THE
'" PISCOPAL CHURCI l
. THE
DIOCESE OF LOS A~GEL t: S
YE RI CH I Rf'.\ I p~ \ f) I IU t ;, I 'I ·~CH n 13'5Hor
May 17, 1991
Remarks to the Independent Commission of the Los Angeles Police
Department
by the Rt . Rev. Frederick H. Borsch
Bishop
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this Commission and
to share these thoughts and concerns as a representative of the
Episcopal Church in this region and as a member of the Council of
Religious Leaders.
First of all I want to join with those who would testify to the
many fine relationships among peoples of different backgrounds in
Los Angeles. We have a long distance to go to reach any ideal
state of community, but in our churches and in many other places
there are daily examples of people of different cultures and groups
sharing with and supporting one another . In a number of ways the
policemen and policewomen of Los Angeles are supportive and
protective of this diversity and interaction. We can take pride
in these numerous examples of support and cooperation among peoples
in this diverse and complex region . I understand it to be the work
of this Commission to help us find ways to restore the harm that
has been done to that pride, for the pride itself can be both a
resource and guide to us in strengthening harmony, democracy and
community in our City.
We all need to recognize, however, that the harm that has been done
is severe and that the source of that harm is a sickness that runs
deep in our police department, in our society and in the human
heart. That sickness has a number of symptoms -- among them
insecurity and anger. At a deeper level fear is both a symptom and
cause -- making people afraid of what is different, afraid of each
other . out of the wisdom of our tradition we would understand the
root cause to be sin -- the desire to put self, or one's family or
group so at the center of concern that there is no real love and
therefore no real understanding of others and no strong care for
the larger community.
There is a question in our Christian baptismal covenant which calls
upon us to respect the dignity of every human being . I do not
believe the police officers involved in the now notorious action
would have done what they did to Mr. King if they had had some
. ))(l V\ EST FOURTH STRrET . ) Is 118 / )QI ,() . \ l::iil Poo; r Office Box 2164 . I OS ANG[LES. CALIFOR\l lA 90051 211,s
similar thought in their heads and hearts that fateful night.
After the beating of Mr. King, I heard a number of stories from
members of our churches. One that has particularly stuck in my
mind was told by a distinguished lay official in our diocese -- a
black man who has lived in Los Angeles for a number of years. He
told me of the times that he had been stopped for no apparent
reason, ordered out of his car , spread-eagled and insulted. He
told me it was hard to relate such stories because he found such
instances so humiliating.
This is a well dressed, well educated man driving a
automobile. One shudders when one thinks of the times and
similar things have happened to other people because of their
color or ethnic group.
I would offer these further observations and recommendations.
nice
ways
skin
Not only in Los Angeles but in many parts of o ur country the major
task of the police is too often seen as protecting the well-to-do
and those who are relatively well off from those who have less or
little . I think this attitude is pervasive and affects ever y
aspect of police work from recruitment and training to organization
and strategy. In subt le if not open ways it is an assumption
encouraged by elected and non-elected officials. Because people
of color are a disproportionate number of the less well off in our
society the assumpt i on fosters and reinforces powerfully
prejudicial racial attitudes and actions.
I would argue that we must work hard to alter that ass~mp,tion or
all else we accomplish will end up only treating s)r's4 m'.s : In a
true democracy all people should be entitled to equal police
support and protection no matter what their economic circumstances.
Indeed, there are obvious good reason s for holding that most police
work should be dedicated to the support and protection of those in
society who are more victimized and less able to protect
themselves.
Truly to be effective the change in this ordering of p ri orities
must come form courageous elected officials and from the people
themselves. To begin with, however, it must be written into the
training and policy of all police and receive especially effective
expression from those who lead the department.
I wish also to maintain that the power of police to protect the
community is mo re effective the less violence is used. Every time
viol ence is used the effectiveness of the badge and uniform are
lessened because a stable and just o rder cannot in the long run be
enforced by violence. This understanding does not mean that force
can never be used, but it runs directly counter to the belief that
the use of violence s trengthens the authority and power of police
by creating fear of them.
I believe the City needs to have a genuinely independent Police
commission, chosen by elected officials, but then protected from
any interference. This Commission needs to have the means to
investigate all serious allegations against police behavior using
investigators other than the police themselves. As much as I
respect the clergy of our Church, I would never imagine that an
impartial investigation of alleged misconduct could be fairly
conducted, either in appearance or actuality, by an investigative
team composed only of clergy. I cannot believe the police are in
any different situation.
The alternative to this fully independent Commission is that the
elected officials themselves would become directly responsible for
the conduct of the police. This solution has some merit, but
elected officials should not attempt to have it both ways, holding
a body other than themselves responsible while claiming authority
over that body.
I support three other ideas that I understand have previously been
recommended to this body.
(1) More women police; I would say many more women police.
I believe women police are and can be trained to be more
likely to look for ways other than force and violence to
resolve difficult situations.
(2) More police representing different racial and ethnic
groups.
(3) More police out of cars and more visible and known in the
daily life of our communities. What I am sure many of us look and
hope for is a police department that can become more fully
supportive of a multi-ethnic society and take pride in the
strengths this brings to our region.
I again appreciate the opportunity to share these thoughts and
concerns and to commend the vital purposes of this Commission.