Why All Systems Should Seek to Improve-Law Enforcement is no Different

I'm an advocate for policing and support them 100%. I also support civil rights 110%. While I'm generally supportive of police I do recognize when bad things happen, beyond mistakes, there should be a correction to ensure the entire systems continues to improve. Once I saw the dark side of extremism and clan based hate make its way into functioning I have become concerned over third world type distortions of truth and justice.

(If you really step back and think about it there are no other good long and short term solutions.)

Before one throws their politics and misperceptions into my words let me state again. For the most part I do still support the institution of policing and general concepts of justice (80/20). However, my support is based on a system that seeks to improve and has intentionality in serving the public. I'm not a supporter of criminality, corruption, abuse, racism, bigotries, police gangs or crimes. 

(We have to make a differentiation between good and bad policing. We cannot assume all good or all bad. Some departments do well and some have taken on secondary initiatives and missions through what appears social considerations/networks.)

I believe that such negative things take away from the effectiveness of policing and reduce its appeal to young people. Turning a blind eye to poor behavior not only ensures that such intentional misapplication of justice continues but that they also put a sour taste in the youth's mouths. This has manifested into poor recruitment that moves beyond pay and job duties. 

(I believe young people want to serve but they have to believe in what they are serving. Its a natural element that is deeper then surface adjustments that will return us to the same spot.)

To me, when some level of reform is needed to help good officers, remove bad officers, and restore general trust in the system those that oppose that are not supporters of police but detractors. They have politicized police and made them into cultural battle discussion that should not be how we view policing in general. In some ways they have made police tools for inappropriate behaviors. 

(There are always toxic souls in any organization but when the functioning and quality are impacted it may be time to clear out the issues and think about cultural and department reform)

Protecting police means helping good officers do better and help set the stage for positive prosocial and pro community policing. It does not mean creating immunities for any such behaviors. That may do the opposite. It is about helping them catch bad guys, looking at ways to maintain safe streets, reforming those who are reformable, and making sure they work for the public and not visa versa (100% police and 110% civil rights).