Violence is a major problem in Indianapolis. More and more frequently reports detail the latest surge of criminal activity and deaths throughout the city. Making the problem even more significant is the scope of crime in Indianapolis: it encompasses all areas – north, south east and west.
When crime increases, so too do conversations about how to decrease crime, thus an array of opinions surface from a wide range of individuals who are all concerned citizens.
One such individual offered a very controversial solution to the city’s gun violence issue. Rev. Charles Harrison, a local pastor and leader of the Ten Point Coalition believes police officers should be allowed to randomly stop and frisk anyone they suspect of a criminal activity. The key word in the last sentence is “suspect.” Under the stop-and-frisk approach, it is an officer’s discretion who to frisk. That means a law-abiding individual who isn’t carrying a gun or doing anything “suspicious” can simply walk down the street or enter into a restaurant, yet be subjected to being stopped and patted down by a member of law enforcement simply because the officer “suspects” the individual may have a gun or be up to no good.
The largest problem with the stop-and-frisk approach is that it is based on an officer’s discretion. Recent documented videos and reports nationwide demonstrate how some police officers don’t exercise proper discernment upon approaching “suspects.” Oftentimes the officer’s lack of judgment resulted in intimidation, bodily injury and even the death of a “suspect.” An even more unfortunate aspect of the stop-and-frisk approach is what we have learned from other states: the procedure overwhelmingly targets Blacks and Latinos.
Harrison and his anti-crime group are often on the front lines in high-crime areas or on the scene during the aftermath of violent crimes. Harrison obviously has a level of passion for the community, which makes his stop-and-frisk suggestion all the more bizarre to me.
Like so many of us, I imagine Harrison is tired of the crime plaguing our city. Like many of us, I believe Harrison wants the violence to stop yesterday. And like many of us, Harrison is ready for something to be done to combat the issue of violence.
However, we cannot eliminate one problem by creating another.
Racial profiling has long been an issue for minorities. For years we have been unfairly targeted or discriminated against. Oftentimes that maltreatment is from a member of law enforcement. Allowing police officers the autonomy to randomly search someone gives some of them – those that may not be progressive in their thinking and actions – permission to exercise their racist or discriminatory views.
When asked by a local reporter his thoughts on the claims many Blacks make of racial profiling, Harrison was steadfast in his response.
“The police are going to racial profile our kids,” said Harrison. “These are the same kids that are killing one another. Where are your voices then? These are the same kids,” said Harrison.
Indiana and much of the country have a problem with Black-on-Black crime. We should be equally as outraged about deaths committed against one another as we are about deaths committed at the hands of law enforcement. But I repeat: we cannot eliminate one problem by creating another.
What we can do is implement a more well-rounded approach that includes individuals, neighborhoods and schools.
Individuals must do more when they witness crimes or have information regarding individuals who commit crimes. The backward, unproductive perspective some Blacks have on snitching needs to stop. We must individually take a more progressive approach toward combating crime.
The same goes for neighborhoods. When you see something suspicious or illegal occurring, report it! There are ways to do so and maintain anonymity.
Many of the people committing crimes are teenagers and young adults. This is why schools need to get more involved. I recently had a meeting with Indianapolis Public Schools Supt. Dr. Lewis Ferebee and I asked what IPS was doing to better equip students with the tools necessary to stay out of trouble. I didn’t get a straight answer. Sadly, the other school districts in Indianapolis probably couldn’t answer my question directly either.
The time is now for schools to implement conflict resolution, proper decision-making skills and accountability in their curriculums. No school district is exempt from the crime Indianapolis has been experiencing. It is a problem that has affected students across this state, so all districts need to be more proactive and creative in how they educate students.
Parents also have to be more engaged. Know what your children are doing. Pay attention to their behaviors. Know who they are spending time with. And hold them accountable. Before individuals, neighborhoods and schools get involved, the parents should already be actively engaged in their children’s lives.
When all of these things are done collectively, perhaps we will see a reduction in crime. Law enforcement can’t do it alone. Everyone needs to be involved in reducing crime in the city.
