Police respond to protests after stopping 5 black youth at gunpoint: 'Enough'
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Police unions defended the actions of officers who came under fire for stopping five unarmed black pre-teens and teens at gunpoint.
In what they called an "unprecedented action," the presidents of the Grand Rapids Police Officers Association and the Grand Rapids Police Command Officers Association on Wednesday, April 12, issued a statement defending police officers and rejecting calls from some for a "new policy" on police operations.
"We would be remiss in our obligations and responsibilities if we didn't take this opportunity to make our case before the public," Andy Bingel, president of the police officers association, and Mike Maycroft, president of the command officers association, said in a statement.
They said that police nationwide have come under "intense scrutiny after very unfortunate encounters between police and people of color in other parts of the country ... ."
In some cases, videos, which only show a few moments of an encounter, "have been used to create a cop hating segment of the public. The result has been a constant barrage of complaints and demonstrations that question the professionalism, intent and integrity of our police command staff and our line officers.
"We say enough."
They also provided details of what happened March 24 at the Kroc Center, where the five kids, ages 12 to 14, had been playing basketball.
Police responded to a report of over 50 people fighting at the center, knowing they would likely be far outnumbered.
Once police arrived, the fight had broken up and groups were leaving in different directions. Police were checking the area when someone approached and reported that someone dropped a revolver, stopped to pick it up, and put it into a backpack.
The person provided a detailed description of the group and its direction. Police found a group wearing clothing that fit the description provided by the witness.
"Officers complied with policy and procedure and detained the group, so they could safely investigate the claims of a teen carrying a concealed firearm as described by the citizen," the police officers association said.
It said the officers were calm and provided "very clear direction and attempted to keep the individuals as calm as possible ... ."
The officers provided an explanation and followed up with their parents. The union said the officers "showed restraint, their actions were reasonable" and they complied with department policy.
The mothers of the boys protested their treatment before the Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday, April 11.
Over 300 residents packed commission chambers, many wearing stickers that said "#wouldyoupullagunonme," that community groups provided.
"We can't stop thinking of the fact that - what if one of our babies had made the wrong move?" said Shawndryka Moore of Grand Rapids, whose son is 14 and was involved in the incident.
Black and Hispanic residents said they suffered discrimination and demanded training, testing for officer bias and increased accountability to address race relations.
Bomesa Sims, father of two boys involved, ages 12 and 14, said: "I've lived this for 38 years. I'm angry - and I know a lot of people are angry. And we're not going to take too much more of this - and I'm saying this to the police. Like, something has to change before you have a situation on your hands that you can't handle."
Police Chief David Rahinsky met with the boys and their parents and apologized on behalf of the department, but refusing a request that the officers involved apologize directly to the boys.
He said after the meeting that the officers acted courteously and according to protocol.
"The officers didn't do anything wrong. They acted on articulate facts from a witness moments earlier who said he saw them hand a gun to each other," Rahinsky told MLive and The Grand Rapids Press.
The police union presidents said the chief and staff have accepted the request for further racial sensitivity and awareness training. All want strong, positive community relations, they said.
The training has opened eyes and helped officers.
"We are in the unenviable position of having to encounter people in the worst of situations, which gets attention from the public on various levels. In our daily work as patrol officers, neighborhood officers, detectives and command officers we see it all.
"We see the horrible effects of poverty and despair. We see the results of families breaking down and children being removed from homes to keep them safe. We are the ones who knock on doors at all hours of the day to tell a loved one their child, spouse or relative has been killed in an auto accident or violent confrontation on the streets."
The union presidents defended the officers' response to stopping the five who were leaving the Kroc Center.
"... (W)hen we get a 911 call that says there is a group of people acting suspiciously and that there may be weapons involved we respond immediately, prepared to keep innocent citizens from being harmed. Our training kicks in and we follow the law and our experience to face down any possible situation.
"Sometimes that includes the take down of people, and tragically, it may include drawing and discharging our weapons. That is what police do, at our own risk, so that we can all live in a place that is relatively safe and secure."
