Law enforcement organizations across the country are demanding Karens take responsibility for their destructive acts. Whether it was a white woman shouting the N-word at an African American man for simply walking their dog, these entitled and racist Karens have gone too far in their defiance.
Karens have become the new norm in our society, and it is time for us to stop allowing them to hide behind the label of Karen. Only then will we start seeing a shift in their behavior.
1. The Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department has a long-standing tradition of combatting gangs and other criminal activity, but in the years following Rodney King’s beating, things have taken an unexpected turn. This shift can be attributed to their consent decree with the federal government which held them more accountable for their decisions and implemented stringent guidelines.
The Los Angeles Police Department maintains a large fleet of vehicles and aircraft, such as patrol cars, riot control vehicles, armored vehicles and rescue vehicles. Additionally, it operates an air unit and heliport near Union Station as well as a smaller airship based at Van Nuys Airport.
Over the last decade, LAPD has implemented policies designed to hold entitled and racist Karens accountable for their harmful actions. These include mandating officers use de-escalation tactics during confrontations with suspects and teaching them strategies for calmly handling potentially volatile situations.
In response to the Ferguson incident, the department also implemented an additional de-escalation training program for all officers. Officers must go through scenario-based simulations that expose them to scenarios in which they may need to use force.
Training for law enforcement officers often takes the form of a computer program that allows officers to practice using various tactics and responding to various circumstances in an effort to reduce deadly force incidents. This type of instruction has been praised by many leaders within law enforcement as an effective method for decreasing fatal incidents and injuries.
No matter the changes the LAPD has undergone, they remain a powerful force in Los Angeles. They handle all types of crime from minor traffic violations and assaults to more serious matters such as murder. Despite recent criticisms, their department continues to receive high praise and admiration from the public.
2. The New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department is the oldest and largest municipal law enforcement agency in America, having been established in 1845. Comprised of 17,000 officers and 400 support personnel, it remains active today.
The NYPD regularly publishes reports, statistical analyses and interactive dashboards on department-related matters to provide the public with accessible and informative data. They strive to increase transparency, foster collaboration and enhance police-community relationships by making this information available.
There have been a number of instances where law enforcement organizations are seeking to hold entitled and racist Karens accountable for their harmful actions, especially in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.
One example is a video that went viral this week of a woman at Victoria’s Secret who broke down in tears when confronted by another customer who had recorded the entire encounter on her phone. When Ukenta, who told the white woman what had been recorded, she suddenly went on an aggressive rampage and tried to smash Ukenta’s cellphone out of her hand.
These videos demonstrate how Karens often take advantage of their privilege to amplify their negative feelings toward Black people and other minorities. They do this by asserting that they felt threatened or in danger when in reality the only real danger is their own ignorance and misguided beliefs.
These extreme incidents serve to highlight the grave issue with white women policing Black people and other minorities based solely on their own irrational prejudices. Not only is this practice unjust, but potentially deadly as well.
3. The Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department (CPD) is home to several high-profile white women known as “Karens.” These entitled and racist individuals often use their sense of entitlement and privilege as an excuse to target people of color.
They’ve become well-known on social media by posting videos of them in some of the most offensive, racially charged situations. One video, for instance, depicts Karen at a playground during the coronavirus pandemic shouting abuse at a cop who offered multiple chances for her to leave; however, she refused.
These incidents have been documented on the internet and are spreading like wildfire. It’s becoming evident that Karens aren’t just dangerous; they also possess extreme delusion and show no remorse for their actions.
In an effort to hold Karens accountable for their harmful actions, law enforcement organizations have taken steps to enhance how they handle misconduct. For instance, Chicago has passed several laws and ordinances designed to promote transparency and police accountability.
In 2017, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) will replace IPRA. This agency is dedicated to auditing police accountability practices and identifying violations that violate residents’ constitutional rights.
CPD has made a major shift by creating an anonymous hotline and early intervention system for officers who are engaging in misconduct. Furthermore, they have begun developing a disciplinary matrix that assigns appropriate discipline for violations of discipline.
Finally, CPD has been criticized for using traffic stops as a tactic to harass communities of color. In an interview with the I-Team, a CPD officer explained that they typically stop vehicles “after a traffic violation or potential crime has occurred.” Unfortunately, these stops often serve only to create pretextual reasons and result in harassment of these groups without any apparent police justification.
4. The Washington D.C. Police Department
CPD has a stringent code of conduct that prohibits any action that goes against the letter or spirit of Department policies, goals, rules, regulations, orders or directives. Furthermore, it prohibits anything which could reasonably be seen as detrimental to the efficient running of CPD or its members’ reputations.
The Code of Conduct prohibits publicly criticizing the official actions of another Department member when such criticism can reasonably be expected to undermine their working relationship within their assigned unit. Furthermore, it prohibits use of language which would reflect badly upon the Department or its members, such as slurs, derogatory names and expressions, inflammatory statements or any form of harassment.
It is essential that CPD and IPRA take steps to investigate any racially charged comments or behaviors and hold those accountable. In a culture of white supremacy, police officers may become the target of racism when they don’t know how to respond appropriately. Therefore, it is imperative that both organizations take measures to safeguard police officers from becoming targets of racism.
Additionally, CPD and IPRA must make every effort to be as transparent as possible. Doing this helps build trust between police officers and the public.
However, the City and Board have consistently failed to act with reasonable diligence when it comes to misconduct investigations and force assessments. This lack of follow-up has caused grievances from complainants and dissatisfaction with police oversight in the City. With delay in completing investigations and uncertainty over their outcomes affecting both parties negatively, it is imperative that both the City and Board address these matters swiftly so the public can have faith that CPD takes serious complaints seriously.
5. The Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department is a model law enforcement organization, employing innovative strategies and partnerships to safeguard its citizens. For years, the BPD has reduced crime and made public safety a top priority. Its officers are renowned for their dedication and hard work.
The BPD has also developed innovative initiatives and partnerships to address Black Lives Matter activism and strengthen community policing efforts. This includes working with other agencies such as the FBI to collect data on use of force incidents and implement restorative justice programs.
In the 1920s, Boston reorganized its police force to form an officer union and improve wages and conditions. This resulted in a dramatic decrease in crime rates.
Unfortunately, racism still permeates the Boston Police Department. Black officers make up less than one-third of their ranks-and-file.
This disparity has created an ongoing disciplinary problem for many Black officers, whose racial prejudices can impact how they treat African Americans on the street. As a result, African American citizens are treated more harshly by police officers on the streets and must endure more unnecessary arrests.
Due to this disparity, many Black officers have been dismissed from the department due to discriminatory reasons. For instance, in 2016, former officer Robert Wells filed a lawsuit accusing several White officers of making him feel unwelcome and discriminating against.
Brooks’ claims against other officers were evaluated by the TPD’s Equal Employment Opportunity office, who determined that none of them constituted violations. Regardless of this ruling, however, Brooks’ disciplinary survey was conducted in a way which may have violated federal laws against race discrimination.
