Better screening for police

Wednesday July 6, 2016, Philando Castile a law abiding citizen that had even cleared a background check was shot by a police man.  Philando was an authorized to carry the gun.  He told the officer that he was getting his ID.  Did Philando fail to follow the officers instructions thus making the officer fear for his life?  Was the officer too cocky?  

Innocent Alton Sterling was executed by Baton Rouge police. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlYgRNRh9H4. These executions in Louisiana and Minnesota follow a long string of deaths of black people at the hands of the police — in Staten Island; Cleveland; Baltimore; Ferguson, Mo.; and North Charleston, S.C.,Saratoga Springs, Utah ,  Beavercreek, Ohio, among others dating back to 2014 and beyond — that have stoked outrage around the country. These executions, many of them at least partly caught on video, have led to discussion about race relations and law enforcement.

Then we have multiple examples of police use of excessive violence and extreme aggressiveness.  Recall Jamal Jones and Hammond Illinois police, that dragged him from his car for a seat belt violation.  http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/family-sues-hammond-police-over-traffic-stop-violence Note the attitude of the police in this video.  http://www.mintpressnews.com/video-belligerent-cop-loses-it-on-man-for-exercising-his-rights/196836/  I believe this man would have been dead had he been black.

In recounting my own recollections of surburban police. I find them to be not having the appropriate temperament or empathy to be police.

In Armada, a working mother of three, at a local business. She was friendly with and well known to the local police. The courts made a mistake and failed to remove a bench warrant for a late traffic ticket. A local police man, one she knew by name and had waited on regularly, came to her house and arrested her in front of children, traumatized the children. She even produced the paperwork proving the bench warrant was a mistake. He knew her, he could have given her 24 hours to get it straightened out with the courts before dragging her to jail. But to no avail. It cost her $500 for bail and her job before the courts admitted their mistake, but she and children paid the price for this “yahoo” cop's very poor judgement.

I have first hand knowledge of more local “yahoo” cops, breaking down doors to go after a non-violent parolee for missing drug/alcohol testing, instead of calling the landlord to get a key. They broke down the door ($300 of damage) only to find the parolee passed out on the couch. But the landlord was stuck with the bill for the door repair.

I have more examples of inappropriate behavior by police. Police that were sued for their behavior and more...

All of this brings to light several actions that need to be taken.  These actions need to be taken at the state level. These police officers do not have the appropriate temperament or empathy to be police.

1. I think we need to screen potential police officers with higher screening standards. It is not an easy job. They are faced with numerous situations that is becoming obvious, that many just do not have the temperament for. Those with racist attitudes, sexist attitudes, insecurity and/or aggression issues need to be screened out.
2. Train police officers again that they are there to serve and protect, not harass and kill the very citizens they are suppose to be protecting.
3. Train police on the differences between civility, politeness and rudeness as well as more cultural and sensitivity awareness.
4. Train the kids in drivers training to understand, what is expected of them if they are pulled over by the police. Both for their safety as well as the safety of the officers.