Mending broken trust: Police and the communities they serve | Charles Ramsey | TEDxPhiladelphia

Summary

In this speech, a veteran police officer with 47 years of experience discusses the challenges facing modern policing, including the loss of trust in communities, particularly among people of color. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the history of policing, from its early roots to the present, and acknowledges the profession's past mistakes. The speaker advocates for a shift from a 'warrior' to a 'guardian' mentality, stresses the need to address biases, and calls for collective action to build safer, more respectful communities.

Takeaways

• 👮‍♂️ The speaker has 47 years of experience in policing, including serving in the Chicago Police Department, as police chief in Washington DC, and currently in Philadelphia.
• 📺 The current environment of policing is challenging, with frequent media coverage of police actions that can erode public trust.
• 🔍 There's a historical context to the mistrust between police and communities, especially communities of color, which has been an ongoing issue.
• 🏛️ The history of policing in the U.S. is complex, with roots in practices that were not always just, such as tracking down escaped slaves.
• 👨‍🏫 The speaker initiated a training program with the National Constitution Center to educate officers on the history of policing and its evolution.
• 📉 Policing strategies like CompStat have contributed to reduced crime rates, but at the cost of community trust due to aggressive tactics.
• 🔄 The speaker advocates for a shift from a 'warrior' to a 'guardian' mentality in policing, emphasizing service and protection over confrontation.
• 🧠 Addressing bias is crucial in policing, and the speaker's department is implementing training to manage biases and ensure fair and impartial policing.
• 🤝 Building trust with communities is essential, and this requires respect for individuals' dignity and self-respect in all police interactions.
• 👥 The responsibility for improving police-community relations falls on both police and community members, requiring collective effort and understanding.

Q & A

How many years of policing experience does the speaker have?

The speaker has 47 years of experience in policing.

In which city did the speaker serve as a police chief after leaving the Chicago Police Department?

The speaker served as a police chief in Washington DC after leaving the Chicago Police Department.

What is the significance of the speaker's visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum?

The speaker's visit to the museum was significant because it made him realize the role police can play in horrific events and sparked a reflection on the role of police in a democratic society.

What historical perspective does the speaker believe is important for police officers to understand?

The speaker believes it's important for police officers to understand the history of policing, including its origins, evolution, and the fact that police have not always stood on the right side of justice.

What is the role of the police in a democratic society according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, the role of the police in a democratic society is not only to enforce laws but also to defend the constitutional rights of all people.

What is the 'thin blue line' metaphor and how does the speaker view it?

The 'thin blue line' metaphor is a concept that suggests police separate good from evil. The speaker rejects this view, preferring to see police as a thread woven throughout communities, protecting the rights of all, including those accused of crimes.

What is the importance of respecting people's dignity and self-respect in policing according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes that respecting people's dignity and self-respect is crucial in policing because it maintains trust and prevents alienation, which is key to effective community relations.

What is the significance of the story about Paris Patton shared by the speaker?

The story about Paris Patton illustrates the importance of maintaining calm and respecting people's dignity during police interactions, which can help in de-escalating situations and building community trust.

What is the speaker's view on the current state of policing and community relations?

The speaker views the current state of policing and community relations as strained, with a need for collective effort to address the disproportionate amount of crime in certain communities and to rebuild trust.

What does the speaker suggest as a solution to improve policing strategies and community relations?

The speaker suggests moving away from aggressive policing tactics, embracing a guardian mentality, and focusing on building relationships and trust within communities.

Outlines

00:00

👮‍♂️ Policing Challenges and Trust Building

The speaker, a veteran police officer with 47 years of experience, discusses the current challenges in policing and the importance of building trust within communities. He reflects on his long career, which includes serving in the Chicago Police Department and as police chief in Washington DC and Philadelphia. He acknowledges the alarming incidents of police misconduct shown on the news and the historical tension between police and communities, particularly communities of color. The speaker emphasizes the need to understand the history of policing and its evolution alongside democracy, suggesting that education on this history is crucial for both new and veteran officers.

