“Memphis Most Wanted”: Deadly Dangers of U.S. Police Departments Lowering the Bar

Tyre Nichols faced torture and death in real time and in cold blood. World has witnessed U.S. ‘justice’ again and again….until George Floyd took his last breath.

America was built on a lie contaminated with the ‘Virus of Racism’ endorsing Slavery and spreading like wildfire pinning Brother v Brother and factions like Bloods v Crips. Joe, sound familiar? Republican v Democrat. Red States and Blue States.  

A King was once taken down in Memphis in 1968. Then in 1991 another King barely survived the beating by white officers in Los Angeles. 

Nichols died at the hands of five black cops. Black on Black ‘hate crime’ or Poetic Injustice? Life appears to have played us a bad joke. It’s quite clear: No, we can’t ALL get along.

Mr. President, it appears the Black community is past ‘discussing’ the matter. Sir, look past your white colored glasses to your occupied country’s two caste system: Black and White. Open your eyes as your country has been on fire since white men declared liberty and justice for ALL powerful white men!  

Brothers and Sisters: Justice, not blind or a lady condemns you with one book and offers another as your companion in solitude. Poetic injustice too comes by way of quoting scripture that rationalizes one’s lived experiences.

Politicians or Preachers who give sermons from Books or History, here’s your lesson for today.

Book of God and Book of Laws: Centuries of conquest and slavery, Blacks and Indigenous Peoples have and continue to be indoctrinated or converted to follow the white man’s two books.

History reads: Millions enslaved, tortured, slaughtered, secretly buried or incarcerated. No reparations, unless one provides with blood and tears wide-eye clear evidence. By God, life’s auditor finds they’re worth more dead than alive!

SCORPION: Ready for the Hunt?

I highlight in my June 2020 paper, The “Comedy and Tragedy” of America: U.S Metropolises Transformed to “Gotham Cities.”  Anyone visited police department websites across the U.S.?

Memphis Police ‘Most Wanted.’ The incentives are clearly inviting: “Up to $63,165.38 annually, $15,000 sign on bonus, take-home cars…” Especially for a high school or college graduate that can’t find a decent paying job. Or, a male or female in their 20s desperate in need of a job that can pay to shelter and feed their family.

Images and words are provocative and revealing compared to Nashville PD. Of the MEMPHIS MOST WANTED (29), 26 Black and 3 White face images are posted reminiscent of the ‘Wild West.’ Don’t find many other cities showcase criminals captured. Surprised page or site hasn’t been taken down.

Obviously, for some PD’s it’s a numbers game in a misguided attempt to fight crime. In their case, the means did not justify the end.

Case in point, SCORPION. “The five former officers, who have since been fired, have been identified as Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. They were hired from 2017 to 2020, and were 24 to 32 years old. All five officers have been charged with murder and other crimes.”

With about the same population, Nashville has 765 less officers and is about 220 sq. mi larger than Memphis. Then again, Memphis is said to have the largest African-Americana in the State. Still, Memphis like a lot of cities across the nation has been facing a shortage of officers. Not surprisingly, their PD made it a lot easier for new hires.

School or Service was the requirement (good grades and serving your country). But quantity trumped quality when in 2018 the recruiting standards were lowered. One has to question the integrity of the Memphis academy loosening requirements “from a background check to hustling through a timed obstacle course…weeks of training.” To be fair, Air Force and West Point also dropped the ball.

What’s the Air Force justification for lowering their standards? Says Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, “People that come in from the current culture don’t have the same value system that people might have had 50 years or so ago when I came in. That’s just a fact of life.” It’s a sorry state of affairs. Hey, but if all you need is a bunch of warm bodies to sacrifice, you’re in luck that these sorry SOBs don’t give a fuck. 

West Point’s high expectations have also waned. In his book, The Cost of Loyalty: Dishonesty, Hubris, and Failure in the U.S. Military, Tim Bakken, West Point Law Professor notes his concerns of lower admission standards at West Point. Not only are those admitted less apt to learn specific tasks but they are not being trained for the new challenges on the ground.

Sure is a good way to diversify and be ‘inclusive.’ But little good comes out of lowering the bar. Out of shape cops who can’t run 25 feet without trying to catch their breath and unable to write an accurate report or whose ‘training’ didn’t cut so as to pepper spray fellow officers. Shit! No fucken way they’d have made the grade 10 years ago.

The sights and sounds are that of a “Gotham City.”

The “Blue Wall of Silence”: Shielding the “Bad Apples” and Condemning the “True Blue” Officers

Seeing a law enforcement officer squeeze the life out of a human being is an extremely sickening site. Listening and seeing a man cry out that he can’t breathe until he’s silent and motionless is horrific and incensing.

These images are even more troubling for those of us whose family members, friends and colleagues work in law enforcement.  No doubt, our law enforcement agencies continue to be put to the test.

