Are police racist?

[aidan24]

Do you think they profile / target certain races more than others?

[Strategy]

There's always going to be the one racist cop who makes all the others look bad.

But in general, I would say the police are not racist. (at least, in my experience)

[AzN_RiverdaleCI]

some police are, some aren't. ymmv.

but srsly, statistics say all.

[pupazzo]

Great post moron.

[AmmoWasted]

I'd say they try to be discreet about it, but I'd think it's probably something they keep in the back of their mind.

[umop]

I'd say they pay more attention to how you dress and act.

[Stunt_101]

everyone is racist

[hitman_24]

of course they pay more attention to certain races, thats why one of their hiring pluses is if you of some kind of ethnic descent

to say that POLICE are racist would be a stereotype in itself, thus making one no better than the perosn you are accusing

everyone is racist
as funny as that statement is, its true to some extent or another

[DuDe1411]

everyone is racist

+1

[applecheeks]

everyone is racist

+2

[aidan24]

great post moron.

thanks!

[tabiish]

Police are like people, some are racist, bt most are not.

[Nikita]

of course they pay more attention to certain races, thats why one of their hiring pluses is if you of some kind of ethnic descent
to say that POLICE are racist would be a stereotype in itself, thus making one no better than the perosn you are accusing


as funny as that statement is, its true to some extent or another

Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty sure everyone is of 'some kind of ethnic descent'...;)

[jp06]

OP should be more specific. Target which race and which area? If you're talking about GTA white cops, then very minor number of these "racist" cops who got something against non-whites. If you're talking about outside of the GTA (Kitchener, Peterborough, Cornwall, Thunderbay, etc.) then yes, i'd say the majority of them are "racists" towards non-whites and act like they're superior in some way.

[ClubberLang]

Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty sure everyone is of 'some kind of ethnic descent'...;)

no no see white people are of no ethnic decent. They are "Normal". It is everyone else who is ethnic.

[chickenbones]

depends, can you call black cops racist against black ppl if they "target" them?

[DGTD]

LOL

this thread is a serious fail

[RiCHC3]

As someone going into policing, most of my peers in the program seem relatively a-ok. However, I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere down the road paranoia starts to set in and a cynical view of certain types of people.

-Racism- is a strong word though, I'd say general prejudice based on experience though. So for example, someone who looks run down and homeless is likely ____________, oppose to simply focusing on their race.

[Nikita]

no no see white people are of no ethnic decent. They are "Normal". It is everyone else who is ethnic.

Hmmmm, I dunno, my mom is white as rice and she's Scotch, Irish and English and last I checked all three of those were 'ethnic'. And I'm white and I'm Lebanese, Scotch, Irish and English. So I guess I'm white and 'Normal', yet also lucky enough to be of ethnic descent??

I'm confused...:o...lol.

[hitman_24]

Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty sure everyone is of 'some kind of ethnic descent'...;)

sorry what i meant was visible minority....ie like the other poster siad...anyone not caucasian

[Jucius Maximus]

some police are, some aren't. ymmv.

but srsly, statistics say all.

Yep. Police are like everyone else.
Some are racist, some are not.
Some are good, some are bad, some are average.

I am a visible minority, btw.

[BananaHunter]

Very dumb question. It's like asking "Are people fat?"

And + 10 for "everyone is racist".

[mysticalinfluence]

no no see white people are of no ethnic decent. They are "Normal". It is everyone else who is ethnic.

Where did you learn his load BS or did you pull it out your ass? I'm white I desend from Irish/French Canadian back ground. Everyone has enthic decent.

[Ojam]

You're asking two different questions.

First you ask if police are racist, and then you ask if the profile people. These are not the same question.

[kilarney]

depends, can you call black cops racist against black ppl if they "target" them?

Well, I suppose those cops would be considered as an Uncle *fill in blank here*.

OP, being a racist and profiling people are completely separate acts.

[gretzky99]

everyone is racist

+1
just look at some of the RFD Off-Topic posts.
The ironic thing is that most of the racist comments are made by RFDers who are of an ethnic minority....:rolleyes:

[shannn]

+1
just look at some of the RFD Off-Topic posts.
The ironic thing is that most of the racist comments are made by RFDers who are of an ethnic minority....:rolleyes:

I totally agree with that, but I find a lot of the time it is poking fun of one's own culture (well, maybe not on RFD, but from my friends and family)

I hate huge swarms of Chinese people (especially Chinese drivers in parking lots i.e. Pacific Mall), and guess what I am :lol:

But yes, we all have biases and unfair/unjust opinions of others based on superficial things (like race).

[Troodon]

You're asking two different questions.

First you ask if police are racist, and then you ask if the profile people. These are not the same question.

If the police always search Muslims in airports but don't do the same for whites and they justify it as profiling then they're NOT racist?

[alv077]

There really isn't anything wrong with stereotyping as long as you accept that you could be wrong. As people, we are conditioned to do so because it kept us alive for thousands of years.

