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January 31, 2003, at a small gas station on the 500
block of Florida Avenue in the District of Columbia a 43 year old
local man, laid dead from a single gunshot wound.
Meanwhile, at the same gas station, stood a man who
needed kerosene for an unknown purpose. This man notices the 43 year old
gunshot victim, but finishes pumping the kerosene—while briefly looking at
the victim’s body. After pumping the kerosene, the man demonstrates
some responsibility by paying for the purchase, then drives off—never
calling the police. He has yet to be identified. The incident was coldly
caught on a security camera at the service station.
Former Washington D.C. Police Chief Isaac Fulwood in
his response to the tragedy said, “Something’s wrong, I mean, something’s
very wrong and callous, and [it] is getting worse.”
Many police departments around the country have
commented that their ability to solve crimes and lower crime rates is
limited to some degree by the members of the community. They continue by
saying that the people from particular communities (that they name) don’t
care—as perhaps the gas station incident demonstrates.
Members of the community say, “Why should we risk our
lives, knowing the police can’t or won’t protect us.” Police chiefs ask
whether high crime rates, daily shootings, robberies, gang fights, etc.,
have desensitized people throughout our country.
Some advocates take a fervent stance trying to attribute
the cause of the detached feeling of the citizens, to violence portrayed
on television and in motion pictures. Others will offer a broad summary
categorizing our society as intrinsically violent, and hence making the
ordinary citizen prone to not care—and feel no or little sense of civic
responsibility. Other advocacy groups point their fingers at rap
music and the pop culture with lyrics that advocate violence and
disobedience. Violence is common place and engenders little special
attention and even less willingness to get involved in its aftermath.
The explanation and solution to a societal illness,
such as lack of civic responsibility, can be difficult, but as with most
illnesses, the ability to be balanced and honest is where success begins.
First, as a former member of the San Diego Police
Department, and having worked in neighborhoods that have been categorized
as “high crime,” I will always maintain that high caliber, respectful,
caring, and civically responsible citizens do exist no matter what
neighborhood they live in. Their numbers may be
small in some communities, but they exist.
I have personally witnessed the result of almost
superhuman courage, in which lives were at stake—but a good Samaritan
acted, and did so with impeccable civic responsibility.
Still, statistics tell us that there are trends
that show involvement in our “brother’s” troubles and our neighbor’s woes
are becoming progressively less popular. Day to day life in a high crime
urban area makes finding good Samaritans a more difficult task. Surviving
becomes more important than improving their condition.
Poorer communities and the disheartened feel that
police communicate to them that they don’t really care either. They see the
police as primarily reactionary—and guess what, they are in many cases!
Often prevention and neighborhood improvement is beyond the scope of what
the police are able or willing to do.
Daily and/or regular violent acts of crime do
contribute to levels of desensitization which results in a decline of
civic responsibility.
The real problem lies in what I will refer to as a
“stand off.” The “stand off” occurs when one group assumes a militant
position and point-of-view, and accuses another group as being the
problem. As much as I appreciate the benefits of having active media
organizations, they too can facilitate the “stand off.” Police
departments, civic groups and activists seem quite willing to create a
“stand off.” It’s easier than getting things done.
A “stand off” usually means, “I must take a position,
determine who’s at fault, then defend to the end of time why I think I’m
(we are) right.” One group, organization or community is pronounced
responsible for this lack of civic responsibility.
Those who truly want to solve problems – though a
minority in many communities - will spend the time necessary to identify,
categorize, and rank the influences that promote the lack of civil
responsibility. They discover there’s simply no simple answer. They are
also faced with the fact that a few well publicized tragedies give the
impression that a problem exists in America. They find it hard to
gain
leverage and begin to correct the problems; but there are solutions.
Stepping up to the plate on this issue, means having
the resolve and determination to examine the influences. It will be more
than running a few commercials encouraging people to be responsible; or a
police department sponsoring community baseball; or an activist
proclaiming that certain ethnic groups have been forced to protect
themselves and not get involved in another’s problems.
What’s the solution?
Success can be achieved with dedication and a
clear exposition of the core influences that promote a lack of civic
responsibility. An essential key that must be addressed is fundamental: Do
people as a whole feel secure enough to act responsibly? Are there issues
of trust that affect a community’s sense of responsibility?
Are there people who are not inclined to act because
it is easier not to? Or is it personal insecurity that drives their
behavior.
To complicate the task of conversion to social
responsibility, people tell me they don’t want to get involved because
police dispatchers were rude, and they were treated more like a suspect than a
good neighbor.
Progress will only come when a united front of
community members and the institutions established to protect them
work together. Explanations do exist. Break the “stand off.” Start the
examination of the motivations and political agenda and get to work. |
