Police and the public: Two longtime cops speak out

Today’s is a thorny topic. But it shouldn’t be.

Every community needs protectors in its ranks. Members who, at personal risk, ensure the safety of the herd.

Every protector needs the trust of the community they serve and live among. Law enforcement officers and the rest of us are (literally) vitally linked.

As with any relationship, when strained, both sides must strive toward reasoned solutions with mutual compassion.

While locally our problems may be fewer, high-profile tragedies have strained this relationship nationwide. Today’s is not a column about racism, nor a condemnation of local agencies or the many “good cops” among us.

But as events elicit national discussions about the parameters and functions of this important role, I asked four locals who retired from careers in law enforcement to publicly share their thoughts. Two agreed.

Tad Leach was police chief in Lincolnwood, Ill., then undersheriff in Kootenai County until 2011.

After serving as an Air Force policeman, Tom Cronin was a CSI commander and profiler for the Chicago P.D. and police chief in Coeur d’Alene.

Their responses were abbreviated for space limitations. Here’s hoping their combined 82 years’ experience will enhance the conversation:

National headlines suggest a rift between law enforcement and communities. Why is this happening now? What does it mean?

CRONIN: It is very easy to blame the police … and in a few instances that’s where the blame exists. The reason is poor leadership on the part of some police chiefs and sheriffs who allow certain officers to continue their careers … when in fact those officers should be fired or prosecuted.

However, (the) community must also accept blame. Fleeing police, resisting arrest and outright battery on police officers … seem to be the norm today and completely acceptable behavior.

When you have communities that believe in the rule of law and follow it, you generally have peaceful communities. When you have communities that don’t, you have lawless behavior and riots.

LEACH: As a ‘Boomer’ I feel the need to point out a fundamental and underlying reason for some of today’s problems which have been evolving over a period time. As Boomers we were taught (that) we were entitled to only one thing: opportunity. We were taught to respect authority, respect honest differences of opinion, and accept personal responsibility for our actions. These core generational values seem ‘old-fashioned’ to many in our younger generations and it shows with those people who are rioting, committing violence, looting, etc. — as distinguished from people who are peacefully protesting and have the absolute right to do so.

There is a significant difference between … major cities and suburban or rural areas. Violence in inner city areas is disproportionate to other areas, and therefore police contacts, arrests and use of force are also disproportionate.

Even in these areas today, I believe most people are supportive of law enforcement … Unfortunately, in many cases these citizens are afraid to call or support police, not because they are afraid of them, but the consequences of calling. The reason? In (some) neighborhoods, ‘snitches get stitches.’

As for why now … I think what is happening currently is a result of several things:

First, with the pandemic, many people are out of work and have more time on their hands.

Second, (the) killing George Floyd was so egregious that it collectively shocked the conscience, including we in law enforcement who were appalled at [the officer’s] actions and tarnishing of his badge, and which was relentlessly publicized more than any law enforcement event I’ve ever witnessed. Therefore, it was a tipping point for the movement which was already in progress.

Because of this anti-law atmosphere, recruitment and retention in law enforcement everywhere is a problem, especially recruitment of minorities … This is especially troubling and counterproductive, but understandable when you see how they are treated during the current disturbances. The lack of support for police, especially in metropolitan areas, is palpable — especially among elected officials who not only often don’t support, but frequently denigrate the police (and restrict) departments as to how they can respond to violent protests, conduct arrests, etc., frequently jeopardizing their safety.

Fortunately, the attitude in suburban and rural areas (is) still generally positive.

Police officers are called on for many purposes, including what is essentially social work. Do you think the suggestion to separate these functions — perhaps including a new kind of officer-specialist trained in such matters — makes sense?

LEACH: In most law enforcement agencies, the vast majority of calls do not involve criminal activity. Things like traffic accidents, suspicious people or circumstances, (security) alarms, domestic disturbances, medical emergencies … law enforcement is usually the first to arrive. Yet in less than 2 percent of the contacts is use of force or threat of force required. It is important to note that use of deadly force by law enforcement has been decreasing over the years, due to training, more personnel, and other tools such as pepper spray and Taser.

