As we are inundated by the alleged misdeeds of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the attitudes and behaviors of some of its officers, the general public is most certainly addressing this question.

What is the truth of racism and the police? We all know that some police and police agencies historically have been agents of prejudice, racism and oppression. Most, I believe, have not, at least in recent history, condoned or promoted such attitudes or behavior. However, because police agencies are staffed by human beings, the same prejudices that exist in general also exist in these agencies. Should we expect and allow these attitudes and behaviors to continue as the norm? Absolutely not.

When a man or woman possesses the authority of a peace officer, he or she accepts a responsibility to protect the public, to assist those in need and to arrest, with probable cause, those suspected of crimes. With this authority comes the mandate to do these duties with blindness to skin color, racial heritage, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification.

As citizens, we should never allow abuse by the police. We should be quick to speak up for ourselves or for the defenseless who are truly abused by the police. Conversely, we should know all the facts possible before alleging abuse, and never use racism, homophobia, sexism or any other phobia to justify improper or illegal behavior. For when we do this, those who really have been harmed because of their race or lifestyle or skin color are hard pressed to prove their cases.

We as peace officers must continue to foster trust and cooperative relationships in our communities and we must never betray that trust through prejudicial actions or by breaking the laws ourselves. We also must ask our communities to see officers as individuals and not to believe that all those who wear uniforms are racist, criminal or abusive.

None of us must believe that our neighborhoods and our relationships are, or must be, as those Hollywood and the media depicts. If we believe the movies and think all of society is as the news reports, then most African Americans are violent and deal drugs, most Hispanics are in gangs and most police are insensitive, easily bribed, quick to use violence or certainly racist. None of the above is true. And we can all work together to prove it.

Ray Edge
Deputy Chief of Police

Explanation of Courtesy Scholarship eligibility unsatisfactory
The argument of "Courtesy Scholarship eligibility based on IRS compliance" is entirely unsatisfactory. We are told that because "legal validation" is not available to same-sex domestic partners, the University has decided to extend benefits to them. Because legal adoption is a possibility for a stepchild, the University has withdrawn Courtesy Scholarships for stepchildren.

In the latter case, the meaning of "family unit" is interpreted as narrowly as possible, in accord with the strictest meaning of the so-called "traditional family." In the case of same-sex domestic partners, the meaning of "family unit" is expanded to the point of absurdity.

What are the provisions of the IRS code with respect to educational benefits for same-sex domestic partners?

Ann Hartle
Associate Professor
Philosophy

Editor's note: Emory Report has asked Human Resources to respond to Hartle's question. That reply will appear in the next issue.

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