In True Equity Means Everyone's Life Has Equal Value By Shani Bugg

What are your opinions on the police? Did you grow up in a community where you were connected with the officers in your area and had events that brought the two together? Or did you grow up in an area where you were taught to fear the police at any given moment? Maybe it is a mix of the two, or maybe it fully depended on the color of your skin. Growing up in a modern society that is constantly plagued by news stories that revolve the police, it is no wonder that there are a multitude of opinions on whether or not policing is effective. As we continue to make a shift in our thinking, we have to take a close look and examine what we think the best approach is to creating an equal, equitable, safe, consistent, and constructive mix between the

Buggs is a firm believer that the reason many communities that have low crime rates is due to the fact that the “homes are stable, the environment is healthy, there are opportunities for youth and for the families” (54). Holistically, this makes sense to me as well. When we think of areas that have a high police presence or a surplus of violent crimes, it is usually in neighborhoods that are lower income, high in drug scenarios, and low in family presence. I also agree that community policing and work is beneficial to creating a safe neighborhood. In her interview, Buggs cites, “we have to give equal voice and equal attention to the many different voices in our community and the values that they’re expressing… it takes time to engage communities in a meaningful way” (55). If we were to look at a community that focuses on foot-patrol, increased accountability, and personal bonds, there would be a higher sense of trust compared to a neighborhood that has a high car-patrol presence, corrupt systems, and officers who have no ties to the area they

This expert believes there is bias in policing, and the allocation of funds should be shifted towards underlying trauma and guilt plaguing certain communities. Growing up in Brooklyn and being imprisoned himself, Peterson has a strong grasp on what he thinks is the best way to curb violence. In sum, he thinks that the uptick in shooting rates is due to the COVID pandemic, racial upheaval, less money in lower income areas, and the public outcry that has recently occurred due to police shootings. Personally, I somewhat agree with the position Peterson takes. I believe that the funding policing receives is incredibly high and would be better served if it went to resources such as mental health programs, teen incentive programs, and health outreach in general. As Peterson said, “It’s not so much that the police are bad. That’s a cliché. It’s more that the force they wield in our community doesn’t make me feel safe”