05:02

📚 The Role of History in Policing

The speaker delves into the historical context of policing in the United States, highlighting the evolution from unpaid watchmen to a formalized police force. He discusses the Philadelphia Police Department's history dating back to 1797 and the earlier roles of watchmen and constables. The speaker initiated a program with the National Constitution Center to educate officers on the historical development of policing and its connection to the broader evolution of democracy. He stresses the importance of understanding history to address current mistrust and to recognize that police have not always been on the 'right side of justice,' which affects community relations.

10:03

🔍 The Impact of Policing Strategies

The speaker critiques the policing strategies that have been used over the years, particularly in response to soaring crime rates. He discusses the shift from community-oriented policing to more aggressive tactics, such as CompStat, which led to significant reductions in crime but also caused collateral damage in communities. The speaker argues that while crime reduction is important, it should not be the sole measure of success, as community trust and the presence of justice are equally vital. He calls for a reevaluation of policing strategies to balance crime reduction with community relations and respect.

15:03

🛡️ Shifting Police Mindset and Addressing Bias

The speaker advocates for a change in the police mindset from a 'warrior' to a 'guardian' mentality, emphasizing the importance of protecting constitutional rights and serving the community. He introduces the concept of viewing police not as a 'thin blue line' separating good and evil but as a thread woven through communities, upholding democracy. The speaker discusses the need to manage personal biases and to treat all individuals with respect and dignity. He shares a story about an officer who valued the inherent dignity in every person, regardless of their circumstances, and the importance of preserving that dignity in police interactions.

20:04

🤝 Collective Effort for Community Safety

In the final paragraph, the speaker calls for a collective effort to address the issues of crime and violence in communities. He stresses the need for police to be held accountable and for society to work together to create safe and secure environments for all. The speaker acknowledges the burden on police leaders but also recognizes the responsibility of the community in solving these problems. He concludes by thanking the audience for their attention and emphasizing the shared responsibility in improving policing and community relations.

Keywords

💡Policing

Policing refers to the function carried out by the police force in maintaining law and order within a community. In the video, the speaker discusses his extensive experience in policing, highlighting the evolution and challenges faced by the profession. Policing is central to the video's theme as it explores the relationship between law enforcement and community trust.

💡Trust

Trust, in the context of the video, pertains to the confidence and reliance communities have in their police force. The speaker emphasizes the importance of building trust, particularly in communities of color, which has been eroded by instances of police misconduct. Trust is a recurring theme, with the speaker suggesting that historical and current policing practices have impacted this trust.

💡Community Oriented Policing

Community Oriented Policing is a strategy that focuses on building partnerships between police and communities to solve problems collectively. The speaker mentions this approach as a positive step towards improving relations but also acknowledges its limitations in reducing crime quickly, which led to the adoption of other strategies like CompStat.

💡CompStat

CompStat, short for 'Computer Statistics,' is a data-driven approach to policing that emphasizes the analysis of crime data to deploy resources effectively. The speaker discusses how this strategy led to significant reductions in crime rates but also points out the potential for collateral damage in communities due to aggressive policing tactics.

💡Warrior Mentality

The 'warrior mentality' refers to a mindset where police officers view themselves as warriors fighting against crime. The speaker argues for a shift from this mentality to a 'guardian' mentality, emphasizing service and protection over confrontation. This concept is crucial as it reflects on the need for a change in the police's self-perception and behavior.

💡Guardian Mentality

Contrasting with the 'warrior mentality,' the 'guardian mentality' is a perspective where police officers see themselves as protectors and public servants. The speaker advocates for this approach, suggesting it fosters better community relations and aligns with the democratic values of protecting rights and serving the community.

💡Bias

Bias, in the video, refers to the prejudices or preconceived notions that individuals, including police officers, may hold. The speaker discusses the importance of recognizing and managing personal biases to ensure they do not influence policing practices. Addressing bias is highlighted as a key component in improving police-community relations.

💡Accountability

Accountability implies the obligation of police officers to be responsible for their actions, especially in the context of upholding the law and respecting community rights. The speaker stresses the need for holding officers accountable for misconduct while also ensuring that policing strategies respect the dignity of individuals.

