General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Starbucks thing... [View all]BumRushDaShow
(130,557 posts)That is the point of "Community Policing" and was literally what brought about the bike cop concept here to Philly in the '90s in the first place - started under Clinton. It took cops out of the police car and provided them with a tool (bike) that gave them an advantage over a walking beat cop (speed) and an advantage over a car (mobility in tight/congested areas) and also helped them to engage with the community (by also being on a unique vehicle). They were given special training to diffuse and to get to know the "regulars" in a community.
So many black people were and continue to be arrested for merely walking around their own neighborhood but having some neighbor call the cops claiming they were "trespassing". It's the oldest bullshit police call type on the books that wasn't as provocative as "raping a white woman".
But I expect this current bike crew were children when that effort first started and it seems the Philly PD has some work to do.