Well, here we go again: Police officer slain in Philadelphia. The officer, who was forty (40) years old, was gunned down in a bank robbery on Saturday morning, May 3, 2008. The manhunt had spread to New Jersey by Saturday evening. Mayor Michael Nutter has put into effect a thirty-day mourning period. He said that this is a tragedy for the police force and for all of Philadelphia’s citizens.
I’m not angry, once again, as a result of the city suggesting that we hold a thirty (30) day mourning period for the slain officer. I’m not angry, once again, because a manhunt has spread to New Jersey. Of course, it is a great tragedy for the family of the officer, and I am tired of hearing about policemen being killed in the line of duty.
Was disgruntles me is the audacity that this city has for placing the value of the lives of a police officer over and above the lives of its citizens. In 2008, there were 392 homicides, of which, one was a police officer. Of all of those murders, only one manhunt went into effect: the one carried out for the suspected killer of the policeman. In that situation, as well as the current one, the powers that be have the same tired statement to present: They’ve killed one of our own and we will not stop until the suspect is in custody.
One of the first things out of the Mayor’s and Police Chief’s mouths is that these criminals are so ruthless that they will shoot at and kill a police officer. The problem with that statement is that the policemen signed on for that duty. It should very well be a policeman that is fired upon rather than a citizen. A citizen is unarmed and did not sign on to fight criminals. Therefore, it should be more of a shock that criminals would shoot citizens than policemen. That statement is always followed by “They’ve killed one of our own and we will not stop until the suspect is in custody”.
Where is the manhunt for the suspects in the murders of the other 391 homicides? Why is it such a tragedy that a policeman was killed, but, just another day in the ghetto when a citizen is killed? Why is it that the police will search non-stop for a cop-killer, but end a search the next day for the killer of an average citizen? Why is it such an awful and despicable thing for a criminal to shoot at a police officer, but a humdrum event when a citizen is shot?
Now, it’s 2008, and it’s all begun anew. Another tragedy has taken place – the death of a police officer in the line of duty, killed by a ruthless bank robber. It is truly a tragedy, and my condolences go out to the family. However, I am sick and tired of hearing that the city feels that the loss of a policeman’s life is a far greater loss than that of an ordinary citizen. I’m tired of the streets filled with police cars when a policeman gets shot, yet devoid of the same when a citizen is shot. When will the city realize that a citizen’s life is just as valuable as a policeman’s? When will the police begin to pursue a criminal who has harmed a citizen with the same fervor as when a policeman has been harmed? When will the hypocrisy end?
Did I happen to mention that of the 392 homicides in 2007, three-hundred-eleven (311) were of African-American decent. . . ordinary citizens?
This is blackstarr saying “Vive La Renaissance!”
copyright © 2008 blackstarr
Renaissance, New Millennium, policeman killed, Chief Ramsey, one of our own, Stop and frisk, officer down, Michael Nutter, homicides, black and hispanic neighborhoods
2 comments:
I am going to try to play devil's advocate on this issue. Although I hear what you are saying about the police showing the same fervor for the 392 homicides committed in the city, you would have to imagine that would take a large amount of resources to do each and everytime. I know we don't like to put a price on human life, but look we are in america where there is a black market that lists the price for the organs in your body.
It is unfair that ordinary citizen find themselves victims of crime but that is life and life as we know it is unfair. I don't mean to sound cold but that is what it is. When a policeman (and I can't believe I am saying this in light of the sean bell shooting) find themselves the target of shooter, well that is one less person who is supposed to protect citizens. Why should they be targets when their duty is to protect? If we have no one to protect then their would be total anarchy.
"that would take a large amount of resources to do each and every time" - So we should choose to track a policeman's killer and not the citizens' killers? If it takes an enormous amount of money to do that, then, so be it. That's tax dollars at work. But one can't say that justice shall prevail for one, but not for another. They are targets because that's what they signed on to be. It's a lot easier for armed police to defend themselves than an unarmed citizen who has not put themselves into a dangerous position. Three-hundred-ninety-two (392) people killed and the only manhunt was for a policeman's killer. Each time a policeman is killed, a suspect is brought in. That alone shows that the resources spent are worth the return. It's unfair to say that it should be done for a cop and not for us. You ask "why should they be targets when their duty is to protect" They shouldn't, but, as you say yourself - it is what it is - therefore, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. If you are in law enforcement, that is what is to be expected - to be put in danger each and every day, and that's a voluntary thing. I'm appalled that they are outraged at a cop being killed and that it's just "life" when a citizen gets killed.
My biggest problem is that the city brazenly makes the inaccurate hypothesis that a policeman's life and justice for his death is of more importance than the same for a citizen. Each human life carries the same value, and each victim deserves to have his/her killer brought in. Thanks for your comments - they are appreciated. Peace.
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