Law-abiding citizens should be respected – Pasadena Now

After weeks without a pot, I decided to cook at least two colums this week.

Across the country, much is being done about pretexts to stop.

By now, many of us know what a pretext stop is.

According to the city memo, a pretextal suspension is a person’s suspension for a minor crime, such as a traffic violation, because a police officer believes the person was involved in or committed another, more serious crime. to detain a person.

Statistics show that people of color are more likely to be subject to suspension on the pretext.

I already addressed the cessation of pretext here before this issue was brought into question by the Office of Independent Review (OIR) investigation in the Anthony MacLaine case.

No, this is a completely different take.

I don’t think the police are wrong every time they pull over a person.

As a matter of fact, I want them to stop the bad guys. Stop them, confiscate drugs and guns, and keep your citizens safe.

Of course, it all comes with police staying within the law.

We all have rights and they must be respected.

Here I feel the need for change.

Too often good people are stopped, interrogated and treated like bad people.

You know, mediocre Joe was heading home after a hard day’s work, only to be pulled over, treated with suspicion, presented with papers, asked where he went, where he was. must be made clear.

Believe me, it’s happened to me many times, more in Altadena than in Pasadena, but the point is the same.

Too many of us stop when standing, breathing, walking, sitting, or jogging.

That’s why so many black men who have done nothing wrong are terrified when they see a red light behind them.

They were treated like criminals and forced to sit on the curb while their cars were inspected.

have been to.

I was asked if they were part of a gang.

have been to.

I asked if there was a weapon in the car.

have been to.

Still, I have no criminal record.

The treatment makes it appear as if part of the pretextual suspension is actually pretextual guilt.

No, not every time.

Of course, there are cases where the police have to escort law-abiding citizens, but even then the procedure should be simple.

Warn them or write them on the ticket and let them leave.

Of course, the public needs to respond kindly to that. It’s a two-way street.

Of course, police work is hard, and it’s a job I don’t want to do, especially in this day and age where all police officers are treated with derision.

Simply put, it’s time to bridge the divide between the police and people of color.

Let’s bridge that gap with respect for both sides.