael Carroll. "I would probably miss an arm or a leg and . . .. that round would travel down the field and hit someone else."
Said Oakland police Lt. Sekou Millington: "Deadly force is called deadly force because it’s meant to stop the threat -- not partially injure the threat or wound the threat."
Community activists suggested that officers overreact.
"I understand using force when it’s needed," said Zavia Usher. "But we see a lot of force being used when it’s not really necessary."
Usher referenced some recent national shootings involving police that have unfolded over recent months, including in New York, Minnesota and Oklahoma.
- In 2014, Eric Garner was standing outside a New York store where police say he was illegally selling cigarettes. Garner died after the responding officers placed him in a choke hold. Garner was unarmed.
- In July, 2016, police shot Philando Castile four times while he sat inside his car in Minnesota after he was stopped by officers for a broken tail light. Castile was armed but had a weapons permit. His fiancée said he was shot while reaching for the permit documents.
- In September, 2016, Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old father of four, was on the side of the road with his vehicle waiting for help after a mechanical breakdown, when responding officers arrived. Crutcher is seen walking away from officers with his hands in the air before he was fatally shot by a Tulsa officer. The officer told investigators she thought Crutcher was reaching for a weapon but he was unarmed.
"There's been a lack of outcry from officers of color nationwide about the things that we see and it's very difficult for the community to see that," Brooks said.
"When something happens in the community, since we can't stand up, we need (officers) to stand up," said Troy Williams. "Because stuff is happening to us because black folks are getting killed and murdered every day."
"There have been some instances where the officer made a mistake or they went a little bit too far," says San Leandro Police Officer Kenny Shedd.
Just that little bit of accountability some say will go a long way. When officers aren't afraid to say their colleagues are wrong. That’s just one of several ways that this group says leads to solutions, which can bring about change that can heal the community.
The first step they recommend is looking in the mirror and starting the conversation at home.
"We all have implicit biases. Whether we know it or not we do have them. Recognizing them we take the first step in making a change," Millington said.
"We have to educate not only the public but officers in general. We just need to respect each other. It starts with respect," says Oakland Police Lt. Bobby Hookfin.
"You're talking about economics. You’re talking about politics. You’re talking about education. You’re talking about a whole lot of different things that needs fixing. So we got to educate everybody across the board. This can't be just a conversation about law enforcement and they need to do better. Everybody has to do better," says Ferreira.
The officers and community agreed that one way of bridging the divide is to have more people of color applying for jobs in law enforcement.
By KTVU reporter Paul Chambers.