For decades, the relationship between the Black community and law enforcement has been fraught with tension, mistrust, and systemic inequities. Despite numerous reform efforts, policing in the United States continues to fall short of serving and protecting Black Americans equitably. As we enter 2025, we must reimagine public safety and embrace transformative changes to address these longstanding failures.
The roots of mistrust between Black communities and police are deeply entrenched in history. From the enforcement of slave patrols to the systemic targeting of Black individuals through discriminatory policies like “stop-and-frisk,” law enforcement has often been a tool of oppression rather than protection for Black Americans. These historical injustices have created a legacy of fear and alienation.
Modern-day policing continues to harm Black communities disproportionately. Data consistently shows that Black individuals are more likely to be stopped, searched, arrested, and subjected to the use of force than their white counterparts. This disparity is not just a statistical anomaly but a reflection of systemic biases and deeply ingrained cultural issues within policing institutions.
Despite efforts by many cities to introduce incremental police reforms—such as body cameras, implicit bias training, and community policing programs—these measures have largely failed to create meaningful change. Body cameras, for instance, have not significantly curbed police brutality or improved accountability. In Westchester, we have repeatedly witnessed tragic incidents where unarmed Black men have been shot, shot at, or killed by police, only for these cases to be quietly dismissed without any substantive action to prevent similar tragedies. Disturbingly, there is not a single major city in Westchester, including County Police, that has been spared from incidents of questionable police shootings resulting in the death of individuals. These statistics underscore the urgent need for universal reform in applying use-of-force policies. While a step in the right direction, implicit bias training fails to address the deeply ingrained structural and cultural issues within law enforcement. What is truly required is a fundamental transformation in the policing mindset, shifting away from reactive enforcement and towards a model rooted in accountability, equity, and respect for human life.
To address these systemic failures, we must adopt a new public safety mindset that prioritizes community well-being, transparency, and accountability. This shift requires redefining the role of law enforcement and addressing the root causes of crime and mistrust.
The over-policing of Black communities has done little to address the underlying socioeconomic conditions that drive crime. A transformative public safety approach must prioritize education, housing, healthcare, and job creation investments. By addressing these root causes, we can reduce the need for punitive policing and create environments where communities can thrive.
The warrior mentality that has long defined policing must be replaced with a problem-solver mindset. Officers should be trained to prioritize de-escalation, conflict resolution, and community engagement. Recruitment efforts should focus on diversity and cultural competency to ensure that police forces reflect the communities they serve.
Independent oversight mechanisms, such as Civilian Complaint Review Boards (CCRBs), are essential for rebuilding trust and ensuring accountability. These boards must have the authority to investigate misconduct, enforce disciplinary actions, and implement policy changes. Transparency and public access to departmental policies and practices are critical for fostering trust.
Policing cannot undergo meaningful transformation without directly confronting the deeply rooted “us versus them” mindset that has historically defined its practices. This divisive mentality, ingrained through training and institutional culture, not only perpetuates systemic inequality but also adversely impacts Black officers, who, despite their lived experiences, often find themselves influenced by a policing culture that has resisted change since its inception.
To address these issues, it is essential to undertake a comprehensive and transparent review of policies, practices, and procedures within law enforcement agencies to identify and eliminate racial disparities. This includes examining how training, resource allocation, and operational strategies contribute to inequities. Moreover, transformation demands strong accountability mechanisms at every level of government to ensure laws and policies are intentionally designed to promote equity and justice. Only through a coordinated and sustained effort can policing shift from its historically adversarial posture to one that genuinely serves and protects all communities.
The structure and leadership of police management play a pivotal role in shaping the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. At the core of this structure is the Police Commissioner, who must demonstrate a strong commitment to community engagement and possess a well-defined strategy for fostering a collaborative and trusting relationship between the police department and the public. This strategy should emphasize inclusivity, transparency, and accountability to ensure the department operates as an integral part of the community rather than as an external or adversarial force.
A critical aspect of effective police leadership is recognizing and respecting the distinct roles and boundaries of law enforcement, the judiciary, and other branches of governance. The Commissioner must strictly adhere to policing functions, avoiding any actions or appearances that could encroach upon the judiciary’s authority. Law enforcement is not an instrument of vengeance for individuals or the State, nor is it empowered to determine guilt or administer punishment. These responsibilities are squarely within the purview of the judicial system, and any deviation undermines the principles of justice and due process.
Instead, the primary measure of police effectiveness must be rooted in preventing crime and maintaining public order. Success in policing should be reflected not by the visibility of police actions, such as arrests or the use of force, but by the absence of crime and disorder altogether. This approach shifts the focus from reactive enforcement to proactive engagement, emphasizing crime prevention, community support, and the fostering of a safe and harmonious society. By adopting this philosophy, police leadership can redefine public safety in a way that aligns with equity, justice, and mutual trust.
The Role of Politicians and Policymakers
Policing is far more than just a law enforcement issue—it is a profoundly political one tied to governance, accountability, and public trust. Politicians play a crucial role in shaping the culture and effectiveness of law enforcement, yet too often, they enable harmful practices through lax oversight, inadequate reforms, and failure to negotiate reforms in collective bargaining agreements. The cycle of commissioning reports, issuing recommendations, and failing to act must end. Communities do not need more studies or platitudes—they need meaningful action.
It is vital to recognize that police departments are not independent entities outside city, county, or state management. Police officers are public servants, employed and paid with taxpayer dollars, and as such, they must remain accountable to the people they serve. Their salaries, benefits, and operational budgets come from public funds, and politicians are responsible for ensuring these resources are used justly and effectively. Accountability and transparency must be non-negotiable principles in modern policing.
At the same time, as we demand accountability, politicians must also ensure that police officers are fairly compensated. Officers who dedicate themselves to the principles of community service, acting with love, kindness, and respect for the people they protect, should be rewarded and celebrated. Providing competitive salaries and benefits is not only a matter of fairness—it also attracts and retains officers committed to ethical conduct and community-centered policing. Recognizing and valuing these officers helps foster a culture of respect, trust, and pride within law enforcement.
Leaders must also overcome the fear of being labeled “anti-police” when advocating for reforms that promote public safety and justice. Supporting accountability and equity is not an attack on law enforcement but a commitment to creating safer, more just communities for everyone. Politicians must prioritize the needs of their constituents over concerns about alienating police unions or political backlashes. The growing distrust between law enforcement and the public underscores the urgency of reform and the unsustainability of the status quo.
Reform efforts must include legislation that holds police accountable for misconduct, ensuring that no one is above the law. At the same time, they must support alternative public safety models, such as mental health crisis response teams and community-based interventions, that address the root causes of many public safety challenges. Policymakers must also confront the structural inequities—such as systemic racism, economic disparities, and unequal access to education and healthcare—that perpetuate cycles of harm and injustice.
True reform balances accountability with support for officers who exemplify the values of service and community care. By addressing these challenges holistically, we can create a policing system that is effective, fair, and aligned with the principles of equity and justice that all communities deserve.
Policing failures in the Black community are not inevitable; they are the result of systemic choices that can be undone. In 2025, we can embrace a new vision of public safety that centers on equity, accountability, and community empowerment. It is time to move beyond superficial reforms and commit to transformative change.
The Black community deserves safety, justice, and respect. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that the systems designed to protect us do not continue to harm the most vulnerable among us. By adopting a new public safety mindset, we can begin to heal the wounds of the past and build a safer, more just future for all.
