Sunday, July 23, 2017

"White people, are you awake now?"

Associated Press (ap.org); Pat Macpherson, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Next Minneapolis police chief tasked with changing culture
People who have worked closely with the man tapped to lead Minneapolis' embattled police department say he has qualities that would suit him well in the role: He's friendly, seems forthright, has deep roots in the city and is African-American, which could help improve the sour relationship between the police force and the city's sizeable black community.
Medaria Arradondo's long history with the department — he has risen from school resource officer and patrolman to assistant chief during his 28 years on the force — have some wondering whether an outsider might be better suited to changing the culture of the department, which has been accused of being too quick to use force.
 
Facing public anger over an officer's fatal shooting last weekend of an unarmed, white 40-year-old Australian woman who had called 911 to report hearing a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home, Mayor Betsy Hodges asked police Chief Janee Harteau to resign, which she did Friday, and nominated Arradondo as Harteau's replacement. Hodges dismissed protesters' calls for her to resign, too.
 
"Over the next few years, the Minneapolis Police Department will work to continue the transformational change that we all know we need... More

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