In the case of the police shooting of Robert Russ, it will probably turn out that both Russ and the officers involved used bad judgment, resulting in this tragedy. But we need to focus on the ultimate cause of this tragedy: the presumption by police that minority drivers are criminals. There is too much evidence that police officers nationwide disproportionately stop minority drivers for minor or non-existent traffic offenses, apparently in the expectation that the driver must have committed an even worse offense.
It’s no wonder minority drivers are extremely wary of the police, which may lead to what looks like suspicious behavior when stopped.
Police must stop viewing minorities as the “enemy” in the “war” on crime, and remember that their overriding function is to serve and protect all of the residents of the community.