While some of these calls do indeed have aspects of social work, they also are or have the potential to be criminal. For example, in domestic disturbances which are extremely volatile, the first priority is to assure the safety of all involved and get the situation under control.

The vast majority of all law enforcement agencies have social service agencies available (to) deal with and resolve underlying issues. Having social service people respond alone (would be) dangerous. Unarmed civilians would be extremely vulnerable, and sending law enforcement with them would not reduce the need for the overall number of police personnel.

CRONIN: The police are asked to handle all the ills of society, which requires much more training than they receive. Would social workers do a better job? We tried this approach in Chicago in the early ’80s.

How it worked was that when the police were assigned to a dispute and it was thought that a social worker could handle it better, the social workers were assigned. They made an assessment (and) if they felt scared … the police were required to stay on the scene. So now a simple assignment required two police officers, a sergeant and two social workers.

On almost all incidents that I was involved in, the social workers were frightened and required the presence of police. So the experiment was discontinued after about nine months because it did not produce the results needed and was way too expensive.

Assuming the relationship with police is somehow changing, how might it change?

LEACH: Unfortunately, I think it will take many years for law enforcement to recover … Much of it will pertain to reversing (or) modifying some of the knee-jerk reactions … It will take citizen involvement for politicians to respond. I am hopeful the signs are there that this is starting to happen.

Law enforcement officers are frustrated at the sweeping generalizations (and) stereotypes … There are almost 700,000 local law enforcement officers, yet we are being stereotyped by the actions of a small minority.

For things to improve, there needs to be a more balanced conversation dispelling some of the commonly accepted myths (about) law enforcement. How many people are aware that according to the Sun-Times in Chicago, there were 492 homicides in 2019, and only three involved the police? Or that in Chicago, less than half of 1 percent of all shootings involve the police? In addition, the media also needs to have more stories on the positive things law enforcement does every day, which are far more numerous than shootings.

As for law enforcement, there are things we need to do. In spite of the shortage of qualified applicants, we must maintain high standards for recruitment. We need to have extended … training in ‘de-escalation’ techniques, handling people with mental illness, use of social services available. It is important to note that while law enforcement has always pushed for expanded training, politicians have generally been opposed because of the additional costs.

A national repository for officers who have been fired or resigned pending charges is needed, to assist in making sure they do not get hired by another agency. Law enforcement agencies need to make sure their hiring process, including background investigations, are expansive. They should include law enforcement-specific psychological testing, polygraph test, and extensive interviewing of neighbors, former employers, etc.

Again, most agencies want or try to do this, but it is expensive. Hiring one person who isn’t qualified could have catastrophic results. Most law enforcement administrators and agencies have always understood that we as a profession can’t allow unprofessional people in our ranks! In most metropolitan areas, union and legal restraints make it difficult to terminate officers. This needs to be changed.

Law enforcement must do a better job of marketing the profession. Maintaining relations with local organizations is essential for a mutual understanding between police and they communities we serve. (And) the community must … support professional law enforcement services.

CRONIN: Community leaders need to take a more public stand to better this understanding and trust. I have never seen these community leaders on the street at midnight or later when the battle is going on … The police do not respect (them) because depending on how the wind blows, they will throw the police under the first bus that comes along.

Improving mutual understanding and trust is a two-way street. In order to improve you have to understand the dynamics of these problems before they become riots. I do believe that over 90 percent of society believe that the police are trying to do a good job and it’s only a small segment causing these massive problems in certain communities.

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According to the Force Science Institute (a research organization supporting police), rethinking police policies and practices is nothing new and many current standards were once new ideas. Collaborative task forces, as well as law enforcement-led research and “reform,” has been ongoing for decades, even centuries. Whatever emerges …

“We win as a community; we lose as a community. We fail or succeed as a community.” (unknown)

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Sholeh Patrick, J.D. is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com