Ross: Should we rethink when we call the cops?

Everybody agrees that the lesson of George Floyd’s death is that the system needs to change, and change now.

But what does that mean? Are we suddenly going to eliminate racism? Is police bias going to disappear?

I’ll tell you a personal story.

I had parked my car in a Seattle parking garage overnight. I came back early the next morning and I see the driver’s side door open and some guy rooting around inside.

It was a car prowler. I scream, ‘Who are you?’ He just walks off with the bag of loot. I run after him. I wanted to see that bag. He drops my stuff on the floor – some of it – and walks away smiling.

I was ticked off. But I did not call the cops. I just drove home. And I felt stupid.

But now in light of what happened in Minneapolis, I’m thinking – the guy was a jerk, and I miss my sunglasses, but he didn’t pull a weapon on me – did I really need a cop?

So in the George Floyd case – he passes a counterfeit bill, possibly without realizing it – but doesn’t threaten anybody.

Maybe that’s the kind of thing you just settle the next time he comes in.

That’s something any of us can change.

Maybe in a case like that you just don’t call the cops. And maybe you feel stupid for a while. But considering the current atmosphere, it seems like a small price to pay.

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