Police director’s words don’t speak nearly as loud as his actions
Hood rats.
Trenton police Director Ernie Parrey, Jr.’s employment of that description for some city neighborhood residents caused interesting push back.
A video of Parrey’s August 2016 misstep surfaced in late July as antidirector police forces circulated the embarrassing video captured by a police officer’s vest camera.
Darren Green, a community activist lambasted Parrey while Paul Perez, a likely mayoral candidate in 2018, called for Parrey’s resignation.
Parrey and his crime fighting efforts represent a talking point when mayoral candidates square off against incumbent Mayor Eric Jackson.
No surprise or upset exists here regarding the Parrey comment although it’s startling how people have reacted.
First, anyone shopping around a year-old video has a sharp-edged ax to grind against Parrey.
Parrey’s condescending and broad-brushed remark gains importance when tethered to police policy, specifically his refusal to establish foot patrols in neighborhoods.
Green told The Trentonian that Parrey’s word choice “sets a negative connotation and perpetuates a negative stereotype, which is too prevalent in our community already. Community policing is where community, which is one side of the equation, and the police, which is another side of the equation, respect, acknowledge and align together to build for viable, productive, safe and secure communities and we don’t have that because we just haven’t built those relationships. If you’re talking about building those relationships, how does this help us?”
Parrey lamented eventually. “I want to apologize for the poor choice of words that I used during the course of a conversation I had with two of my officers. By no means was my intention then, or has it ever been, to offend the good law abiding citizens of our community,” his statement read.
Despite public sentiment that desires police walking beats, a practice that establishes better community/police relationships, Parrey ha derailed foot patrols and apparently receives support from Jackson on this matter.
Police showing up only when problems exist does not build trust. In fact, officers contribute to deterioration of Trenton as they distance themselves.
The Parrey “hood rats” comment displays a disconnect and aligns with his refusal to allow police officers onto city streets.
This separation from community shows in several police activities including the department’s “Trunk or Treat” event which requires residents to visit the police department’s parking lot for an annual Halloween party.
Even the police department’s Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday basket giveaway displays detachment as fortunate families pick up their goods at police headquarters.
What Parrey and Jackson appear to not understand involves the fragmentation of once stable blocks. This city can ill afford to lose stronghold communities that work. It’s either status quo or improvement. Nothing else.
A tipping point exists for every neighborhood. Trenton needs police officers willing to engage law abiding citizens in fighting drug activity, crime, garbage, and other quality of life issues.
Effective crime fighting requires building relationships with community members. If residents believe police can be trusted with information about criminal events then perhaps people will divulge information about shootings, murder and robberies.
It’s difficult to believe that Parrey and Jackson have not implemented strategies that remove police from their tinted window vehicles and onto streets where minimal risk exists for their safety. Nothing says impersonal more than those dark glass police cars.
“I have served this city and its residents for more than 31 years. My commitment has been, and will always be, to create a bond between the community and its police department in order to make the City of Trenton a place where people feel proud and safe to live, work, visit and play,” Parrey noted.
Finally, while the term “hood rats” may disturb, Trenton residents should focus on chronic issues that dog this city’s revitalization.
Our anger ratchets up about words while silence exists about violence, murder, weeds, deplorable properties owned by despicable landlords and a litany of other issues.
Residents revolt when any white person delivers an unsavory comment but words stick in our throat when let’s say, a gunman kills one teen and wounds three others.
The men and women who overrun Trenton with their guns, drugs, violence and indecency have no resemblance to church choir members.
Call them what you will but at the end of the day, policy and action matters more than words.