💡Collateral Damage

Collateral Damage, in the context of policing, refers to the unintended negative consequences on communities resulting from aggressive law enforcement strategies. The speaker uses this term to critique the focus on crime reduction metrics, arguing that the impact on community trust and relations should also be considered.

💡Thin Blue Line

The 'thin blue line' is a metaphor often used to symbolize the police as a barrier between society and chaos. The speaker rejects this metaphor, suggesting that police should be viewed as an integral part of the community, helping to uphold democratic values and protect the rights of all, not just separating order from disorder.

💡Dignity and Self-Respect

Dignity and self-respect are highlighted as fundamental human values that police interactions should preserve. The speaker shares a story to illustrate the importance of respecting individuals during police encounters, arguing that preserving a person's dignity, even in the face of执法行动, is crucial for maintaining positive community relations.

Highlights

The speaker has 47 years of experience in policing and acknowledges the current challenges faced by the profession.

The speaker discusses the impact of police actions on community trust and the importance of building trust, especially in communities of color.

A historical perspective on policing is provided, highlighting the evolution from unpaid watchmen to modern police forces.

The role of police in enforcing Jim Crow laws and the impact on community relations is examined.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the history of policing to address current issues of mistrust.

The concept of police as a 'thin blue line' is critiqued, advocating for a more integrated role within communities.

The speaker shares a personal experience visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and its influence on his perspective on policing.

The importance of police defending the constitutional rights of all people is highlighted.

The speaker discusses the shift from community-oriented policing to data-driven approaches like CompStat and its effects on crime reduction.

The collateral damage caused by aggressive policing tactics and the need to consider community attitudes is acknowledged.

The idea of moving from a 'warrior mentality' to a 'guardian mentality' in policing is introduced.

The necessity of managing personal biases in policing to ensure fair and impartial treatment is emphasized.

The speaker calls for a collective effort to address the disproportionate amount of crime in certain communities.

The importance of respecting the dignity and self-respect of individuals during police interactions is discussed.

The speaker concludes by stressing the shared responsibility of police and communities in improving relations and safety.

