Let's talk about a european cop asking about black Americans....

Check out the store. Stickers, mugs, hoodies, shirts, etc.

[charlesjohnson]

As a Black American who lived in Europe for a few years, I agree with this approach. If law enforcement officers in the USA don’t want to feel targeted, they can just do better.

[brianstiles]

"How can we help?"

4 words that would change law enforcement forever.

[lovechaser]

We are not American cops. You are safe! How can we help? I think letting that Black American know that their life isn't in danger is vital.

[antoniskalakonas]

As a European citizen, thiis is such a HUGE cultural difference that cuts both ways. No matter how much I believe all my American friends that the USA is a great country, the notion that a Police officer approaching me has the very REAL chance of me ending up tassed or dead if for whatever reason things go south is such an extreme conclusion.
I am NEVER afraid of any police officer/officers approaching me in Europe.

[MichaelC]

Beau as a Black American I take no issue with provided suggestions to European police. Be direct, and most of all yes, let Black Americans know you're NOT like American cops. Implicit bias is a helluva thing.

[dlg]

I as a black American man of 53, I've had more than my share of unnecessary run-ins with overzealous cops and I agree with this message. Right at the start, just assure black travelers that they're not in trouble and that you're there to help. And yes, it's perfectly fine to say "don't worry, we're not like American cops."

[martinhorner]

"Your not in trouble. How can we help?" from law enforcement, to an American, especially a Black American, would just be stunning. And that's horrible.

[Barlofontain]

It takes longer to train a taxi driver in London, than it does to be a qualified police officer, carrying a gun, in most US states

[SteveWhipp]

The way the US cops behave always reminds me of an occuping military force, rather than a "peace" officer.

[jeps]

As a 50 yr old Black man, I can honestly say that I have never heard a police officer in the U.S. ask me, "Is there anything I can do to help? ". I've been treated with more respect by police I've met while being deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, than here in the US.

[ronnyskaar]

My daughter is a police offiser here in Norway. They have three years at university level school getting a bachelour degree. To attend the school in the first place there are several tests. So I guess maga would say we have a woke police. Thank goodness for that.

[flux]

I travel in Europe a lot, I'm a 6'4 black guy. I have interacted with cops in Greece, Serbia, Germany, etc...mainly to ask how to get somewhere. They were all professional and helpful. On the other hand, A cop was beating on my door unannounced, I opened the door quickly to see who the jackass was, since he wasn't standing off to the side, the door clipped him. He immediately started threatening me with jail and saying I could have been shot. Turns out, he was at the wrong address.

[philliplarose]

As an American, this hurts. To those officers in another country; treat us like we are abused children.

[cacambo]

During WW2 a pub in Lancashire, England was told by a US officer that it would have to institute a colour bar for US personnel who used the pub. The next day, the pub displayed a sign reading "Blacks only".

[MariaMaria-ljmt]

I am an American black mother of a black son. When he was in high school a group of white classmates of his were caught doing donuts in a field late at night. My son and I happened to drive by the scene and saw the cops had arrived.

The kids were lined up on the side of the road with their parents present. The cops had allowed them to call their parents. The cops had given the kids blankets, because it was the middle of the winter. Each of their parents were clearly angry with them.

The cops stood and attentively watched as the parents lectured their children. It was clear that this was being treated as a “kids will be kids” situation by the cops. Why? Because the cops were also white and probably looked at the kids and thought, “Oh, these kids remind me of my own.”

They humanized them and saw their own children, nieces, nephews etc. in the faces of the white kids. Their empathy and familiarity kicked in and they treated those kids with familial kindness and understanding.

I told my son that the story would have probably been different if it had been a group of black kids. He agreed. Why? Because the empathy of many US police officers only extends as far as those who look like them.

They dehumanize black kids. They don’t see kids, they see grown thugs who are a threat.

I don’t believe blankets would have been handed out. I don’t believe parents would have been called. I believe the outcome may have been more grave and for much less of an offense, if those kids were black. We’ve seen it play out too many times.

Training surrounding culture and race needs to be taught. In the US, background checks for police officers need to be thorough and monitoring and training for racial bias needs to be ongoing. That’s just one suggestion. However, I am not naive. I know this issue is systemic in the US. That is why my suggestion seems like a mere bandaid.

As for the way we as black people are seen and treated in other countries, I am glad the European officer recognized that the reaction of the couple was rooted in the trauma caused by the systemic racism in the US. We have some wonderful officers here, yet those who embrace the brutalization of black people and who lack empathy and understanding have been loud. Their actions have reverberated around the world. So, the fact that the European officer even asks gives me a, dare I say, glimmer of hope that others see what is going on.

I would say follow protocol and approach cautiously, while understanding that we are people. Regardless of how we may have been painted by Hollywood or the US media, you, as a servant of people, need to make sure you engage with empathy and with the understanding that we are your fellow man. (It feels weird and it makes me so angry to even have to remind people of this.) Still, this understanding and level of empathy will lay a good foundation for any actions to follow.

[LinusBerglund]

I saw this happen once on a street in Malmö. The cop said something like "please, sir, take your hands down. I am here for everybodys safety, including yours. I got a report about your argument and came over to see if I can be of help. Nobody is in trouble. You have not done anything illegal".

[p.patterson]

As a African American woman, I agree with this approach. Just say that you're not like American cops and we'll quickly understand what that means. I love how this cop reached out to you. That is wonderful and appreciated.

[dadurker]

People in foreign countries must look at American politics, Healthcare, and policing with just absolute disdain

[deborahb]

I am an African American in Georgia and for years we have taught our youth, especially males to hold up both hands, verbally say that I am complying and not to look or act threatening in ANY way. We have practiced this in our churches, in our homes and community, especially these last 10 or more years

[denzelwald]

As I Black American, I would like for a cop to take the position of being an advocate towards the situation by asking a question: “How can I help?” Giving a harsh demand ignores the citizen’s need to be help or heard.