Ppl watching #bodycam footage of #GeorgeFloyd arguing he resisted, was on drugs, & asked to be put on the ground as if it exonerated the officers. Actually it’s a clear example of why divesting funds into onsite mental health advocates is imperative. This could’ve been avoided.

The moment the officers noticed erratic behavior they should’ve called a paramedic and a mental health professional on site. Trying to handle a person when they are not qualified to comprehend that individuals experience put them and the subject in jeopardy. #georgefloydbodycam

Not to say that what happened was ok to happen- because it’s obvious homicide in this case. Ignoring someone’s medical needs is negligent and in this case homocidal. #georgefloydbodycam

The thing is, #police see the toughest side of humanity. Abusers, addicts, innocent victims, poverty, anguish. It’s a constant unpredictable battle. It causes a lot of trauma. We need to require weekly therapist assessments and tools for officers to combat PTSD and desensitizing.

And I know that’s controversial. Many of You say “fuck the police”. I get it. The system needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and compassionately, effectively so. We also need to take this moment and realize that many of the officers are also ignorant victims of this system. ->

How are officers victims? Well many are sold a fantasy of what they will be doing. The truth is they are dealing with trauma. Violence. Devastation. And there’s no support for them provided- no one tells them there won’t be. They get desensitized. Entitled. Afraid. And bias rises

“Fuck that. Bias is a choice”. Arguably so- fair. But I’d note that when Your 9-5 job is a repetitious cycle of handling chaos- it’s a natural instinct for your body to homogenize experiences with mental pingings of “we’ve been here before. This thing is likely”. Bias. Bias.

And the thing is, many officers patrol the same sectors of their communities. They don’t see that chaos and eevsationnis everywhere for all people. They only see what’s in front of them. Causing a limited perception which leads to further cementing their bias.

No brain is fully prepared for that. To be in fight or flight mode 40 hours a week in a cycle of life or death unpredictability. But many of the officers who sign up think it’ll be fine. They won’t be biased. They will be a good cop. Yet it crumbles away with every call.

Additionally, officers often don’t realize that they are just pawns on a chessboard. They are placed in their patrol locations by people who uphold systemic oppression. And the owness falls on their shoulders. It’s painful to witness. So many want to do good by the system is bad

I think what would hell ensure long lasting meaningful change would be for us to start including messaging about how those that want to serve and protect our communities can have a better future with us. Not against us. Let’s talk mental health. Pawns. Exploitation. And—>

One other thing to note is that officers feel that they are fighting for their livelihoods. What other job can they do this late in the game? Providing a diginified pathway to realign w/ new employment or maintain current is important psychologically.

We can promise our justice is their justice. There ARE selfish, angry, racist cops. Humans with horrible intentions. However just as we are demanding to be seen as individuals- we may benefit from also seeing officers as individuals. And the system as the system. Separately.

Anyways that’s my observation after spending a long time listening. I’m in the streets constantly for Black Lives and I’ve done a lot of messaging from that perspective so don’t get it twisted. I just had a lot of y’all ask what my perspective would be for the other side.