Earlier this month, a Courier-Journal tale that protected video of Tae-Ahn Lea, a black teen, being pulled over, handcuffed, and frisked in Louisville’s West End sparked outrage over Louisville Metro Police vehicle stops. It has also spurred some Louisville Metro Council individuals and residents to ask: Are such visitor stops powerful for addressing crime, or are they tools for racial profiling?
Guests mentioned that and other related topics On Friday at some point of WFPL’s Conversation with Rick Howlett. Our visitors have been:
Jessica Green, 1st District Metro Councilwoman
Nicolai Jilek, president of the River City Fraternal Order of Police
Keturah Herron, ACLU of Kentucky Field Organizer for Juvenile Justice
Jessica Green, who represents neighborhoods including Parkland and Park Duvalle, stated that humans in west Louisville feel they’re pulled over for pretext stops greater often than humans in different neighborhoods. To improve their relationship with the network, Green stated officials need to be retrained on interacting with human beings.
“For appropriate or for awful, what’s running through a variety of black men’s heads is, ‘Am I going to get shot by this police officer?’” Green stated. “We aren’t looking to provide a haven for drug traffickers or for violent offenders, but what we do count on is the same software of the regulation.”
Nicolai Jilek, president of the River City Fraternal Order of Police, said traffic stops could regularly turn out to be dangerous situations for police. That is why some officers handcuff humans in visitors to ensure the safety of both the person who changed into stopped and others. He said residents’ perception of being hunted down with police aid is regarding and needs to be addressed.
“I want people to feel safe. I don’t want humans to sense like they are hunted down,” Jilek stated. “We have an extremely high fee of violent crime in certain areas, so how do you cope with that? The police department sees it as its obligation to dedicate extra resources where there is an increase in crime.”
Keturah Herron, ACLU of Kentucky Field Organizer for Juvenile Justice, said investing in community fitness troubles could improve interactions between police and communities.
“Historically, the black community, no longer just here in Louisville but nationwide, has been hit with the tragedy of people being murdered by using police, with the aid of those who are presupposed to shield and serve them,” Herron said. “Until we start divesting within the police department and investing in groups, making sure groups have their basic needs met, then I assume that we’re going to continue to have this case.”
Join us next week on WFPL’s In Conversation as we share your favorite Kentucky Derby reminiscences. Call and record your Derby recollections at 502-814-6560, and we may additionally use them inside the show.