Transcripts

it's really an honor to be here with you

today and in the brief time that we have

together I do want to talk about some of

the issues affecting policing today it

was mentioned that I have served for a

long period of time in policing I'm in

my 47th year I spent I'm native

Chicagoan born and raised I spent 30

years as a member of the Chicago Police

Department I left to become police chief

in Washington DC I served there for nine

years and now I've had the honor and

privilege of serving under Mayor Michael

Nutter here in the great city of

Philadelphia for the last seven and a

half years so I've got a lot of

experience and I've gone through a lot

of transitions that is that that have

taken place over the course of my career

in the profession of policing but I have

to admit that I have not experienced

anything quite as challenging as where

we find ourselves today all you have to

do is turn on the nightly news or watch

one of the cable broadcasts and I can

almost guarantee you that you're going

to see a video from somewhere in the

United States showing an action being

taken by a police officer somewhere that

quite frankly in some instances I find

to be appalling that's the environment

that we find ourselves in today and all

that affects our ability to build trust

in many communities now there's been a

lot of talk about trust in communities

particularly communities of color let me

start off by saying that when I started

my policing career in the late 1960s

early 1970s in Chicago there were some

communities that we went into where

there was tension where we didn't get

anybody willing to talk to us about what

may have taken place or what have you so

it's been something that's really been

bubbling beneath the surface for a long

period of time and occasionally it does

boil over I mean if you those of you old

enough

to remember some of the you know the

riots that we've had in various cities

around the country some of it starts

through actions of police that get out

of control and we wind up with civil

unrest as a result so even though this

is this is something that maybe we've

experienced in the past I don't think

we've experienced it quite like we are

today and that's what I want to talk

about there are two areas I want to

cover this is a complex issue and

certainly takes a lot more time than

what we have allotted here but I just

want to cover a couple things that I

think maybe is a part of what we see

going on and then also come up with a

couple of ideas on how we can repair the

damage the first is history the history

of policing in the United States when we

really go back in time and not in

Philadelphia was the Philadelphia Police

Department was organized in in 1797

we're the oldest police department in

the United States of America but

policing actually goes back even further

than that I mean there was a period of

time when you had unpaid watchman

constables just walking down the street

trying to keep neighborhoods as safe as

they could you had people that were

police that worked on plantations their

job was to track down slaves that had

run away so one of the things that we

started doing here just recently in

Philadelphia was beginning a program

with the National Constitution Center

right here in Philadelphia because what

I wanted to do was create a training

program that really talked about history

now the National Constitution Center

obviously is there to really talk about

the Constitution how our democracy has

evolved all those kinds of things but

just as our democracy has evolved so has

policing and I think it's important for

our young people coming into the

profession including our veteran

officers that have been around for a

while to understand that his

so it starts with a discussion around

1776 when the Declaration of

Independence was signed and it's not so

much a history lesson of how our Union

came to be what it is but it's also a

snapshot in time where we talk about if

you were policemen during that period of

time what are some of the things you

might have been doing well as I said

before you may be you were just the

watchman walking down the street trying

to make sure that the doors were locked

or whatever and people were were safe

and secure but you might have been one

of those individuals chasing down slaves

fast forward to the civil rights period

of time who was it that was enforcing

Jim Crow laws of the time who was it

that people encountered on Bloody Sunday

when they walked across that bridge

police I think it's important for us to

know the history and to understand that

police have not always stood on the

right side of justice as we define to

justice today it's just a reality

and whereas I'd like to think we have

evolved we and we have but there are

still a lot of baggage that we carry and

so when you look at different

communities and you wonder why there's

mistrust do you wonder why you know

people really are afraid of police a lot

of it has to do with history when I was

police chief in Washington DC we had

communities that immigrant communities

first generation that had come to our

city many from Central America no matter

what the situation if they were a victim

of a crime knew about a crime or

whatever they often would not call the

police why because police in their

country were incredibly oppressive and

they were afraid so it's not just

policing in the United States we need to

think about and the impact it has on

communities it's actually elsewhere in

1998 when I was chief in DC I had

occasion to visit the United States

Holocaust Memorial Museum it was just

one of those things on my schedule I was

a brand new chief and everybody's trying

to get to know you and a good someone

who turned out to be a very good friend

of mine David Friedman from the

anti-defamation league invited me to

visit the museum so I went it was

absolutely the most powerful experience

I had had to that date to that point in

time and when I left there because I was

being accompanied by an actual survivor

and as we were going through the museum

she's actually telling me her personal

story her and her family during that

period of time

so when I left there and I was going to

catch a plane to fly to Chicago to visit

family but I was really haunted by that

experience so I came back about a week

