Pedestrian stops and civic responsibility

Apparently, according to a news piece, police in major cities are stopping pedestrians, questioning them, perhaps even frisking them if they seem to be acting suspiciously. It seems that as this practice is on the rise, crime rates are falling.

Civil rights groups are naturally upset, particularly because Blacks and Hispanics are targeted more often. While about 90 percent of those stopped are soon left to go on their way, they are left shaken and indignant, afraid and angry. However, about 10 percent are found to be doing something illegal, like carrying concealed weapons, and are arrested.

This appears to be a classic case of that delicate balance we’ve tried to achieve in this country, the balance between civil rights and public safety. Clearly, no one wants innocent people stopped and searched on the streets. This makes us think of totalitarian oppression. Yet, no one can deny that crime on the streets has been and continues to be a serious problem. Added to usual street crime are the gangs, which seem to be growing larger, more numerous and more violent. Also, since Blacks and Hispanics comprise a proportionally larger percentage of criminals on the street, some degree of profiling is unfortunately taking place.

In an ideal world, people wouldn’t be stopped by the police unless they were committing or had committed a crime. Of course, in an ideal world, young men would not be gathering in gangs, carrying weapons and causing a public safety problem.

It all comes back to some bedrock assumptions about a civilized society. To the degree that people behave responsibly and civilly they are free to go about their lives and engage in any chosen activities. Our society accepts a wide latitude of behavior, and as we continue to evolve as a society, this latitude grows wider. Homosexually has been decriminalized, and I expect drug use will also be decriminalized. Behavior that once seem deviant enough to keep people out of jobs or neighborhoods is now seen as fairly acceptable.

Again, it is a question of balance. Law enforcement, faced with daily violent activity, see the streets as unsafe places, filled with real or potential criminals. Young men hanging out on the streets, to the degree that they are doing something suspicious, see the police as dangerous enemies. It’s another version of the old adage, if you are a hammer, you see everything as a nail.

We tend to frame things in terms of society’s responses. The authorities are seen as either soft on crime or accused of police brutality. We tend to view the street criminals as being hampered by unemployment and lack of education. Naturally, we need to offer education and employment opportunities, but these need to be contingent on more responsible behavior. In order to de-escalate this growing tension between the two positions, each side needs to back down incrementally. Less street violence, less police pressure and