Police culture in Columbus has to change
The Columbus Division of Police has long denied accusations of its inhumane treatment of minorities and its systemic racism. But many are not surprised that Columbus has become a prime example of police violence, with the misconduct and killings that have plagued the city.
If anyone doubted the enormity of this problem, a group of clergy to which I belong, now named ARC (Area Religious Coalition), presented to Mayor Andrew J. Ginther two years ago appalling proof of the problem that now has erupted on the national stage.
Under Chief Thomas Quinlan, who has 30 years with the division but was presented as the “change agent” the mayor claimed we needed, we are now experiencing “The Columbus George Floyd incident.”
Andre Hill’s killing reflects the same troubling law enforcement culture of Minneapolis. Similarly, Officer Adam Coy was enabled to pose a major threat to the community as documented through exhaustive accounts of his abuse of citizens.
These included the city paying a settlement of $45,000 when Coy slammed an intoxicated black man’s head into a police cruiser four times.
At this moment, Black officers are waiting for Chief Quinlan to address the retaliation, discrimination, and racism within the department that ARC addressed in our Seven Expectations.
Now, two years later, all can see that the real problem in Columbus is beyond body cameras and rendering aid; the egregious encounter of Officer Coy taking the life of an innocent, unarmed Andre Hill constitutes an unwarranted, unacceptable, unprovoked and unjustified murder.
Moreover, we must look at the policing culture: As in the killing of George Floyd, the officers stood there for at least five minutes, doing nothing, simply complicit in watching Andre Hill die with no level of humanity and compassion.
The killing of Casey Goodson, Jr. is similar to the killing of Andre Hill.
Neither was involved in any criminal activity, nor posed a threat to an officer. They were in a residential context were they belonged.
Both officers had been placed on another law enforcement assignment because of previous wrongdoing. What more was needed when the handwriting was on the wall?
They had reputations for terrorizing, traumatizing, and polarizing communities and extensive histories of violence and violations.
Beyond any doubt, again we see the corrosive nature of another officer in Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy Jason Meade, who should have been terminated long ago, like Coy, and ends up killing Goodson, a 23-year-old black man.
Meade stated Jesus gives credence to his use of force: “There is release in our job that, righteously, we can actually have a use of force.” He calls it “righteous release.” He acknowledges he throws the first punch, and if one of his SWAT guys throws a punch he throws one, too. Jesus never preached this from His pulpit.
Meade also admitted he “hunts people.” We see that in shooting Goodson with the intent to terminate and annihilate him.
We witness again someone who was emboldened by camaraderie to pose a threat and ultimately kill another black man because the culture in law enforcement too often condones it.
ARC appreciates Mayor Ginther taking the first step to terminate Coy, as we stated in a Dec. 23 letter. Our prayer is for the culture to change and that officers who are complicit will be held supremely accountable.
Jefferey P. Kee is pastor of New Faith Baptist Church and the Thomas/welborn Preacher for Social Change.