That last line though. Such a good post!

I totally agree that any policing solution begins with understanding how complex and layered the policing issue is. That can only happen through nuanced dialogue, like what you’re doing with this post. Many activists are calling for the abolition of the police without even inquiring into what that would actually entail. Many of them don’t know how the policing system operates on a cultural, organizational, and political level. All they see and hear are bad cops getting caught in bad situations. Our media systems could be bringing in these deeper conversations, but instead they focus on creating more noise and emotion for the public to get riled up about. Clear thinking and sensemaking about what real police reform would look like gets drowned out by the culture wars. And then we also miss out on addressing the bad, oppressive systems that enable a corrupt policing system. Our media systems seem to be an important player in helping the public step into deeper dialogue and inquiry about this issue.