Homeless in Arizona

The cops are rarely if ever charged with crimes. And in the few cases they are charged with a crime they rarely get more than a slap on the wrist.

So based on how the criminal injustice system actually works I suspect that Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams is just blowing smoke to get a few brownie points from the public for her crooked cops. The police unions do this double talk all the time to justify more money and more benefits for their crooked cops.

If Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams really wanted to make the system work she would be firing crooked cops left and right. But don't plan on that happening anytime in her career as Phoenix Police Chief.

Source

Díaz: Phoenix isn't laughing at Trump's 'joke' to rough up suspects

Elvia Díaz, La Voz | azcentral.com Published 4:19 p.m. MT Aug. 3, 2017

When speaking to law enforcement about MS-13 gang activity, President Trump said, "don't be too nice" to suspects. The crowd cheered. USA TODAY

Elvia Diaz: Donald Trump thinks police can rough up suspects, but Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams says otherwise.

White House officials tried to suggest that Donald Trump's suggestion that cops be rough with suspects was a joke.

Nice try excusing the president’s off-the-cuff remarks, but this is no joke.

The nation still is reeling with tensions over police violence, particularly against minorities. Has the president forgotten the race protests out of Ferguson, Mo., and Baton Rouge, La.?

He's either clueless or inciting violence

The president is either clueless about the deep-rooted distrust of police in minority communities or he’s purposely setting out to trigger an even bigger divide.

For that reason, it’s crucial for law-enforcement leaders to make clear that officers are to treat everyone properly in the course of protecting the public’s safety.

A shout-out to Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams, who this week joined a growing list of law-enforcement leaders across the nation – from the New York City police commissioner to Tucson's police chief – denouncing Trump’s remarks.

Williams took to Twitter to address Trump’s remarks in New York.

Williams is spot on. Everyone must be treated with dignity and respect – something Trump clearly doesn’t understand.

“Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over, like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody, don’t hit their head, I said, ‘You can take the hand away, OK?’ " the president said July 28.

Don't be soft on crime. Honor due process

So, what’s the big deal? Some have sided with the president on social media, emphasizing the need to be tough with criminals. But they’re missing the point.

This country’s law-and-order system is built on a foundation of a person’s right to due process, innocent until proven guilty.

We know most officers are good people and passionate about protecting the public with dignity and respect.

But we also must acknowledge some have crossed the line, especially in dealing with African-Americans and other minorities. We must also acknowledge that the deep distrust of police officers hurts their ability to fight crime.

Be tough with criminals? Absolutely.

No one, especially law-enforcement leaders, is suggesting letting people suspected of crimes off the hook.

Nobody is suggesting being soft on crime.

But we can’t green-light officers to rough up suspects up just because they can. Their job is dangerous enough without actions that incite more violence.

Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.