The press conferences, news interviews and now a rally have not been an indictment of the Four County Police Officers on behalf of concerned supporters of the family of Detective Christopher Ridley. No one wants to see anyone go to jail for a glitch in the institutional system of policing.
This has been a clear plea to Politicians and Policy Makers in that they have a chance to put a little faith in the process of justice in the black community. Due to what appears to be inadequacies, there are now questions about the entire process of justice in reference to the investigation of the shooting of our brother Detective Ridley. Was there a full representation of the facts?
What will be the steps to lay the ground work to make sure this will never happen again? The request by the family of an outside agency like the Attorney General’s Office or the Department of Justice to investigate. Whether this investigation will give merit or demerit to the facts of Westchester’s investigation is a fair and impartial request from the family of Detective Ridley. That is the process of Justice.
County Public Safety Commissioner Belfiore, the Public Safety Commission and Politicians need to admit the system is flawed. More adequate accredited training is needed for all Law Enforcement Officers that carry off-duty. A true Off-Duty training course should also be implemented along with Racial Sensitivity classes. These types of classes should not just be for the academy but yearly refresher courses as well. A Fraternal Day should be implemented for cadets of all law enforcement academies in Westchester where Law Enforcement Fraternities of all races can come and talk to the cadets.
Now that it has come to light that the only black County Police Officer did not fire his weapon, shouldn't we question the reason why he was pointed out to be the lone gunman from first accounts from authorities? Does this coincide with the studies, data and facts that the Westchester NBPA has said all along about the perceptions of black males within institutions of law enforcement? How these types of unfortunate occurrences mainly happen to officers of a darker blue when they are off duty or in plain clothes.
This intentional or unintentional leak of our brother’s name has caused a lot of emotions in the law enforcement community and a deep wound in the black law enforcement community as well. The black law enforcement community in time should begin the process of healing. We should agree to disagree and begin the work of the common goal protecting, educating and uplifting our communities. The communities and the black communities at large are in our critical care.
It is far from indicting anyone when you ask for a more clear and concise representation of the facts. We need to make sure we will not loose another officer.
Whatever point we make or opinion we have, we should always be in one voice saying never, ever, again should a mother and father loose their son in a situation like this
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