Speaking Out: One verdict doesn't fix the problem
The killing of George Floyd last May was horrific to watch - and many of us did - seeing officer Chauvin's knee on a Black man's neck for 9½ minutes.
After the many other events of police using excess force directed against Black people and other people of color, both before and after the death of George Floyd, we saw the nation erupt in demonstrations last year demanding police reform to stop the actions that reflect a systemic problem. Most were people of diverse backgrounds peacefully protesting. And while we can all agree that those who looted and resorted to violence should be held accountable and their actions not condoned, likewise I believe most of us feel strongly that any officer who acts with such excess force should be held accountable.
Nonetheless, many of us watched the countless hours of the recent trial of Derek Chauvin not knowing for sure what type of verdict we would see returned from the jury. We knew what we all saw and hoped the jury recognized it too, but too many cases in the past have resulted in acquittals of officers who had been accused of crossing the line.
As I watched the trial, I thought the prosecution did a superb job of making the case, methodically walking the jury through that tragic 9½ minutes, and preemptively trying to address the anticipated defense of suggesting other key causes of Floyd's death. But I was still nervous about what the jury would do.
I, like countless Americans, breathed a sigh of relief when the verdict was read. That was, however, just one case and just one jury. Sadly we have seen too many scenarios not unlike the excesses we saw in the Chauvin case. Most of us, including myself, cannot on a day-to-day basis appreciate what it is like to experience the anxiety that people of color have to deal with. Yes, we have "white privilege." We have the privilege of going out and not having to look over our shoulders, and of letting our kids go out or go for a drive without giving them a reminder talk about being extra cautious and obedient if they encounter a police officer. Of course we all should be respectful, but if you are Black it is just not the same.
It should not be this way. It has to change. But what can we all do to bring about change?
As individuals and citizens we need to call out, and yes, record, actions that appear to be wrong and excessive. It was those bystanders documenting Chauvin's conduct who helped to make the difference. We need to speak out and demand reforms at all levels of government. We were fortunate to see Illinois pass some measures in Springfield that can, and should, have a positive impact.
What we speak out for and demand makes a difference. Words matter when addressing reform. From the get-go, I always thought using slogans like "Defund the Police" was wrong even if advocates are primarily advocating change and reform. We need police in our communities to maintain public safety. We are lucky in this area that many of our communities have departments we can be proud of, and have many officers that understand how to do their jobs without escalating situations or using excess and inappropriate force.
Regardless, that is not the case in many communities and with many officers. Considering the magnitude and volume of situations we have seen and continue to see in our own metropolitan area and around the country it is hard to not acknowledge the problem is pervasive. Police around the country need more and better training. We need more and better vetting of officers throughout the nation. We need national standards on de-escalation of force and prohibition of certain methods of restraint that can lead to needless bodily injury or death. We need more and better monitoring of police engagement like body cameras. Body cameras are mandated in Illinois by 2025, but we need to insure there is proper funding to ensure implementation. We need to rethink and improve on the types of personnel used in different situations, including mental health professionals and social workers, either in lieu of or accompanying officers, and we need to provide proper funding for that type of most-appropriate staffing.
We can and must do better. Lethal force should not be used by officers in apprehending people for offenses that are not life-threatening or if the offenders are not threatening officers with lethal force or weapons. We need to mandate training on racial, religious, ethnic and discriminatory profiling by police. We need accountability and appropriate standards for being able to proceed against officers who have acted wrongfully and need to revisit insulating them from liability in appropriate situations.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (HR 7120) was passed by the House in June and begins to address many of the needed reforms; we must urge the Senate to act. The need for action should be bipartisan, and we should be urging our Senators and their colleagues to get this bill onto President Biden's desk. We need to ensure that justice and law and order are addressed on a level playing field for all.
• Elliott Hartstein is an attorney and a former village president of Buffalo Grove.