![]() These can be negotiated and perhaps be included as part of the standard shift hours officers perform each month. Instead of pursuing a required change of residence, I recommend that police who don’t live in the precinct where they are assigned perform a certain number of hours of community service in that precinct each month. Two, unless specified, the officer could live in a part of the city outside their precinct, negating the intended objective of knowing their community. One, forcing someone to sell their home and move will breed resentment against their new neighbors, much like forced busing did in Boston decades ago. In the recent special session, some recommended that Minneapolis police be required to live within the city limits. George Floyd’s tragic death was not due to a lack of training - the training was there.” ( “Police chief says ‘This was murder,’ ” front page, June 24.) Classroom education provides knowledge of what is proper behavior, but research has proven that it has little impact on the attitudes that drive behavior it shows that new experiences are needed to change attitudes.īecause only about 8% of Minneapolis police officers live within the city limits, they have little opportunity to personally know their constituents, to see them as unique individuals. In fact, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said, “Mr. Recommending that errant police are required to “attend a mandated re-education program,” as recent letter writers suggested, has merit however, it is very unlikely to change an officer’s behavior on the street. I accepted the mayor’s apology, and Floyd would be happy to know that his death is starting to roll the rusty, creaky and stubborn wheels of change. The hourlong amicable sit-down chat was part of the ripple effect of healing from the George Floyd killing. The all-white jury decided that the police were wrong, and Mayor Harris took it upon himself to come over and surprise me by saying he was sorry for their misdeeds. Mayor Harris wasn’t born yet when I took the police to federal court for civil rights violations. Way back at that time, I must have driven a valley too far. The product he was pitching was an apology for the ordeal that I endured 50 years ago at the hands of the Golden Valley police. When I opened the door, I was relieved to see that it wasn’t the police tactical squad, but it was a diminutive gentleman in a suit and tie who introduced himself as Shep Harris, mayor of Golden Valley. It was a knock of authority that rattled walls and windows. In this day and age of sales pitches, it’s easy to ignore a knock at the door, but the person pounding on my door wasn’t in the mood for being ignored. ![]()
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