Police culture needs to change

So body cameras don’t reduce police violence, it just stays at the same level. Why wouldn’t we want even the current levels of police violence to be on video?

Citizens will not get the policing they expect unless the culture in police organizations is changed.

At the EPS, you can’t become a sergeant until you have had several years as a constable. You can’t become a staff sergeant until you have had several years as a sergeant. You can’t become an inspector until you have had several years as a staff sergeant. By then, the existing culture (including racial bias) is so ingrained that you don’t see anything wrong.

Citizens have a role in creating the laws we expect people in our great nation and province to follow. It is time we got back to having a say in the operational procedures and processes that enforce those laws. Otherwise, respect for police officers will continue to decline.

Hopefully, the city’s task force will bring about the necessary reforms to make policing part of the community and the community part of policing. It can be done. Let’s start today.

Erv Krawchuk, Edmonton