later unannounced where I could take my

time and walk through the museum and

then I began to understand what was

bothering me many of the pictures and

those of you that have been to that

museum the pictures that you see there

oftentimes include police officers

working alongside soldiers participating

in those horrific events that took place

now I never knew that I didn't know it

maybe I mean when I went through school

Highschool the Holocaust was glossed

over it was part of history but nobody

spent any time talking about it believe

me

of course history was my favorite

subject I might not have been paying

attention but in any event I didn't know

I knew about the whole cost but I didn't

know about the role of police and it

made me start thinking Germany had been

a democratic society what happened they

probably took an oath very similar to

the one that I took so what happened how

could they possibly then be involved and

not just rounding up Jews but actually

participating in death squads on death

squads and and and so forth and I just

couldn't get my head around it but then

it sparked an idea what is the role of

police in a democratic society if you

ask the average police officer what

their role is most of them would say to

enforce the laws yet that is a very very

narrow part of what we do as police how

many of them do you think would actually

say that their role is to defend the

constitutional rights of all people if

we had police in this country believe it

and conduct themselves in a manner

consistent with that would we be having

the problems we're having today I don't

think so

so by taking that walk through history

because we've already tried doing the so

called sensitivity training something

that I absolutely hate that term is it

implies that you're insensitive or you

go in there with the with the

presumption that you know the white cops

are all racists and bla bla but people

shut down they don't want to hear that

kind of stuff but it's a backdoor

approach toward getting it many of the

legitimate issues that confront us today

one of the photographs for an example or

as a soldier and a police officer going

through a Jewish man and the first thing

it reminded me of was stop and frisk I

mean the lessons go on and on and I'm

not trying to say police or Nazis or

police are involved in that sort of

thing but it's about the Constitution

it's about protecting people's rights

and that's the message we try to get

through to people as part of this

training that we're doing at the

National Constitution Center the other

thing that I think is important it kind

of got us to where we are today are

quite frankly to policing strategies

that we've used I saw an earlier

presentation when they talked about the

80s and the 90s I went through that when

crime was soaring through the roof and

I'm telling you there was an awful lot

oppression from pressure from political

leadership and also from communities get

a handle on crime we were just beginning

to engage in something called community

oriented policing which would bring

police and community closer together

engage in color and collaborative

problem-solving and all these kinds of

things and was it good yeah absolutely

it built much better relationships in

many of our communities but was a little

slow in terms of actually being able to

see that reduction in crime and let's

face it at the end of the year when you

pick up the newspaper or if you turn on

television and they're talking about

crime in Philly Baltimore or anywhere

else what are they showing one Staten

wants that only how many murders did you

have if your murders up crimes out of

control murders are down fantastic great

job I can have my job another year

probably but is that really the

barometer that we ought to be using to

determine safe and secure neighborhoods

I would argue that it's really not

people want more

so we went from community oriented

policing and then we all started looking

at New York City where they went into

something called CompStat which is a

data-driven approach to dealing with

crime and they had dramatic dramatic

reductions in crime so everyone started

saying how come you aren't doing what

they're doing there

so across America we all started getting

information systems we all started

looking at dots on a map we all started

looking at our deployments and how we're

putting cops in the areas where we have

the most crime and so forth and then we

all started to see drops in crime I mean

we are at the lowest level of crime in

this country in most cities since the

late 1950s and 1919 60s that's pretty

dramatic folks pretty traumatic but

here's the problem we didn't think about

the collateral damage we were causing in

many of these communities by some of the

aggressive policing tactics we also I

think misunderstood what people really

want sure they want safe and secure

neighborhoods but they don't measure

success solely by the absence of crime

they also want to see the presence of

justice in communities we missed that

so we started looking at these maps we

got all the docs and we got all these

things and we're driving down crime and

everybody's patting us on the back oh

yeah you're doing a great job so forth

and so on but it's very important and

I'm not saying that's a bad approach

it's not I mean there's criticism about

broken windows taking care of smaller

crimes and that sort of thing well

that's what people complain about you

live in these neighborhoods you're

concerned about quality of life our

problem was we didn't have a strategy in

place on what to do once the window was

repaired and if what you're doing is

effective eventually it's no longer

broken so do you use the same strategies

you use to get it to a manageable point

in time or do you start to then engage

more one of my deputies mentioned that

whereas we have a lot of research being

done on the various kinds of policing

and it seems like every time we come up

with a new strategy we got a we got to

come up with a name for it so it's like

hot spot policing or problem oriented

policing or what everybody's got to kind

of put a label on something and these

are effective strategies because it does

reduce crime but we don't measure again

what's the attitude of people in that

community once we leave if we make a

