YOUNGSTOWN – The conversation about how safe black people should feel around law enforcement officers continued this week with remarks from Captain Kevin Mercer of the Youngstown Police Department, who said it would be more productive if executives “stopped demonizing law enforcement officers “.
Mercer’s letter was written in response to a dated Saturday by Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian calling on James Rowley, president of the Youngstown Police Association Patrol Union, for Rowley’s written criticism of the remarks made by Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown.
Brown spoke at the May 25 memorial service in Youngstown for George Floyd, a black man who had died a year earlier after white Minneapolis police officer held Derek Chauvin Floyd on the floor with one knee by his neck for more than nine minutes . Brown reflected on how many more black people today “worry about whether we will be arrested, tried and put to death on the curb by law enforcement”.
The mayor later made it clear that his remarks were not directed against Youngstown police officers. “I was talking about the national narrative,” he said.
Rowley said, “Youngstown Police Department members rarely use violence and are rarely found to have used excessive force.”
Limbian’s letter asked why Rowley didn’t mention his dislike of the mayor’s remarks when Rowley and Limbian spoke after the George Floyd Memorial Thursday.
“If you had even mentioned that you were formulating a head-on attack on the mayor, we could have discussed whether there really is a problem,” said Limbian.
Mercer responded to this in a letter to various city officials this week, saying it was wrong of Limbian “summarily to accuse Rowley of not being righteous and having possible alternative motives”.
Mercer went on to express his frustration that “the first reaction to anyone who questions the systemic narrative in law enforcement is to ‘strike them forehead’ and question their characters and motives. “
He said, “Perhaps the main factor in incidents of violence is respect for authority and compliance with law enforcement during an encounter. Maybe that’s just part of the story. While I can’t pretend I know how every single law enforcement agency works in this country, I can speak as an expert on the use of force with over three decades of combined martial arts and defense tactics training.
“The police never determine whether and how much violence is used. We are merely reacting to and reacting to a person’s actions. While inexperienced and inexperienced individuals may not fully appreciate or recognize the clues present during an encounter and their relationship to rapidly evolving dynamic situations that can escalate quickly, trained law enforcement officers do.
He said that in situations where lethal force is improperly used by police officers, “most of it is due to improper de-escalation, split-second decision-making, or inadequate training. While I can certainly appreciate different perspectives and understand that “perception is reality,” perhaps ending the demonization of law enforcement officers and the institution we represent would be a more productive approach.
“Which facility? Holding the thin blue line. What is the thin blue line? The fine line between order and chaos that some of our bravest and best citizens of this country hold. It really is as simple as that for the men and women of law enforcement. The facts I know after 25 years and a nightmarish amount of field experience and incidents are these: NATIONWIDE police officers are some of the most professional and compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to work and meet with.
“We work tirelessly long hours for a mediocre wage, work day and night, including holidays, work in all weathers, master situations most people cannot fathom, and will willingly sacrifice our own lives to save the life of a fellow citizen .
“Finally, let’s do a better job as politicians, managers and law enforcement officers. There needs to be an open, honest and direct dialogue from both the community and law enforcement agencies. “
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