Doesn't feel good does it

This morning I read about an employee of a taco bell in alabama that refused service to two police officers.  She said they don't serve law enforcement there.

I didn't read the article.  I don't know what happened other than she got fired.  I don't know what the response of the police officers is.

But I wanted to write about a hypothetical from this situation.  Similar to the experience that occurred at an eat and park a few days ago.

What would have happened if the Officers that were denied service simply apologized for the misunderstanding and left quietly?  What impact do you think that would have had on the employee?

I think it would have totally began a turn in how she viewed law enforcement.  She was expecting an aggressive reaction.  Don't give her one.  To turn and leave peacefully would confuse her.  It could have even caused her to challenge her own views and opinions.  Left a lasting change in her about law enforcement.

Instead she got fired and will have a hard time getting a job anywhere else, thus reinforcing her distaste and distrust of law enforcement.  I'm not saying her actions should go unpunished, I just think there may need to be a different way of responding to situations like this.

I saw a video yesterday of a group of police officers confront a man named Patrick.  Patrick just came from his probation officer.  He was confused.  They asked him who he was, he said Patrick.  The demanded he get out of his car and told him they had a warrant.  Though they failed to produce it, or ask for ID.  It's all on video.  Every bit of it.  Patrick couldn't even reach for his ID.  Any movement caused more aggression from the officers.  They wouldn't tell Patrick who they were looking for or what they were doing.  Patrick was abused and tasered (at least he wasn't shot, right?).  He was humiliated.  Patrick was left with an obstruction record, had to go to the hospital for his wounds, and no apologies from the police when they learned their error.  NONE.  Yet.  Let's see if these officers get fired.   There might be a few other details we don't know about...but I sincerely doubt there is enough to right this wrong.

Let me ask you this.  Between the Taco Bell employee and the Officers, which one do you think should be fired?  

What can we learn here?   Stereotyping and profiling happens.  And when it all of the sudden happens to you, it doesn't feel good.  At all.  You want to take a stand and clear your name, like Patrick did.  He didn't do anything wrong and only wanted to know what was happening and why he was being acted aggressively too.  He got no answers.  He got 2000 volts of electricity through his body.  

In the coming months and years, there is going to need to be a lot of humility shown.  Mostly by police officers who have done nothing wrong.  We've been stereotyping people of color for hundreds of years.  It needs to stop.  And if that means walking out of a taco bell without food, so be it.  You shouldn't be walking in to taco bell in the first place.  Because, Taco Bell.

That's just my opinion.  Police shouldn't have to do that.  It's not fair for the good ones.   But you know what.... Patrick shouldn't have been tasered either.