The head of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Terry Cunningham, made an announcement Monday apologizing for the “historical mistreatment of communities of color.”
As reported by NPR, Terry Cunningham, the IACP president for the U.S. gave this formal apology on behalf of the association at its annual meeting.
In the speech, Cunningham went on to address the dark times in history between police and communities of color, but also said, “while this is no longer the case, this dark side of our shared history has created a multigenerational — almost inherited — mistrust between many communities of color and their law enforcement agencies.”
Cunningham also iterated that the apology was a step in the right direction to mend the relationship between police and those communities. According to the Washington Post, IACP spokesperson Sarah Guy said the speech received a standing ovation.
At a time when tensions between law enforcement and communities of color runs high, the apology has taken many by surprise. Criticisms of the apology have ranged from arguments the statement fuels anti-police views, to people who say the apology is too little, too late.
What do you think of the IACP’s apology? Is it a step in the right direction, or will it do more harm than good?
Guests:
Perry Tarrant, Assistant Chief of the Seattle Police Department; President, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
Eugene O’Donnell, Professor of law and police science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; former NYPD officer; former prosecutor in Kings County, New York