A police officer in Birmingham, Alabama, is lucky to be alive after he was sucker punched and pistol-whipped unconscious on August 7. He hesitated to open fire on his African-American assailant because of the recent media attacks on police officers.
The officer of six years pulled over 34-year-old Janard Cunningham after noticing he was driving recklessly on the interstate. The officer called for backup before Cunningham brutally attacked him, according to CNN.
Witnesses did nothing to help.
Instead, they took pictures of the officer on the ground, bleeding, and posted them on social media. Tweets included captions such as “pistol whipped his ass to sleep” with the hashtag “F Da Police.”
Police officers have gotten a storm of negative attention lately for using excessive force with African-Americans, often resulting in their deaths.
I won’t deny there are corrupt cops. One in Baltimore was charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and assault according to the Baltimore Sun. A $5.9 million cash settlement was reached in the case of Eric Garner’s death by his family with New York City, according to the New York Post. Two cops in Cleveland could face charges for Tamir Rice’s death, according to Time Magazine.
The bad ones are out there, but the good ones far outnumber them.
We can’t let what some police officers have done dictate how we view police officers as a whole. They deserve respect. They do not deserve the inhumane treatment the Birmingham police officer received.
Current media attention on the police makes them hesitant to defend themselves to the point of it endangering their lives.
“A lot of officers are being too cautious because of what’s going on in the media. I hesitated because I didn’t want to be in the media like I am right now,” the assaulted police officer in Birmingham said.
Police officers are “walking on eggshells because of how they’re scrutinized in the media,” said Heath Boackle, a sergeant with the Birmingham Police Department.
Our culture has attacked the virtue of law enforcement and disregarded the incredible work they do to protect our families, homes and businesses. Prevailing attitudes in the media and elsewhere make criminals victims and those risking their lives villains.
This illustrates a growing problem in our society — people do not respect the police and do not want to be held accountable to the law. Popular culture attacks and degrades the gatekeepers of the criminal justice system.
Despite the current attitudes toward police, when Louisiana Trooper Steven Vincent was shot Sunday, and died Monday in Lake Charles, bystanders wrestled the shooter to the ground, took his gun and called for help on the police radio. This is the reaction a wounded police officer deserves.
Officers like Vincent are the reason law enforcement should have our full respect. He received multiple honors during his decade serving Louisiana. He also served in the United States Army during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, according to CNN.
“Trooper Vincent epitomizes all that is great about our organization. He didn’t just believe in our core values, he lived them,” Col. Michael Edmonson, superintendent of Louisiana State Police said to CNN.
“Brave men and women like Steven put their lives in danger every day to protect our families, and we are extremely grateful to them for keeping us safe,” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said in a statement.
I wish more people expressed that gratitude instead of Tweeting pictures of an injured officer bleeding. I wish more people said “thank you” instead of “F da police!”
No police officer should ever, upon being physically attacked doing his or her job, be mocked and ridiculed on social media.
These men and women have families and most have an outstanding record of public service behind them. Many have served in the United States military while others dreamed of being in law enforcement their entire lives.
They have lives and futures that matter and deserve nothing but our utmost respect and sincerest gratitude.
Caitlyn Atkinson is an 18-year-old mass communication sophomore from Pride, Louisiana. You can reach her on Twitter @catkin105.