I want to be proven wrong about Chicago Cops. I want to feel they are good people with a tough job who believe in fairness and treating others with respect. I want to advocate for them and show support as needed. That makes sense, right? Ideally, this is a relationship that should be strong. Unfortunately, it seems their personal communication practices and the system at large conspires against it.
Last evening, during the holiday season, I experienced another incident that illustrates the dilemma.
I was on my way to the gym near my house. I came to an intersection that prohibits turning left during certain hours on certain days. It was snowing lightly and I remember looking up to see the hours but admittedly I couldn’t quite make them out in the snow flurries and because there was little traffic I made the left turn when it was safe to do so. Shortly after, I turned into the parking lot of my gym when the sirens and blue flashing lights of a police car that had followed me into the lot startled me. I came to a stop and then attempted to pull my car forward a bit so I could pull into a parking spot and get out of the way of gym patrons who were coming and going. Immediately a very bright spot light was illuminated from the police car and it shown brightly on me and over their loud speaker I heard, “Lady, stay in your car and don’t make any more moves.”
Anyone who has ever been pulled over by a cop knows this feeling. It is one of humiliation, vulnerability and quite honestly, a bit of fear. The cop approached my car, cautiously, and behaved in a way that communicated I might be dangerous. He asked for my license and insurance card and told me not to move as he returned to his car for 10 minutes processing the paperwork with his partner. Meanwhile their police car partially blocked the entrance to the gym – people were waiting to get in and leave the lot – and there were curious stares at me under the spotlight as they passed by. My license was taken, a citation and fine were issued while the cop left with his final words being, “have a nice day.” Arrgghhhh.
Let me be clear, I know I made a mistake and am accountable for that and am willing to do what is required. But it got me wondering about the intent of the way cops communicate. Is their intention to intimidate, humiliate and scare the heck out of you so that you never ever make that same mistake again? Is that what they are trained to do?
I am not sure that approach works because I think rather than reflection on the “crime” at hand it produces, instead, resentment and an environment of fear and mistrust. I recently got a call to contribute to the Chicago Policeman’s Ball Fundraiser and I found myself incredulous, as I could not think of a reason to contribute. I couldn’t recall a single positive memory or impression of an encounter with a Chicago Cop – whether my own or that of friends or family.
I don’t envy a policeman’s job – I know they find themselves in dangerous situations with dangerous people who may threaten their lives – and in some cases take their life. I guess I am just wondering if their job allows for any nuance. Is their job so stressful that they cannot treat people – even those who violate traffic laws and who are apologetic and cooperative – with a certain amount of kindness or respect? Do they really want to propagate the stereotype of police as forceful and uncaring?
It reminds me of the same dynamic that occurs when a parent berates a child in public or a boss humiliates a direct report in front of colleagues – the intention of the parent or boss is to ensure they are listened to and the child or employee pays attention and heeds their will. We all know, however, that it really has the opposite effect and that resentment and anger grow out of those interactions rather than respect.
Maybe the way cops communicate is part of a master strategy. Maybe it works overall keeping the criminal element in line. Maybe they don’t have time to care and show compassion. What did I want to happen this week during my interaction? I’ll be honest, a lot of good will would have been engendered if I’d gotten a friendly warning and a “hey, it’s the holidays…I’m gonna let you go this time but be careful out there…” And if that were too much to ask, it would have been helpful to have cut the sirens, the lights and the spotlight and simply had a conversation and moved on. Regardless, I can only describe the actual experience I did have and say that if left bad taste in my mouth and further solidified my negative impression.
For those of us living in Chicago, we are increasingly aware that law enforcement – particularly in the arena of traffic rules and regulations – is a business. Cops are out scouring the streets to bust people whose parking meters have expired. More and more red light re-enforcement cameras are in place to catch errors – and the fines are astronomical. Cops have their quotas. People are pissed off. The days of being given the “benefit of the doubt” are long gone. The city has to make money and they are looking around every corner to say “gotcha.” It’s a “red pencil” perspective.
Recently I saw one of Norman Rockwell’s most famous paintings. It was the one that portrayed a policeman (or was it a state trooper?) who found a runaway little boy and took him to the local soda shop to have an ice cream before returning him home to his parents. It is such a sweet painting that depicts the energy and spirit of that ideal relationship between law and order and humanity. Maybe I am just stuck in an old image that no longer lives. I want to be proven wrong.
