Well written article. I am a retired black police officer who policed the same communities where I grew up. I have witnessed so much of what other officers of color have witnesses.
Great article. It touched on issues that every black police officer in most departments in America have experienced. I strongly believe that the civil service laws in New York State need to be amended when it comes to hiring, promoting and firing Police Officers. It forces you to choose people based on certain criteria that doesn’t work. We are forced to hire people who we would normally not hire. You get people who are great multiple choice test takers, who have no criminal record, never interacted with black people and have other issues, but you can’t disqualify them. Maybe instead of a multiple choice test, give an aptitude exam. Offer the Basic Law Enforcement Training in Community Colleges, let people complete that course and go apply for a police officer job just like any other job. Some of your best candidates can score a 70 on a written exam and you will never get to them, while you were forced to hire less desirable candidate who scored a 90!
Fantastic work Harry, this article gets beneath the surface to the underbelly of black cops, thanks for your courage to undertake this definitely needed conversation.
Your article was very interesting. It was good to see at least one officer telling the truth. Officer Ramos was the only one willing to speak the truth, the others officers are still trying to walk that thin blue line. When you are Black man wearing blue, you cannot walk both sides of the fence. Until police officers and their supervisors/chiefs are held accountable for theirs actions, nothing will change. The badge can no longer be protection from charges of assault, murder and violation of a person’s civil rights.
what an amazing article! You spoke to the right person when you interviewed Bobby Ramos. He was an amazing Police officer , who was loyal, trustworthy, well respected by the community, and He was always on the battlefield for his people. His legacy will live forever, because he is one in a million.
Well written article. I am a retired black police officer who policed the same communities where I grew up. I have witnessed so much of what other officers of color have witnesses.
Great article. It touched on issues that every black police officer in most departments in America have experienced. I strongly believe that the civil service laws in New York State need to be amended when it comes to hiring, promoting and firing Police Officers. It forces you to choose people based on certain criteria that doesn’t work. We are forced to hire people who we would normally not hire. You get people who are great multiple choice test takers, who have no criminal record, never interacted with black people and have other issues, but you can’t disqualify them. Maybe instead of a multiple choice test, give an aptitude exam. Offer the Basic Law Enforcement Training in Community Colleges, let people complete that course and go apply for a police officer job just like any other job. Some of your best candidates can score a 70 on a written exam and you will never get to them, while you were forced to hire less desirable candidate who scored a 90!
Fantastic work Harry, this article gets beneath the surface to the underbelly of black cops, thanks for your courage to undertake this definitely needed conversation.
Your article was very interesting. It was good to see at least one officer telling the truth. Officer Ramos was the only one willing to speak the truth, the others officers are still trying to walk that thin blue line. When you are Black man wearing blue, you cannot walk both sides of the fence. Until police officers and their supervisors/chiefs are held accountable for theirs actions, nothing will change. The badge can no longer be protection from charges of assault, murder and violation of a person’s civil rights.
what an amazing article! You spoke to the right person when you interviewed Bobby Ramos. He was an amazing Police officer , who was loyal, trustworthy, well respected by the community, and He was always on the battlefield for his people. His legacy will live forever, because he is one in a million.
Great write-up! Bobby Ramos is one of the most decorated officers in Stratford’s history!! We all miss and love him greatly!!