As an African American man who served the city of St. Paul as a police officer (patrol, foot beat, SWAT, detective), I was one of very few officers who policed the city I grew up in and in which I raised my own children.
Based on my 28 years of experience, I would estimate that 95% of preserving public tranquillity is about peacekeeping. Probably less than 5% is about enforcing.
The term “law enforcement” has hijacked the peacekeeping mission over the past century. It emphasizes force and implies suppression and oppression, which I consider a betrayal. I cringe at its every utterance, especially when hearing police officials use the term in opposition to “community policing.”
