The Lives That Matter

Remember "Black Lives Matter"? I do.

Remember how people were convinced that saying that black people shouldn't be randomly shot by the police was somehow disrespectful? I do.

Another thing: remember how the protests were concentrated, in particular, in Baltimore? I do.

Well, an interesting story recently:

A federal jury convicted two Baltimore police detectives Monday for their roles in one of the biggest police corruption scandals in city history.

Detectives Daniel T. Hersl, 48, and Marcus R. Taylor, 31, were found guilty of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and robbery. Prosecutors said they and their comrades on the Gun Trace Task Force had acted as “both cops and robbers,” using the power of their badges to steal large sums of money from residents under the guise of police work.

Please note that these are not allegations. These are convictions by a federal jury. The charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. More quotes about "the blue":

“Their business model was that the people that they were robbing had no recourse,” acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Schenning said after the verdict. “Who were they going to go to?”

To protect and serve, indeed. (BARF)

Prosecutors said police handcuffed a man, took his house keys broke into a safe in his basement and found $200,000. They took half the money, prosecutors said, returned the rest to the safe, and then filmed a video showing the officers “discovering” the smaller amount.

Exhibit A in why some people distrust the police. A (civil) defense attorney by trade, I am generally inclined to disbelieve accusations against people, particularly when levied by those in positions of authority. Stories like this don't help. I do, however, recognize that as a white male who earns an above-average living, I am a walking poster board for privilege, especially when it comes to the police.

Hersl was charged with taking part in the robbery of $20,000 from a Carroll County home after a man and his wife were detained without having committed a crime. Officers testified that Hersl was among a group that split up the money at a bar afterward.

I think my point has been made. For those who haven't grasped it, I will put the point in bold for you: The Black Lives Matter protests were justified, and the people participating therein had a point.

I wonder, though, what a Google search of "IMPD convicted" would turn up? Of course, we would get some David Bisard stories. Who among us has ever heard of the following, though:

• Christopher Charles' domestic violence issues;
• Allen Johnson's drinking/driving/crashing into telephone poles proclivities;
• Bryan Neal's "drinking and copping" hobby;
• John Constable using his girlfriend as a punching bag;
• David Butler stealing from the dead;
• Jason Edwards, Robert Long, and James Davis' drug-dealing ring; or
• Courtney Harris raping a woman while on duty.

I don't mean to pick on the IMPD. Coming from Ft. Wayne and having lived in Chicago, I can say that the IMPD is head and shoulders superior to the police force in those cities. Furthermore, I can say that my impression of the Speedway Police Department has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Nonetheless, remember these things the next time someone ponders why people would protest the police or mindlessly refers to the Black Lives Matter crowd as somehow "criminal." Sometimes, the police neither serve nor protect and instead merely victimize, just like those the police are paid to put in jail.