Police are held to a higher standard. We expect the best of them

Always.

When police shoot unarmed people, they do not get a "do over" because the Capitol police behaved bravely.

It is similar to two Boeing aircraft crashing

Boeing could not say that it was "only two", or look at all those automobile crashes

This feeds into the idea of a racial bias in police departments 

Note: The idea of racial bias would remain intact even if Black police officers laughed at the image

It means that the uniform is the most important factor in how the community views you

The arrest for not shoplifting at a Target is case in point.

Saw the story about the image

Not surprised 

Just disappointed once again.

OGD points out a problem of perception. 

Police were among those who attacked the Capitol

“There is zero room, not only in society, but more so in professions of public trust and service, for people to have extremist views, regardless of ideology,” said Art Acevedo, the Houston police chief and president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which includes senior police officials from almost 90 American and Canadian cities. President Biden’s goal of addressing domestic extremism will partly hinge on the ability to curb its spread in police departments and the military, experts noted.

Concerns about extremism in police ranks have long existed, but after Sept. 11 chasing jihadists took priority over chasing domestic threats, senior police officials and law enforcement experts said.

In recent years, police or other agencies in Virginia, Florida, Nebraska, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas have all fired officers belonging to the Ku Klux Klan. In Philadelphia in 2019, the Police Department announced that 13 officers would be dismissed among the 72 who were placed on administrative leave because of racist Facebook posts.

For decades, Los Angeles County has downplayed accusations that sheriff’s deputies repeatedly organized secret white-supremacist groups with their own tattoos and hand signs. But a recent study by the office of the Los Angeles County Counsel concluded that the county has paid out some $55 million to settle lawsuits accusing such groups of malign influence

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/us/police-extremists-capitol-riot.html

The bravery of the DC Capitol police noted.

There is still suspicion about bias in police departments.

Cross-posted here

St. Louis to Pay $5 Million to Black Cop Who Was Beaten By Officers While Undercover as a Protestor

Taxpayers in St. Louis have ended up holding the bag for the actions of local police officers accused of beating and severely injuring one of their fellow cops during a 2017 protest.

St. Louis Officer Luther Hall has secured a $5 million settlement agreement in his lawsuit against the city, related to his alleged assault by members of the St. Louis Police Department while he was working undercover as a demonstrator during protests against police violence.

The irony is real.

KSDK News reports that the settlement agreement was signed by St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, as well as Lt. Col. Lawrence O’Toole and Sgt. Joseph Marcantano of the police department. The city now has 45 days to hand over payment to Hall.

https://www.theroot.com/st-louis-to-pay-5-million-to-black-cop-who-was-beaten-1846278955