I spent a good part of my career working in a tough urban ghetto. I only mention this here to explain why the otherwise shocking story from Los Angeles does not surprise me one bit. Apparently Earl Hutchinson is more concerned with the police department’s reputation than a child’s welfare.
If you have been following the Starkeisha Brown issue, you know that she severely beat, burned, abused, and generally tortured her 5-year-old son. The latest update from the newspaper of record in L.A. brings to light a more sinister sub-plot: Everyone involved in Brown’s life suspected the abuse and did nothing!
Read carefully this piece from the L.A. Times and I hope you get as sick as I did for years when I heard the same sorry excuses. “We don’t trust the police,” or “The man will just make this worse.” Pathetic.
The truth is that the mostly African American residents of south central Los Angeles “don’t snitch” no matter what.
Observe the quote by Ms. Daniels: “In South-Central, we don’t do that. I’m just telling you how it is.”
Even when a child is dying. The truth is that the so-called community leaders like Hutchinson continue to refuse to call this what it is: Cultural conspiracy. Every one of those people is responsible, in a direct and absolute way, for burns and cuts and bruises on this victim’s body. Yet his only explanation is:
” Hutchinson and others said suspicion and fear of authorities runs deep in parts of South L.A. “
Oh, it’s the police department and social services agencies’ fault. I have a suggested quote for Mr. Hutchinson to substitute:
” Residents of our poorest neighborhoods need to set aside their self-victimization mentality and call the police if a child is in trouble.”
I guess now they will call me a racist. I thought that child abuse would be serious enough for leaders to finally step up and challenge the Black community to break their silence. The truth is I was wrong.
Jun 30, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Hey there– just checking in to see if you have posted anything new and to see if 406 has been around– I like 406– pretty sharp person!
xxxxx
Jul 1, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I work in the bay area and I too have seen terrible things. Unfortunately, some of these things have been polarized by so called
“community leaders” and we, the police are always caught in the middle. I didn’t get into this job so I could chose who I wanted to help and why. I got in to this job because I wanted to save lives. So many of us feel your frustration. Sadly, it will not end. As each day passes, the thin blue line stretches even thinner.
Jul 2, 2008 at 10:19 am
to skins112–
but then there are people like myself who truly appreciates the great service you all do to try to keep us safe! I couldn’t do the job– so my son does it for me! But I will get involved when I see something is criminal– and I don’t even think about getting hurt!
Happy 4th!
Jul 5, 2008 at 9:14 am
Hi PC–
Awful about the fires in CA!
Hope you and loved ones, friends et al are safe!
Jul 8, 2008 at 8:59 am
Hey, Susan and PC and Skins112!
Sinks – I agree with your thought. But I also remind that the thin blue line had always been thin and will always be thin. I have absolute faith that it will always be there – some days thinner, some days thicker, but always there.
I’m proud to have been part of that thin blue line, and I continue to be proud to be able to be what thin part of it I can be.
Susan – it’s so neat to have supporters and folks who realize what cops have to put up with.
And PC – it’s so nice to have someone like you put up a blog that can let anybody who stops by to see that the folks who make up the thin blue line can think, walk, and talk, and have morals, and all the things that other normal people do.
I have a thin blue line on my car because I’m proud. I know some cops look with disdain on that display, and they have their reasons. I don’t disparage them. I’m just one who is proud enough to have that small, unobtrusive display of a thin blue line on a black background.
Keep the faith, all! (I was right busy on the 4th weekend, working the mobile command post for boat races on 3rd and 4th – thankfully no major incidents or injuries. The thin blue line and thin red line did a great job – both paid and volunteer folks!)
406, OUT
Jul 8, 2008 at 9:01 am
Sorry about the horrendous typo, Skins… My fingers get dyslexic sometimes and type the wrong letter first… I know you’re not “Sinks…”
406, eating humble pie, and OUT
Jul 13, 2008 at 5:16 pm
it a chicken or the egg situation.
maybe if police treated people with respect people would trust them more.
http://citosh.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/police-prosecutors-witnesses-who-falsely-accuse-should-be-made-to-pay-for-those-they-have-falsely-imprisoned/
Aug 20, 2008 at 12:52 am
When I went to NY the cops were all, yes all, jerks.
Then I hear about my friend being taken into a black SUV during a raid he was not apart of and then forced to sign a confession to seeing certain things that he had not seen.
I’ve been displeased with NYPD for multiple reasons. But then again, they are only making 35K. I make that in 4 months!
Aug 25, 2008 at 10:14 pm
It’s not a good sign for the humanity. This issue has turned around intensively and the abuse is to be suspected though. I think that child abuse would be serious enough for leaders to finally step up and challenge the Black community to break their silence. But it seems a different story.