Pattern in Every Dubious Police Killing the Same

Dear Editor,
    The pattern in every dubious police killing of a civilian is the same. Public outcry and demonstrations. A couple of days of stonewalling, then chief gives a consoling, but controlled, press interview, pledging to reach out. Internal investigation. Police monitor. Routine grand jury whitewash. Letter-writing campaign by the police union about how the officer is really the victim. A federal suit. Appeals to the Department of Justice. Nothing changes. Another killing follows. How many more people will the police kill before the city finally does something? Maybe it's time to stop relying on alternatives that don't work. Maybe it's time for hardcore political organizing. Maybe it's time for the Mothers and Grandmothers of Police Victims to follow the mayor around the city and be at every city council meeting until the political leaders demand an end to police killings by a department that is out of control.