There has been tremendous scrutiny and criticism of policing in recent months. Policing has been the lightning rod for widespread protests, a window into the failings of systemic processes and structures that have sustained otherization and marginalization, and highlighted the incompetence and misconduct of a few unfairly reflected on the entire profession.
It has become second nature to take on policing as a monolithic profession, to blame all of policing for the delinquency of a few, and it’s been easy to overlook the good. But overlooking the good is neither fair nor justifiable. The majority of officers join policing for all the right reasons, and despite the unseen vitriol of criminals, witnessing unspeakable carnage and violence, humanity at its worst, the vast majority of police officers continue to try and make their communities better places for everyone.
Policing is amongst the most important institutions of a democratic society; it is amongst the central pillars without which democracy and freedom could not exist, and yet the vast majority of us have taken our police services for granted.
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