If you truly believe that we should not have any stereotypes, you would have to also agree that the following two people are equally as likely to commit a violent crime.

http://gallicwars.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/50cent230407.jpg
http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Hilary_Duff_umvd001.jpg

Now, realistically, are the police really being racist and going by skin color... or is there just a correlation between certain groups and the criminal red flags? I would argue yes... and furthermore, everyone I know that acts like a thug attracts attention from everyone from shop owners to cops. If you dress like a thug, you shouldn't complain why you are treated as such.

Stupid society is too politically correct and always whining about how everything is racism.

If the police always search Muslims in airports but don't do the same for whites and they justify it as profiling then they're NOT racist?

But think about it this way... who are they worried about terrorist attacks from? How likely is it that a middle aged white couple with their two children are going to bomb the plane? If you think about it, would it not be irresponsible to completely randomize the searches when the limited manpower could be better spent? No one is saying all muslims are terrorists... but saying, "the terrorists that are most likely to blow up a plane in the US are very likely to be muslim." It just makes sense statistically.

On the same train of thought, if Canada was at war with china, would it make sense to equally suspect all members of the population or would you look more closely at the chinese... and even more closely to recent immigrants? What I am saying is that it is irresponsible to just forsake our judgment to be politically correct.

[Ojam]

If the police always search Muslims in airports but don't do the same for whites and they justify it as profiling then they're NOT racist?

Hmmm? Is there anywhere in my post that I made any sort of judgement such as this? Oh, no there isn't. I didn't make any judgement on either. But since you ask.

Are these searches being done based on actual crime statistics which can be provided in writing and referencing to important information such as sample size, SD, and other important statistical information when asked for? Or are these police simply choosing based on their own feelings and calling it "profiling"?

[AudiDude]

I'd say they pay more attention to how you dress and act.

As a person who is considered black and working in Markham, Thornhill and places like Keswick, I must agree. I can see the scared/disappointed looks on peoples faces when I knock on their door and they see that I am not Jewish, Chinese, Russian, Korean etc. However after a few minutes the majority loosen up and become polite and happy instead of disappointed and cautious.

everyone is racist

"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each racial group possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another racial group or racial groups. The Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular racial group, and that it is also the prejudice based on such a belief."

In a lot of cases, I don't think people fit this description because they don't believe they are totally superior. So saying the chances of you getting hit in the Pacific Mall parking lot by a green/gold Camry/Corolla driven by a Chinese person is very likely doesn't really fit the description of racist. Now if the person somehow figured that Chinese drivers of those vehicles couldn't do anything properly would be racist because you have made the assumtion that they are an inferior race based on a few things you night have seen or heard.

Police are like people, some are racist, bt most are not.

Definitely. The question is how many times could a person experience the same issue caused by the same (or similar) groups of people before they start assuming things, especially when it may mean their life?

depends, can you call black cops racist against black ppl if they "target" them?

Sure, why not?

sorry what i meant was visible minority....ie like the other poster siad...anyone not caucasian

At Kennedy between Finch and HWY 7, caucasian is the minority...

Where did you learn his load BS or did you pull it out your ass? I'm white I desend from Irish/French Canadian back ground. Everyone has enthic decent.

He was just kidding...

There really isn't anything wrong with stereotyping as long as you accept that you could be wrong. As people, we are conditioned to do so because it kept us alive for thousands of years.

If you truly believe that we should not have any stereotypes, you would have to also agree that the following two people are equally as likely to commit a violent crime.

Now, realistically, are the police really being racist and going by skin color... or is there just a correlation between certain groups and the criminal red flags? I would argue yes... and furthermore, everyone I know that acts like a thug attracts attention from everyone from shop owners to cops. If you dress like a thug, you shouldn't complain why you are treated as such.

Stupid society is too politically correct and always whining about how everything is racism.

Agreed. You want to dress like your Mr. ToughGuy, be prepared to accept the consequences. If you want to dress and talk, walk and act like Mr. Toughguy, even if you are, people and Police are looking for you. Some to see if you are as tough as you think you are to prove you're not or they are tougher than you and the Police want to see you because you look suspect. If you ain't fitty cent, you got nothing but an ass kicking coming and nothing to gain from it.

[aidan24]

I have a number of brown friends who constantly get pulled over on the road for driving a stock honda civic.

I have a number of black friends who always get tailed by cops both on the road and on the street for no reason.

I have had my own experiences with the police who have stopped me for no apparant reason. Once at a park, I was stopped and asked for ID -- WTF???

The occurances above occurred both in / out of the GTA.

So for those who think some cops aren't racist, you need a reality check.

For those who say that it's just some cops, not all, --> guess what, 1 racist cop is too many. Justice is supposed to be blind.

[fakishan]

No, everyone is not racist, they might be ignorant to some extend resulting in preferential treatment of people "similar" to them, and an avoidance of those different.

Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

You're all a bunch of ignorants! :twisted:

[ClubberLang]

Where did you learn his load BS or did you pull it out your ass? I'm white I desend from Irish/French Canadian back ground. Everyone has enthic decent.

I was being scarcastic.