Police violence: A corruption of public service

The issue of racial discrimination often obscures other equally serious problems. For some time the nation has been concerned about police violence against black men. Since the police officers involved usually were the white minions of a white government, it was assumed that the incidents were simply racial oppression. Then came the recent death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black citizen of Baltimore.

While he died in the custody of police officers, Baltimore has a black mayor and a black police commissioner. The chant “Black lives matter” that resounded so forcefully in Ferguson, Mo. does not have as strong a ring in Baltimore.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts have promised a transparent review of the arrest, and have released the names of the police officers involved, who have been suspended with pay. Even this quick official response has not helped to mitigate a violent reaction. The fundamental problem remains. The broadly accepted get-tough urban policing policy has created a combative relationship between African Americans and the police.

When Ronald Reagan, the author of that policy, became president in 1981, the U.S. prison population was only about 300,000. By 2013 that number had grown to 1,516,879, and blacks were disproportionately represented. The racial conflict will continue until the policy to protect and serve applies to everyone.