Police and Law Enforcement: Accountability, Trust, and Community Protection

In general, I have a positive view of police officers. Many officers serve their communities with integrity and compassion, working hard to keep people safe. However, like many others, I’ve also had negative encounters with law enforcement that left a lasting impact on my perspective.

As a teenager, I had a difficult encounter with a police officer in Dayton, MN. I was 15, helping a friend fix his bike when officers stopped to question us for no apparent reason. I told the officer to "fuck off"—admittedly, not my best moment. In response, he banged my face on the car, popped my shoulder out of its socket, and simply took me home a couple of blocks away. This was an abuse of power and shaped my skepticism toward law enforcement for much of my life.

Later, in my 20s, while living out of my truck and working hard as a delivery driver to save for an apartment, I was pulled over for speeding on a late-night delivery. The officer gave me a ticket—fair enough, I was caught speeding. But after pulling away and punching my steering wheel out of frustration, I swerved slightly and was pulled over again—this time receiving another ticket that ultimately cost me my license. This felt like another abuse of power that disproportionately impacted my ability to get back on my feet.

Despite these difficult experiences, I’ve also encountered many officers who demonstrated kindness and fairness. I’ll never forget the officer who checked on me after I fell down the stairs at Dave’s Town Club in Delano, MN. His concern was genuine and exemplified the type of behavior we should expect from all law enforcement officers.

We need law enforcement. Officers play a vital role in maintaining public safety and responding to emergencies. But we must also recognize that the responsibility to protect and serve comes with immense power—and that power must be exercised fairly and ethically.

Reforms for Law Enforcement:

Protect and Reward Good Officers:

Invest in training, mental health support, and community outreach programs to foster positive interactions between officers and the public.

Reward officers who demonstrate integrity, compassion, and respect for the communities they serve.

Root Out Abuse of Power:

Strengthen accountability measures to identify and remove officers who engage in misconduct or abuse their authority.

Implement independent oversight boards with community representation to review complaints and hold departments accountable.

Rebuild Community Trust:

Increase funding for community policing initiatives that prioritize relationship-building over intimidation.

Expand transparency through body camera policies and regular reporting on officer conduct.

We need law enforcement officers who are committed to doing their jobs to the best of their abilities while respecting the trust placed in them. By protecting well-meaning officers and rooting out bad actors, we can build a system that works for everyone—one that upholds safety, dignity, and justice.

A strong, trusted police force is one that respects the communities it serves and is held to the highest standards of accountability. Together, we can create a law enforcement system that reflects our values of fairness, safety, and mutual respect.