DAVE ROSS

Police crisis has ‘clearly’ gone on for years, former chief says

Aug 26, 2016, 5:19 AM | Updated: 11:25 am

Seattle, police, policing, service officers...

(AP)

(AP)

Either some police are becoming more brutal, or the policing crisis going on now has been happening for years and the white middle- and upper-classes are just now seeing it for themselves.

Former Seattle police chief Norm Stamper says there is no doubt which is the correct answer.

“It is clearly the latter,” Stamper told Seattle’s Morning News. “Nothing is new, certainly not for the African-American community.

“What is new is white middle-class Americans are seeing [it],” he said.

NAACP president: Seattle could be the next Dallas, Baton Rouge

Stamper, who was chief during the WTO riots of the late 90s and has spoken out against the war on drugs, says police officers embrace a wide range of beliefs about the work they do and the communities they serve.

“But if there’s one thing in common, it’s a tendency to tolerate dishonesty,” he said.

Police, he added, tend to tolerate explanations that are known to be false. It’s called the “code of silence” for a reason, he said.

The discussion around police brutality has dominated headlines. Several deadly police shootings continue to set off protests around the country as people try to draw more attention to the treatment of people of color by police. Even in Seattle, a city well known for its liberal stances, the issue of unfair treatment by some police has been pushed to the forefront.

Related: Could Seattle’s ‘deep-seated issues of racism’ fuel a tragic event?

Stamper says the problem stems from a “system-wide” failure. Training is part of that, but not the whole issue. Along with ending the war on drugs, which has strained the relationship between police and minority and poor communities, Stamper believes there’s a problem with not having any kind of national standard on policing.

Simple language within our laws is a major issue, too. Stamper says holding police accountable for shootings is extremely difficult due to language that can make it nearly impossible to find officers guilty of anything. Take the Washington law that defines when police can legally use force; if a jury believes an officer fired without malice, nearly any shooting is legal, KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross has pointed out.

Related: Seattle officer suspended for ‘magic number’ of punches

Stamper says all an officer really needs to do in order to not be convicted of murder is prove his/her or another’s life was in danger.

“What some are saying is there are awful but lawful police shootings,” Stamper said.

Should the laws be changed?

“Absolutely.”

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

19 hours ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

21 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

22 days ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

29 days ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

social media...

Dave Ross

Ross: Is the Wild West of social media over after Senate hearing?

The original social media business model was genius -- get ordinary people to create content for free, sell ads and give the content creators a cut.

2 months ago

Police crisis has ‘clearly’ gone on for years, former chief says