Violence by police

Police brutality has once again been highlighted, this time due to the outrageous actions of those on the Minneapolis police force in murdering George Floyd. The resulting protest marches have forced a rethinking of how police are trained in cities throughout the nation.

None of this hand-wringing gets to the heart of the issue: What is the personality of a person attracted to police work? First and foremost we need psychological profiles of those currently on the force and of all seeking to be on the force. We need to determine who among them is there to truly “serve and protect,” and who are there to bang heads with virtually no accountability afterwards. They can count on solid legal support from police protective unions that support police actions 100%, no matter how violent.

Until we learn who are the ones not only prone to violence, but eager for it, police brutality will continue unabated. Preventing violence-prone recruits from getting on the force, and ridding the force of those eager for violence, will solve much of the brutality we see. Changing the training or funding will have minimal effect.

Bruce Barnbaum

Granite Falls