Guest Opinion: Misinterpretation of Police, Progress, and Best Practices

The recent increase in shootings in Northwest Pasadena did not happen due to the Pasadena Police Departments’ shortage of patrol officers. It’s very unlikely that an increase of 40 additional officers would have prevented any of these shootings. Understaffed as the Pasadena PD may be, additional staffing and a “knee jerk response” will not stop the violence making residents anxious. Reality is there is no “quick fix” because the violence arises from deep-rooted problems i.e.; poverty, institutional racism, guns (stolen/illegal), mental illness, employment issues and gentrification. Law enforcement can address the above issues temporarily, but can only hold the line while the deeper issues are resolved.

The Pasadena Branch of the NAACP supports the goal of a well-staffed police department – but only when The Pasadena PD begins to make progress in addressing its issues as well as the above issues, stated in paragraph 1, facing the community. Violence in our neighborhood has led to resident anxiety and a demand to their elected officials for quick fixes. Our law enforcement officers temptation to appear “tough and responsive” by demanding additional police as a priority is hard to resist. When our political leadership looks only at policing as a priority while failing to acknowledge the need to continue addressing the underlying issues is not leadership, but, a failure to lead. Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez has often wisely said “we can’t arrest our way out of these crises”.

Demagogues have always used crises to advance their agenda and to forestall progressive change. They pose a false choice between security and progress, playing on the natural anxieties of the citizenry when facing threats to their security. A healthy democracy does not get bamboozled into disproportionate responses. We must trust that our elected representatives, who are calling to prioritize hiring more police officers while refusing to equally prioritize police reform to end racially-biased and wealth-biased policing, are not reactionary demagogues but rather have been temporarily caught up in over-reacting to a legitimate concern about the rise in shootings. It is unacceptable for our politicians to promote police or progress. Best practices in Pasadena is inclusive not exclusive.

There is only one way….the Pasadena Way…all for one and one for all…