Jackson Free Press

I began my life in the shadows of Christian Brotherhood Apartments, where I developed a latent fear for law enforcement. Back then, the sound of police sirens was constant, and the piercing blue lights glared outside my window more often than not. It was never under favorable circumstances.

When my family moved to the much different scenery of Northgate, I didn't hear the sirens as often, but it still didn't mean anything good.

Officer Friendly came to my school, and he was a pretty nice guy. However, he was never the guy you met out on the streets. I suppose to a lot of kids in Jackson, Officer Friendly was just
a character.

As I grew older, that fear turned to distrust. That distrust turned to outright disdain after many "eventful" stops by the police. As a young African American male, I can say that the stories you've heard are true. There is an underlying tension on the streets of Jackson. A tension void
of respect.

However, after my recent ride-along through Precinct 2, I have a newfound respect and admiration for what our brothers behind the badge do.

They are much maligned, but I now know that few men and women would dare do what they do. And for meager pay, no less. These Jackson police officers enjoy their jobs, but frankly, they could use some help. During my ride-along, I learned that they are indeed overworked and that precincts are understaffed most days. This is not because of bad leadership, but because they simply don't have the manpower.

Most of the officers work second jobs because the ends don't meet on a JPD salary. Some of them share cars. And, like any other job, officers call in sick or ask for time off. Top that with no sleep, stress and a not-too-supportive public, and I can't believe that I was not more compassionate.

From where I sit, our officers need two things: a full time public relations person and a lobbyist. JPD does dozens of positive things every day, but as is the case with the city of Jackson, we only hear the negative. As for a lobbyist, these men and women need financial relief. They need better technology, better salaries for officers and civilian workers and new vehicles. Think about that next time you have the opportunity to vote for a tax that could get JPD more funds. Right now, the money's simply not there.

Our Leadership Jackson class has pledged be an ally to our protectors in the police department. Of course there are some bad apples in the bunch. Response time is slow, and morale is in the dumps. But a great number of officers are genuine people just trying to do a job. They deserve our respect and support.

For me, I've got years of suspicion to work through, but after riding shotgun with Jackson's finest, I am willing to meet them halfway.

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.

Previous Commentsshow

There is much more to this Brad. You are correct about the need for technology and equipment upgrades. The root problem has nothing to do with either. There are still way too many JPD officers who are rude, unconcerned, lazy, and just not very bright. And that is just to start.

blkjazz

May 13 2009

Blkjazz, this column was definitely not to be the end all be all as it pertains to problems with JPD. I'm still way too disconnected and have way too much animosity built up to try and answer ALL the problems. I'm sure there are rude, lazy, disinterested officers. But they don't make up the majority of the force. As is the norm in Jxn all you hear is the negative. This column is MY personal experience and I am the better for it. I have more respect and admiration for what they have to do. I certainly wouldn't do it.

Kamikaze

May 13 2009

While I admit that I lack any quantitative evidence and rely purely on my own experience over 59 years of living in Jackson, I think the rude, unconcerned, lazy and not very bright ones do in fact make up the majority of JPD officers. It is a very unfortunate situation and it is certainly not limited to Jackson. Still, until we can find a way to hire reasonably intelligent folks who respect the law and the people they are working for, JPD will remain the biggest problem this city has.

blkjazz

May 13 2009

Duly noted. Everyone's experiences are different and trust my run-ins haven't been pleasant ones. I've placed complaints with I.A. Several times in my life. I don't know your experiences. This isn't a praise piece per se' but an acknowledgement that JPD needs help and that there ARE good officers in the ranks who aren't like the ones you described. It certainly opens the doors for discussion

Kamikaze

May 13 2009

Thanks for this. I "get" police officers. Well, except for the ones who take out their work stress on young people in the city... Police officers get paid very little money for very many hours of highly stressful situations that could very well take their lives. So many of the "bad guys" working the system against them. They deserve more respect than we give them. It seems like we as a society give more respect to the criminal than those who protect and serve with the crap referred to as "snitching" and a street code that only hurts us. I had a friend once who HATED police officers. Everytime he'd get pulled over he would just go nuts about the damn police. It seemed much simpler to me for the guy to quit speeding and committing other crimes. Or maybe just show the officer some respect; he's only doing his job. He doesn't make the laws; he just has to enforce them. But, you know, I also get unnerved when I'm at the mall or somewhere and a mom tells a child to straighten up or "that officer will get you." Not really. The officer is there to help. Unless of course you are breaking the law.

emilyb

May 13 2009

Internal affairs at JPD is a joke......a very bad joke. Folks file complaints and the whole thing just disappears. How can JPD clean up the city when it can't even police itself? Brad I hope your efforts will result in some positive change. The new mayor can set the tone. It will be interesting to see what happens.

blkjazz

May 14 2009

[comment removed by request]

Heccup2

May 14 2009

Heccup, When can I begin to assume that the JPD officers who catch my case are lazy and unconcerned? When their attitude and demeanor scream I don't care that you have been burglarized, your vehicle damaged and your property stolen? If that is not the time to assume they are lazy and unconcerned I don't know when it would be. How about when I call to find out if there has been any progress in my case and they can't remember who the hell I am or what the problem was. Is it then? How about a year later after they never find my stolen car and I never hear another thing about it? At what point after a year can I begin to assume that they are unconcerned? How about when a car is reported towed away to the JPD and then the owner of that car reports it stolen after it's been reported to the JPD as towed away and the "Detectives" still can't find the car? Even though a wrecker company has reported to them, as the law requires, the location of vehicle. Then, when the vehicle is auctioned by the wrecker company because it has been considered abandoned, the citizen who reported his vehicle stolen and trusted his police department to help him or her is just out of luck. What assumptions can I draw then? Which adjective does not apply? Lazy? Unconcerned? Rude? Not so bright? The so called Detectives couldn't detect their ass with a map and both hands. These are just a few examples of my own personal experiences with Jackson's *cough* finest. You want respect? Respect is earned, not an entitlement. And I will judge, Police officers chose to become a public servant for whatever their reasons may be. I will judge their performance and professionalism every time I have to deal with the department. I wrote my own poem about it. Like to hear it? Here it goes; Roses are red Violets are blue Hope you don't become a victim of crime in Jackson If you do, you are screwed. P.S. You're welcome.

WMartin

May 14 2009

Folks, a police-related aside. Ward is working on a story about Michael Recio -- before Ridgeway Street. He'd love to talk to some officers and others who know him and/or worked with him. Be in touch with him at ward@jacksonfreepress.com if you can help him. Thanks!

DonnaLadd

May 14 2009

I'm no Sylvia Plath or anything but I'm guessing Heccup isn't a poetry fan.

WMartin

May 14 2009