Q&A
Kezilar Cornish addresses integrity and accountability in law enforcement
0:44:57
·
134 sec
Kezilar Cornish, a member of Community United for Police Reform, responds to the question about NYPD reforms by focusing on the issues of integrity and accountability within law enforcement.
- Cornish highlights the disconnect between written procedures and actual practices in police interactions
- He points out the problematic culture of acceptance around bad practices
- Cornish questions the effectiveness of training, suggesting that officers are making informed decisions to engage in misconduct
- He emphasizes the need for integrity and principle in law enforcement's interactions with the public
Kezilar Cornish
0:44:57
I believe that it's a question of integrity because many of these laws and the procedures that govern the police department, They speak about how to interact with the citizenry in such a way that it's a degree of respect that goes on, but that is not practiced.
0:45:16
And because it's not practiced, we create a culture of acceptance.
0:45:22
And so beyond that,
Michael Gerber
0:45:27
if
Kezilar Cornish
0:45:27
these bad practices result in criminal acts and so forth, but they're not being recognized as criminals, then who's actually law enforcement and who are the criminals?
0:45:41
If law enforcement is allowed to commit crimes because when you're going against the procedures and laws that are on the books, then you're committing a crime.
0:45:52
But it seems as if somehow there's a gateway of acceptance and a blanket, protection that goes over them to you know, as long as they have the color blue on.
0:46:03
And so, we're sending out the wrong signals to the population because what you what you're saying is that, just become a police officer and then you can do whatever you wanna do.
0:46:17
And so, true individuals who have crime in mind for real, they say, oh, that's how we can do it and get away with it.
0:46:25
And this is what it seems is going on.
0:46:27
And so there has to be, a degree of accountability.
0:46:31
And the training, is not about the training because, you know, it depends on whatever news, conference is being held that they'll say, we have the best training.
0:46:43
And then as soon as something happens, then they're like, well, we need more training.
0:46:48
But the reality is they are trained, and that means that they're making a informed decision as to whether or not they want to commit these, foul practices, and and that's something that has to be dealt with, integrity and principle amongst the law enforcement when it comes to interacting with the populace and to understand that you're working for the populace.
