The Heat discusses policing in the US

The Heat

Policing in America – Critics say there is an institutional problem of discrimination against African Americans. But is the real problem finding blacks to serve? We’ve all seen the headlines. Unarmed black men killed while either in custody or being chased by police officers, followed by violent protests. In some cases, charges weren’t filed against the officers. The events have given rise to a debate over whether U.S. police departments discriminate against people of color and are not reflective of the communities they serve.

CCTV’s Jim Spellman provided some background on this issue.

The Heat began its discussion with these experts:

    • From Los Angeles, civil rights attorney and activist Connie Rice. She was a member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
    • Host and managing editor of TV One’s NewsOne Now, journalist and commentator Roland Martin.
    • David Thomas, a retired police officer and a certified trainer of police recruits. He also teaches Forensic Behavioral Analysis and Criminal Justice at Florida Gulf Coast University.
    • From Los Angeles, former LA Police Chief and current City Councilman, Bernard Parks.

The Heat continued its discussion about policing in America and the challenges of training and building a racially diverse force reflective of the community it serves.