LET ME BE CRYSTAL CLEAR. The majority of Men and Women Officers wear the uniform with honor, irrespective of their race. These officers respect their sworn duty to “protect and serve” the people of their community. And they too are in pain as many are slain or take their own life.

Lowering of the standards for new recruits could not have come at a worst time. Nobody wants him/her for a partner. Memphis Police Association president Michael Williams reportedly did not agree with this change in protocol.  It surely could not have gone over well for time-honored officers.

As to officers’ benefits, “Williams argues the city should fully restore the retiree health insurance and pension benefits that the Memphis City Council reduced during a bitter public fight in 2014. City officials have described the benefit changes as painful but necessary steps to stabilize city finances.” City Council members, you don’t know what fucken pain is.

Many would argue this move backfired. Removing or cutting back on important and necessary benefits has an accruing negative domino effect that is detrimental to officers, their families and community. All because city officials can’t manage the budget or misdirect funds?

Abuse of power in law enforcement is attributed to the problem being cultural and systemic. Ironically, the “arm of the law” works similarly in a free society or in a prison and whether the detainee is a prisoner of the state or a prisoner of war. The culture of society like prison operates with rules, each with its own cultural makeup.

For example, a society not tied to the “arm of the caste” allowing for an equal playing field can still be tied to the “arm of the law.” Ask yourself, how many affluent African Americans have been wrongly detained or been the victim of an accidental shooting?  

Until police officers are allowed or made to set the example by their Unions, nothing will change. Why? Charging and convicting a police officer with First Degree Murder can set a precedent stakeholders will now allow, no matter how high the evidence is stacked against them. It shines a light on inferior officers who should have been discharged early in their careers or that never should have been recruited.

Who are these stakeholders?  Congress – Democrats and Republicans. And the organizations that lobby them. 

The “Blue Wall” is systematically set up to protect both the “true blue” and the “bad apples.” And like in other sectors, brave officers and the “bad apples” are shielded with the latter undermining the group as a whole.

Equally culpable are the departments that have relegated the act of killing to legal terms, “excessive force” or “abuse of power” creating a ‘truth’ not questioned.

Few understand this better than Philip Zimbardo, Faculty, Psy.D. Consortium at Palo Alto University: The following is part of Dr. Zimbardo’s statement under the heading of “Challenging the Truth”:

“We want to believe our decisions are wisely informed, that our actions are rational, that our personal conscience buffers us against tyrannical authorities, and also in the dominating influence of our character despite social circumstances. Yes, those personal beliefs are sometimes true, but often they are not, and rigidly defending them can get us in trouble individually and collectively.”

Political Corruption and Officers “Missing in Action”?

Memphis native Allie Watkins says it best. “This is not an issue of corruption in the United States, this is an issue of the fact that the system has been built against black bodies” reports the BBC.

The proposition that the problem of corrupt officers is simply systemic and can easily be solved is flawed. Even when investigating their own, it’s kept secret. In fact, they’ve given it a cozy private title, Internal Affairs (IA). But the IA of yesterday is no more and would be more aptly termed, Eternal Affairs.

In California, The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported that from 2018-2021 commissioners interfered “with a police internal affairs investigation to protect an officer.” Investigation involved Chief Marc Taylor, who in the end was fired.

In fact, “Retired assistant police Chief Paul LaCommare spoke in support of Taylor and asked Johnson to call upon the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to investigate the city for political corruption.”  When it comes to local politics, one need not look far for motive – $. 

You’ve heard it said, nobody likes cops or lawyers until you need one. And if you look closely at the numbers –Cops vs Civilians – it seems they’re MIA.  Shortage of officers is not restricted to the South or Northeastern New York.

California cities like West Covina too have their share of problems. According to a February 11, 2021 article in the San Gabriel Valley Tribunes, among the reasons was “…retirements and police officers taking jobs in departments in other cities or law enforcement agencies.”

Chief Richard Bell notes, “We do need more officers,” But adds that given the budget concerns of the city, he would make do with the 90 officers…” WTF, “make do?”

Is increase in police quotas their solution? Officers playing ‘hide and seek’ in search of drivers? Citations averaging $300 a pop are sure to bring in revenue. It appears that what doesn’t kill you will cite you, even if innocent.  

Meantime, with fewer officers, are cities safe if they’re recruiting from the bottom of the barrel? Ask Memphis.

Creating Non-Combat Streets and Safer Cities

Defense massive spending has led to an overload of weapons, armor, warlike tanks and vehicles. It seems only natural to repurpose the extra cargo to Local, State and Federal agencies. Military training for soldiers has also inadvertently created ready officers for law enforcement.

Multiple exams and psych tests have been used in the past for vetting both the physical and mental state of applicants, but they’re only as good as their actual and correct use.

For those who never handled a weapon, let alone discharged one, the adrenaline that comes with the power of a uniform and badge can be dangerous and deadly. A unit of officers assembled with all these characteristics sets itself up to fail and fail badly. In their mind, they’re unit is on a search liken to a covert operation. But Top Military Grunts or ‘SEAL Team Six’ they are not.

