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by Rama K. Ramaswamy
In the aftermath of Wellesley Police Chief Terrence M. Cunningham’s internet- breaking, official apology during a speech in San Diego as the president of what is considered one of the nation’s largest police organizations - the International Association of Chiefs of Police - the WPD has a fielded a record-breaking response. Sources at the WPD said last week that calls and inquiries were in the thousands.
In his speech, Chief Cunningham said he would “like to take a moment to address a significant and fundamental issue confronting our profession, particularly in the United States…” He spoke about the role law enforcement has played “in society’s historical mistreatment of communities of color.” Furthermore, in a subsequent press release, he explained his sentiments and said: “there have been times when law enforcement officers, because of the laws enacted by federal, state, and local governments, have been the face of oppression for far too many of our fellow citizens,” and that this “dark side of our shared history” has created a deep mistrust of police in communities of color. In an interview just a few days after this, he said: “If we’re really going to try and bridge this gulf we have, it’s going to take some bold leadership. It’s going to take people to stand up… lives have already been lost. It’s got to end.”
Many media outlets acknowledge that Chief Cunningham’s apology is especially poignant due to it’s timing, during what is clearly a period of intense national scrutiny and microscopic focus on how police interact with community members and their treatment of minorities. Towards the end of his speech, Chief Cunningham spoke of his hopes for the future. “If either side in this debate fails to acknowledge these fundamental truths, we will be unlikely to move past them … By working together, we can break this historic cycle of mistrust and build a better and safer future for us all.” According to the Associated Press, he received a standing ovation. The International Association of Chiefs of Police has approximately 20,000 members worldwide.
Just a few weeks ago, at the World Of Wellesley’s third annual Diversity Summit, primarily sponsored by the Wellesley Community Center, one attendee remarked that he was “glad to see so many police officers attending” the summit, because he could still remember a time when a “police presence wasn’t terribly comfortable.”
WOW President Michelle Chalmers said, “I emailed the Chief soon after the remarks to thank him for his courageous expression of acknowledgement and validation of the very real history of oppression, discrimination and mistreatment of people of color by law enforcement in this country. I agree, an apology is an important step in moving forward and engaging together towards creating justice for all. The World of Wellesley is currently planning a town wide forum with Chief Cunningham and other town leaders to gather and discuss these important issues. It will hopefully be scheduled for the spring.”
When asked, why the Chief, as he’s addressed in Wellesley, felt that he should speak up about the historical treatment of minorities, especially now, he said: “Even though progress has been made in improving community-police relations, more must be done to move the conversation forward and enhance that valuable and necessary relationship. That requires that we acknowledge that there has been a historical cycle of mistrust that we, as police, need to recognize. As I sat through the memorial services in Dallas and Baton Rouge, I watched as family members and loved ones consoled each other as they sat, emotionally exhausted and likely asking themselves why. I felt an urgent sense of responsibility and moral obligation that something more had to be done to protect law enforcement officers and prevent more senseless tragedies. In the many conversations that I have had on community-police relations, I realized that in order to move forward, we need to acknowledge historic injustices. I understand that not everyone will embrace the message we are carrying forth. However, in no way does recognizing historical injustice discredit or take away from the nobility and valor of the profession today. In fact, in my remarks, I highlighted the fact that the law enforcement profession is replete with examples of bravery, self-sacrifice and service to the community.
Furthermore, I made specific reference to the fact that police are required to enforce the laws enacted by federal, state and local government and, thereby, are the face of a good or bad law. I made it clear that at its core, policing is a noble profession made up of women and men who have sworn to place themselves between the innocent and those who seek to do them harm. I also was very clear in stating that today’s officers are not to blame for the injustices of the past, and those who denounce the police must realize this. Communities and law enforcement need to begin a healing process and this acknowledgement is a bridge to begin that dialogue”.
When asked why he believed an apology was the best way to express his sentiments, he said: “In order to move forward, I believe that we needed to acknowledge that historic inequities have created a multigenerational mistrust between many communities of color and their law enforcement agencies. Communities of color need to know we hear their concerns in the hope they also hear ours. My statement signals our fervent desire to bridge the current gulf of mistrust within our communities of color. Acknowledging what brought us to this current point, I believe, will form a deeper sense of trust, respect and empathy among communities and law enforcement agencies. My hope is this will inspire more peaceful actions, and stronger, more robust relationships between agencies and the communities they serve; improved trust will foster greater officer safety”.
When asked what was his goal to accomplish by issuing these statements, he said: “I understand that not everyone will embrace our acknowledgement; however, it is my hope that many law enforcement officials of all ranks will deliver this same message to their communities, particularly those segments of their communities that lack trust and feel disenfranchised. Our hope is by acknowledging what history tells us to be true, we can help reduce some of the tension that puts our officers in harm’s way. If we are brave enough to collectively deliver this message, we will build a better and safer future for our communities, our law enforcement officers and our nation. Too many lives have been lost already and this must end. Once these words are delivered, we must follow-up with action and that will take the initiative, drive and courage of all sides. We must get out of our respective corners and be willing to sit down and have meaningful conversations. We have to be willing to compromise. We need to be bold enough to take a step forward and have thoughtful and productive conversations that acknowledge the hardships of both sides and search for policy-based solutions that not only work to improve the criminal justice system, but take into account other aspects of our societies systems that are failing our communities”.
When asked how he would describe the response he has received as a result of his apology statements, he said, “This has been overwhelming. Many law enforcement officials believe it is time to begin a healing process. I understand that not everyone will embrace our acknowledgement; however, I strongly encourage everyone to read the entire statement, or watch the video, for complete context. I’m hopeful that this is a step forward, and can help strengthen and rebuild the relationship between communities and the police. We must break the cycle of mistrust. We need to acknowledge how and why communities and law enforcement got to this point. The healing process has to begin”.
Many community members in Wellesley believe that “policing is a very difficult job” and that the police are tasked with bridging the gaps that our society, as a whole, is unable or unwilling to grapple with. Overall, Wellesley’s response has been a positive one, determined to “work together” and keep working to build a better tomorrow. To view the video, go to: www.wbur.org/news/2016/10/17/terrence-cunningham-policing-apology
