If you took a speech or rhetoric class in school you might remember the styles associated with persuasion, from the Greek ethos (appeal to character and credibility), logos (appeal to logic and reasoning), and pathos (an appeal to emotion).
In our current polarized public discussions about law enforcement and the use of deadly force, I would suggest that we step back for a moment from the emotional arguments and feelings we have about these topics. Instead let us discuss logic, credibility, and the human side of those of us who have chosen law enforcement as our profession.
The controversial shooting of John T. Williams in Seattle has received a great deal of attention. Police contacts and uses of force, videotaped and broadcast repeatedly on YouTube, have markedly changed our public discourse about law enforcement. Each incident in which officers use deadly force results in a flurry of negativity about “trigger-happy cops” and references to “officers being more concerned with their own safety than the safety of the public.”
Contrast this to the public sentiment last year after the shooting deaths of six officers in a short time in the Puget Sound area. The funerals and memorials resulted in a tidal wave of appreciation for law enforcement.
Of course, the reality is in between these two extremes. Officers are human beings who do some good things and who sometimes make mistakes. As a profession, we are uncomfortable drawing attention to the heroic and the notable, and our humility sometimes allows those who have a different perspective to be the only voice you hear.
Viewing the topic logically, the Seattle Police Department handles over 200,000 calls for service each year. An amazingly high percentage of these often intractable and complex circumstances are dealt with effectively, courteously, and quietly. When deadly force is used, the courts have an extensive inquest process which will closely examine the incident, and a jury of citizens will determine the facts. In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office reviews each event to determine if any officer or deputy should be criminally charged.
Integrity and credibility require transparency and a willingness to be aggressive about rooting out bad cops and dealing with bad faith acts. We should be able to let the public know what we are doing. Legitimacy and public support are our profit and loss statement, and we need to pay close attention to it. However, to suggest that officers care more about the safety of themselves than the public, or that we are cavalier about deadly force, is simply and unequivocally wrong.
This summer, three City of Kent Officers ultimately used deadly force when a man threatened suicide, said he had a gun in his pocket, and aggressively charged the officers after two hours of negotiation. Citizen jurors in the week-long inquest unanimously determined that the officers simply did what they had to do.
In this logical inquest process, which is aimed at ensuring credibility and transparency, what was striking during the testimony was the genuine emotion shown by each officer, including those who negotiated toward a peaceful outcome for over two hours, and by the officers who ultimately were forced to fire their weapons. They spoke of the way time slowed down, of thoughts of their families, their colleagues, and most importantly, the fact that no one becomes a police officer to take a life. Taking a life is the most impactful and important decision any of us has to make. As human beings with integrity, we do not take it lightly — ever.
None of this implies in any way that officers are always right. We do make mistakes, and we are subject to internal investigations, the Prosecutor’s Office, the court inquest system, and ultimately public review to determine legality and propriety when officers use deadly force. I am suggesting, however, that we tone down the hyperbole and take a thoughtful approach that balances logic, credibility, and emotion. This balance serves as the foundation for making sure law enforcement is both respected and respectful.
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