“SCORPION, or Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods, included more than two dozen officers tasked with taking on street crime. They wore black hoodies and tactical black vests with “POLICE” emblazoned across the front and back, and drove dark colored Dodge Chargers marked with a SCORPION seal. They patrolled in groups and at times used low-level traffic stops as a way to find violent criminals, drugs or weapons,…”

How can an operation or experiment go wrong?  Power entrusted upon an officer, legitimately or simulated, is power nonetheless.  Dr. Philip Zimbardo notes one such time:

“In August 1971, I lead a team of researchers at Stanford University to determine the psychological effects of being a guard or a prisoner. The study was funded by the US Office of Naval Research as both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps were interested in the causes of conflict between military guards and prisoners. In the study, 24 normal college students were randomly assigned to play the role of guard or inmate for two weeks in a simulated prison located in the basement of the Stanford Psychology Department building. But the guards quickly became so brutal, and I had become so caught up in my role as superintendent, that the experiment had to be shut down after only six days.”

The original American experiment, by which the country was founded, with the seeds of inequality needs to be shut down! Adults and children no longer trust the man and woman in uniform they once looked up to. For all the talk on progress and innovation, little has been made in critical community institutions (police, education, healthcare, etc.).

Proposals for reinventing or recreating the idea of policing have been put forth. For example, assigning the monitoring of traffic infractions to non-armed officers similar to parking enforcement. Moreover, social services are more apt in responding to mental health issues.  

FBI and “Amber Alert” were not intended for couple squabbles over Dad not returning little Tommy when it’s Mommy’s turn. Kids are taught “Stranger Danger.” Not arrest Dad for keeping his own kid too long. That’s for Child or Social Services. Actual domestic violence as armed robbery needs to be redirected to SWAT teams if police are ill-equipped or shorthanded.  

Sure, I know, good luck. You’re right. As it stands, cities are not only short on Police and Firefighters, but have resorted to subcontracting Building Inspectors and Code Enforcement. Yep, looks like we’re fucked. Critical and essential jobs as we once knew them are quickly becoming extinct (Plumbers, Electricians, Engineers, Construction, Mechanics….).

Putting a “Black Eye” on Black History Month

February is Black History month. It begins this year on its first day with paying our last respects to Tyre Nichols. A Man cheated out of life. A Man cheated out of seeing his young son grow up. A Man betrayed. Is death the price one pays for freedom from slavery in America?

Morgan Freeman questions “You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” Freeman adds, “I don’t want a black history month. Black history is American history.”

The theme for this year’s Black History month is “Black Resistance.” I am reminded of Margaret M. Russell 2014 review of the book, Black Against Empire. The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin Jr.

Russell notes, “Current debates about government surveillance, gun ownership, police conduct, community empowerment, and racial-economic inequality all have roots in the story of the Black Panther Party. Bloom and Martin explain convincingly not only why the party rose and fell, but also why the cauldron of issues raised by the Panthers continues to simmer today.”

Politicians and ruling corporations have socio-economically created and promoted instability resulting in communities pinned neighbor against neighbor. It’s a corporate ‘cop-out’ when they cling to Black History month simultaneously paying unlivable wages.

Was the ‘high cost of living’ what literally drove Tyre Nichols from California to Tennessee, leading ultimately to his death? Or, was it wrong place wrong time? Some say, no matter the place it’s only a matter of time before one is stopped in their place by the wrong person or cop.  

I am reminded of a young boy, “His Name Was Emmett Till.”

“Early on the last morning of Emmett Till’s life, a Black 18-year-old named Willie Reed awoke and walked toward the town of Drew on the dirt road that still runs past the Andrews place.

Reed was heading to a nearby country store to get breakfast. He saw a green-and-white Chevrolet pickup truck turn onto the path that led up to the barn. Four white men sat shoulder to shoulder in the cab; in the back three Black men sat with a terrified Black child. The child was Emmett Till.”

IN THE END, after the screams turned to moans, “The men talked about taking Till to a hospital, but they’d beaten him too badly to be saved.”

Justice Warriors and Critical Race Theorists, where is your call for justice for Tyre Nichols? CRTs, time to also start critiquing your own Race. Black Perpetrators have attacked and left to die one of our brothers in cold blood. I can only imagine what may have run through Tyre’s mind, terrified taken down on the ground looking up at all five black faces of the men beating him, “Brothers, but we’re family?” 

Brother and Sisters, the time of just speaking truth has long past. PROTEST, TAKE ACTION and VOTE like your life depends on it because it does!

I remind you, “the Panthers garnered both condemnation and support for their endorsement of “revolutionary” self-defense (including violence) against police brutality, government surveillance, and political repression.”

Dear Tyre, Ride on Brother. Rest in Peace.