Community reflects a year after Floyd's death, protests

May 22—The death of George Floyd at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin a year ago May 25 sparked mass demonstrations in hundreds of cities across the U.S.

His death followed the Feb. 23 shooting of Ahmaud Arbery and the March 13 killing of Breonna Taylor, whose deaths already began stirring a passionate response from citizens across the country.

Logansport did not see much of the demonstrations or outcry after the killings. A handful of protesters stood outside the city building last summer. One protester held a sign saying Logansport Police needed body cams. Another sign featured the phrases "Black Lives Matter," #Justice4All and "United We Stand." Others wore T-shirts with BLM on them.

The police and the community they serve exist as a symbiotic relationship, says Michael Holsapple, the criminal justice chair at Ivy Tech.

Demonstrations have a "profound effect and impact across society, both within memberships of communities and on police agencies and members of police organizations," according to Holsapple, who served a number of roles within the Kokomo Police Department before retiring in 2004 and taking on a full-time teaching role.

Holsapple characterizes two ways in which those relationships are tested.

"That can happen both overtly and very clearly, where it's on television every night, and it's on the late-night news in large cities," he said. "But it can happen suddenly, even in smaller communities where there may not be mass demonstrations.

"It's having an impact on people's thoughts and feelings and thinking, certainly, among minority populations that feel isolated, and differentiated from treatment, and how their relationships with police organizations have evolved."

A poll conducted by CNHI newspapers in 22 states found 31.9% of the people see racial inequality as an issue in the U.S. The poll conducted between April 19 and May 1, had more than 9,400 responses.

Despite this, more than 60% had unfavorable views of the Black Lives Matter movement and don't believe police are treated leniently by the justice system. Nearly a third think body cameras, anti-racism training and civilian conduct review boards would be helpful reforms, though.

They attribute the issue of inequality to ignorance and cultural dynamics, according to the responses.

Reese Baer, a senior at Logansport High School, said the protests following the death of George Floyd only solidified his support of officers.

"I 100% support the police," the Purdue-bound senior said. "I understand there is wrongdoing. There are officers that break the law out there, but I mean, you'll find that in any profession. My viewpoint didn't shift at all, but it did solidify how I feel."

Non-accidental police officer deaths across the country totaled 46 in 2020, according to the FBI. It's unclear how many of those were tied to the large swaths of protests in the country. Additionally, the numbers represent two fewer deaths than in 2019 and 20 fewer than in 2016.

"It made me want to support and help the police more and be on their side while realizing that breaking the law by burning down buildings, vandalizing police cars and targeting police officers is not helping anything," Baer said. "It's not going to change anything."

More than 10,000 demonstrations across the country were recorded by the U.S. Crisis Monitor, which was started last summer by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) nonprofit with support from Princeton University's Bridging Divides Initiative.

According to the monitor, 94% of the demonstrations involved no violent or destructive activity. ACLED claims 9% of the protests were met with police intervention. More than half of those with police intervention resulted in use of force by authorities. ACLED said use of force can range from tear gas and rubber bullets to the use of batons on demonstrators.

The prevalent use of force may be due in part to the training.

"We want somebody (who) possesses the quality and the experience, training and aptitude to pet a kitty cat and tame a tiger," Holsapple said.

"There's always room for improvement in any enterprise, occupational or otherwise, in my estimation. So there's always going to be questions about the employment of lethal force because the use of force is a preeminent, defining feature of American policing."

According to a U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Services toolkit, many tactics and strategies — such as "stop and frisk" policies — used by police today have contributed to a lack of trust in communities and "raise issues of racial bias that permeate the controversies about police use of force."

Holsapple echoed much of the solutions raised within the toolkit.

"At minimum, you get your command personnel within a police organization involved in civic activities throughout your community and serving on social service committees," he said.

Some of those services could be Police Athletic Leagues, charitable activities, ride-alongs or police participation in community-led events.

Locally, the Fraternal Order of Police hosts a "Cops and Kids Day" to provide items for children in Cass County. FOP #71 includes members of the Logansport Police Department, Cass County Sheriff's Office, Galveston Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Department of Natural Resources.

"You get your agency involved in providing services that go beyond the conventional 'stop and frisk' and arrest activities that we so often associate with police action, so that you become integrated, (and) a part of the community," Holsapple said. "It's like any other type of organizational framework, there has to be trust, and that trust comes from relationship."

Holsapple said he supports moving away from the use of neck and breathing restraints such as the ones used which led to the death of Floyd. In accordance with the executive order on safe policing, the use of chokeholds has been banned at Logansport Police Department, according to Chief Travis Yike.

"For heaven's sakes, we're police officers, not physicians," Holsapple said. "They're not magicians, and they're in a struggle. It's difficult to regulate time and measure of strength. There's just too many complicated variables and factors there. There are other means by which to subdue and technology available to us to employ those things, which I think should be carefully monitored (and) reviewed."

Both Holsapple and Baer agree body cameras are good in theory but may pose challenges. Holsapple said it may pose questions of privacy and expense for the community.

"Again, it's not just a simple proposition," he said.

He also said there may be concerns regarding storage, retrieval and accessibility. But it does add "a different level of accountability and transparency."

"I think body cams could be helpful," Baer said. "I don't think body cams can be harmful in any way. They're only helpful, so I think just the biggest thing is the initial cost, and I don't know what kind of service fees there are to maintain them, or what they have to pay to use them or I don't know anything about that.

"If we had the money, I think that'd be a great purchase. Just seeing them or just the public knowing that the officers are wearing the cameras that would make lots of people more comfortable," he said.

According to Yike, body cameras have been on the department's capital improvement plan for 2020 and again this year.

Yike said the department received one quote from a company that totaled $357,150 for body cameras.

The Logansport Police Department "strives to be professional" and "trains above and beyond state standards for what is mandated," Yike said.

Other possible solutions may come from groups such as the Cultural Diversity Committee. The group's goal, according to its Facebook page, is "bridging the gap between our diverse cultures and providing resources for the community by advocating and encouraging programs and activities that will increase cultural awareness."

Holsapple said both sides have legitimate cause for concern. The job of policing, he said, is already stressful, and the "second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking ( by people) has to be taken into constant contemplation because it has a deleterious effect."

For those protesting, he understands the "many years of disparate treatment they've suffered" are a contributing factor in the protests for social justice.

"Our society needs to take a step back," he said. "We need to begin a conversation across the country in each of our communities. I sincerely believe that, and through those conversations, I hope that we move forward into a better place."