The family attorney for the Gray (Grey?) family was referring to the "Blue Wall of Silence". This, of course, is that "creed" that cops don't rat on one another, and "have each others' backs".
I've actually been on the wrong end of this in the past, where a superior ordered me to do something which would have been unlawful, and I refused. He, and a number of other officers, falsified reports to show that things happened in a totally different manner than they actually happened. My official report of the incident was at variance with the majority of the other reports. This was going to trial and my options were to testify against fellow officers, or resign.
There needs to be a way, particularly in touchy situations like these racially charged police shooting situations, for officers to be able to tell the truth - the whole truth and nothing but the truth - right up front. I think this is necessary as part of the effort to restore (or establish) the confidence of communities in their police departments.
No, I don't know how to make this happen.
I've actually been on the wrong end of this in the past, where a superior ordered me to do something which would have been unlawful, and I refused. He, and a number of other officers, falsified reports to show that things happened in a totally different manner than they actually happened. My official report of the incident was at variance with the majority of the other reports. This was going to trial and my options were to testify against fellow officers, or resign.
There needs to be a way, particularly in touchy situations like these racially charged police shooting situations, for officers to be able to tell the truth - the whole truth and nothing but the truth - right up front. I think this is necessary as part of the effort to restore (or establish) the confidence of communities in their police departments.
No, I don't know how to make this happen.
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