Whether you think Karen Read killed John O’Keefe or not, almost everyone seems to agree that the Canton and Massachusetts State Police botched the investigation. Read filed a civil rights lawsuit stating that these agencies wrongfully investigated her, detailing police missteps as well as an “insidious culture of bigotry and misogyny” inside these agencies. As evidence, she shared thousands of racist, antisemitic, and misogynistic messages sent by investigating officers.
While some of these messages included derogatory language about women and people with disabilities, like Read, most of their vitriol was directed at Black people. Racial slurs like “n—” and “ni—lett” featured regularly. There was even a terrible “joke.” Michael Proctor, the (now former) lead investigator in the Read/O’Keefe case for the Massachusetts State Police, wrote “Actually, take your time, I saw a [n—r] was involved, so I wouldn’t rush if you’re working. Let them die.” This was to Sean Goode, the (now former) Canton police sergeant who also played a role in investigating Read.
Read’s lawsuit exposes a core reason why white people should care about racism in policing. Yes, they should care because their Black friends, family members, and fellow human beings are being treated as guilty until proven innocent, and shot first, questioned later.
But white people also should care because racist police raise red flags for other behaviors that can hurt anyone, regardless of skin color. Research shows that anti-Black bias, in a cop, makes him dangerous for everyone.
A System Built On Racism
We have to acknowledge that policing in America has racist origins and continues to reinforce structural racism. Also, officers with overtly racist beliefs make this terrible situation worse. Research shows anti-Black cops may be more likely to break departmental rules, violate the Constitution, and disrespect other groups like women, immigrants, people in same-sex relationships, and people with disabilities, both physical and mental.
That’s why it’s not surprising that the racist officers who botched John O’Keefe’s death investigation allegedly committed constitutional missteps. There are many documented instances of police officers who expressed anti-Black racist views violating the Constitution.
Also, the Brennan Center found that many officers with anti-Black views also had histories of excessive force. And there are numerous instances where officers exposed for anti-Black racism had also gotten into trouble for perjury, false arrests, DUIs, and a wide range of misconduct.
The Examples Are Exhaustive
We already know anti-Black racism is prevalent in incidents of police misconduct. An LAPD officer involved in beating Rodney King referred to Black people as gorillas. After the police murder of Mike Brown, the DOJ investigation into Ferguson PD found a picture depicting President Obama as a chimpanzee in officer emails. In Lexington, MS a white police chief, Sam Dobbins, bragged about killing a “n*” in cold blood.”
Examples of racist police attacking other groups are also numerous, but less publicized. Racist officers commonly advocate sexual assault, make disparaging comments about Muslims and gay people, and attend xenophobic rallies. When cops exhibit anti-Black racism, that is often the first sign that they also harbor biased opinions about women and other minority groups — opinions they bring with them on the job.
What We Can Learn About Racism From A White Woman’s Lawsuit
The racist revelations in Karen Read’s lawsuit are not tangential to her case; they are a central argument. They also show how law enforcement leadership is missing the mark when it comes to rooting out bias, as much as it is possible, from American policing and try to make everyone in our communities safe. There are numerous steps law enforcement leadership and elected officials must take.
For one, police departments should adopt background check policies at hiring that screen for affiliation with right-wing extremist groups and white supremacist beliefs. They should also make engaging in racially discriminatory conduct a fireable offense. And state certification agencies should make such associating with, or promoting the views of, white supremacist groups — or engaging in racially discriminatory behavior — reasons to deny or revoke licenses, as Minnesota recently did.
To be sure, the harm that racist police pose to Black people should be enough of a reason to enact reforms. One of the sad realities about racism in America is that many white people are only willing to address it when it impacts them directly.
As Karen Read learned the hard way, when it comes to policing in the United States, not even whiteness protects you 100% of the time. Truly no one is safe from racist policing, until everyone is.