hundred stops of individuals in an area

looking for weapons we find one weapon

that's good we got one gun off the

street but now we've alienated perhaps

99 others who wins in that one it sure

as heck ain't us so we need to kind of

rethink and not that we don't want to

continue to do things that are proven

but we've got to build those

relationships you've got to build that

trust we've got to do the things we need

to do to bring the community along with

us and also accept the fact that some

community certain things just aren't

acceptable and that's fine we're public

servants we have to I mean we have to

have a surface mentality so it's history

it's about the kinds of strategies but

it's also about mindset and I'm talking

about mindset of police community

mindset needs to change a little bit too

but I'm not going to talk about

that I'm going to talk about police

specifically you probably have heard

some talk about how we need to move from

a warrior mentality to a guardian

mentality I agree with that we're not at

war with anybody we're there to protect

we're there to serve that's fine but

there's got to go beyond that because

how we see ourselves really drives how

we behave I'll give you an example

there's a metaphor and policing and all

of you probably heard it it's called a

thin blue line I don't think is anybody

in here probably hadn't heard that use

back and forth never really gave it any

real thought but you know I bought into

it as a young cop after my visit to the

Holocaust Museum I said no we're not a

thin blue line not a line of any kind we

aren't we aren't something that

separates good from evil I see us as

more of a thread woven throughout the

communities that we serve helping to

hold together the very fabric of

democracy and we have as much

responsibility protecting the rights of

those that have committed or accused of

committing in crime as we do law abiding

people who are just the victims of crime

that's our responsibility as police

so we get away from that us-against-them

type of mentality the other thing we

have to do is deal with the real issue

of bias now we've started new training

in our department fair and impartial

policing dr. Laurie Friedel from the

University of South Florida has a great

program we've had her up we're in the

process of doing that now recognizing

that everyone has a bias of some kind

could be gender could be sexual

orientation could be race could be

political affiliation could be a lot of

things the real question for us is

knowing that we have them how then do we

manage it so it doesn't influence or

impact how we do our job and that's a

valuable lesson for all of us in our

business but part of the problem that I

see and it happens in my own agency has

happened everywhere I've worked is that

police officers many and most of them do

a great job but there are a significant

number that just don't show the kind of

respect they need to show for the

communities that they serve and I'm

going to tell just a brief story as I as

I end this that kind of drives home the

importance of respect when I was a

sergeant working narcotics in Chicago I

had a guy that worked for me named Paris

Patton and Paris was one of these guys

that I mean he could sweet-talk anybody

he was a guy that even though we would

hit a raid narcotics raid and back in

those days I mean you literally hit the

door with a sledgehammer all kinds of

chaos people you're trying to isolate

folks so you can make sure they don't

have weapons or whatever and it was

pretty chaotic but by the time that was

over Paris had everybody calmed down and

may have even developed an informant and

what I would ask him and I did ask him

one time was man how do you do it

because you talk about sign know people

that can pour you know gasoline on a

fire but he was just the opposite he

could calm down anybody and he said it's

really very simple he said at the moment

of birth every person is a perfect 10

but deduct three right away because life

is temporary does not last forever

if you are born into a dysfunctional

family where there's substance abuse

domestic violence deduct another three

because the environment you're in now

you don't have the kind of role model

that you need to have is going to be

very difficult for you to make he said

if you're a member of a minority group

deduct another three because some doors

may not be open to you that are open for

others said that leaves one that one is

that in is that person's dignity and

self-respect

he said do what you have to do as a

police officer but never ever do

anything to take away that person's

dignity or self-respect because that's

all they got left and they will fight

you to hold on to it

I never forgot that and I've always

tried to to just go through my career in

my contacts and my daily activities with

that in mind and try to make sure that I

talk about that as often as I can

because a big part of the problem and

the reason why we have such strained

relationships quite frankly is just the

interaction that takes place on a daily

basis and when you think about 18,000

police departments 500,000 law

enforcement officers they've got to be

tens of thousands if not hundreds of

thousands of contacts every single day

but all it takes is just a few videos to

change the entire dynamic we have to

hold police officers accountable but we

also have to deal with the very real

issue we have with a disproportionate

amount of crime and violence occurring

in some of our communities how do we fix

that so it's going to take a collective

effort on all our parts we got to stop

the finger-pointing in the blank and sit

down and really come up with a solution

a strategy to start to have a solid

impact so our young people can grow up

in an environment where they feel safe

and secure they can be educated they can

go out here and find decent paying jobs

to be able to support their families

well there'll be a few fall off the

rails yet but there always has been but

we can minimize the number and we can

have a dramatic impact on what we see

going out there now a lot of the burden

is on us me as a police leader but some

of the burden and much of the burden is

on all of you two because collectively

we sink or swim together so with that I

want to thank you all for your time and

your attention and God bless

you