Last summer, Brooklyn Center was touted as a shining example of police reform

[WhiskeyGrinder]

And here we are now.

https://www.startribune.com/police-reform-began-years-ago-in-brooklyn-park-and-brooklyn-center/571988482/

(August 3, 2020)

Formed with new immigrants in mind, the Joint Community Police Partnership began in 2005 in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, two of the most diverse cities in the state. Since then the partnership has gained national recognition and grown into a collaboration with Bloomington, Crystal, Hopkins, Richfield and St. Louis Park, as well as Hennepin County.

The goal remains the same: develop communication and understanding between officers and diverse residents. Each police department has an embedded community liaison, and police officials meet monthly with a Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) made up of residents.

The committees of volunteers have advised police on body camera policies and helped them understand consulate ID cards carried by immigrants. They’ve helped inform hiring practices and crafted more inclusive interview questions. And they’ve organized community events to bring officers into diverse spaces.

I've said it before -- decades of reform in Minneapolis still couldn't prevent the murder of George Floyd. And now we see that a department that was considered to be a model couldn't prevent the murder of Daunte Wright.

Reform efforts -- whether it's body cameras and tasers, citizen committees, "community policing," ridealongs, outreach into specific communities -- are designed to do one thing: Assuage good people's concern about the cops while keeping the money flowing.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

1. When you have people like Bob Kroll as head of the Police Union...

...all the reform in the force won't amass to much, I think.

I'm glad he's finally stepping down, but I'm sure they'll elect someone just as bad as him.

[empedocles]

3. Police unions are a major obstacle.

[Hassler]

2. "Reform" relies on the reformers--like this 26 yr. veteran cop

Which is why reforms don't usually work.

[Horse with no Name]

4. When a police force has more weapons than brains

This is the result and it is always going to be the result.

[The Magistrate]

5. At The Very Least

We would seem to be in agreement that the manner of law enforcement must be changed. Nothing in that excerpt suggests any real change in police practice, or real change in what officers are trained to do, and expected to do.

[uponit7771]

6. +1,