[Re: Hot Type, June 25]
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
I arrested minority offenders committing murder, mugging, rape, burglary, and domestic violence on their victims who populated and passed through my assigned beats. Little did I know that I was committing the almost hate crime of racial profiling. When I made traffic stops in those areas, the violators were mostly minorities. The only feeble defense I can muster regarding this is, “They were there,” similar to Hillary’s reasoning for climbing Everest.
Most of the homes I entered on calls were inhabited by minorities. Perhaps I should have stayed away. Oh, if only I’d have been assigned to only white-populated beats, the chains of guilt that bind me would be absent. And those minority supervisors I worked under, they must have been Uncle Toms, not worthy of their positions. They expected me to maintain beat integrity (stay in my assigned area).
The public is not privy to the fact that most citizens are very pleased that we stop ne’er-do-wells, no matter what color and/or nationality. They are pleased that we stop people breaking traffic laws in their area. They say nothing in our defense because they do not want to be branded and scorned as we are. I don’t blame them.