Community Members

Re: FIEN: Tyquan Rivera: nothing but observations

Published on 02/08/09 - 0 Comments

Let’s Not Retreat into Cocoons of Expedient Simplicity and Pretentiousness

First and foremost, with regard to one of the most tragic incidents that this community has witnessed in recent times --- my heartfelt prayers, wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery go out to Officer Anthony Diponzio and his family.

Yet, I am compelled to give voice to important, critical issues and concerns that have been raised in the D&C and beyond. For example, I have real problems with statements that appeared in a 2/7/09 D&C article, ('Rochester police say more youths are turning to crime and making the streets more dangerous’):

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090207/NEWS01/902070348&s=d&page=1 .

According to information in the article referenced above, one RPD Sgt. “sees a culture of disrespect [for cops, which] he attributes to a lack of family values.” We can be certain that the Sgt.’s statement represents a very broad, sweeping, less than fully explanatory, and to some degree, inaccurate and potentially damning generalization.

Also, Mayor Robert Duffy has been making public statements regarding his apparent belief that the tragic, inexcusable assault on Officer Diponzio doesn’t have anything to do with “police-[‘minority’] community relations.” I am unequivocally convinced that this particular belief on the part of the mayor deserves close examination and scrutiny. That is to say, it is important for us (as a community), not to act as ostriches do --- by sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that we have not heard the wide-spread allegations that this situation involved possible brutality on the part of at least one RPD officer who was involved. The allegations are buzzing on the streets; callers have voiced them on WDKX radio station, and on WHAM’s Bob Lonsberry show. Additionally, an article, in which this possibility is referenced, appeared in the February 7th issue of the Minority Reporter newspaper (‘Something Needs to be Done about Police Brutality’):

http://www.minorityreporter.net/web_edition2/2009/february_7_2009/February_7_2009_5.pdf .

Of course, at this point, most of us don’t know whether the allegations are true or not, but for us not to seriously consider and investigate the possibility --- would indeed represent a matter of acting as ostriches and/or retreating into cocoons of expedient simplicity and pretentiousness, especially when considering the long, clear history of racial profiling and police brutality --- the latter of which earned smug-town-Rochester the historic distinction of being the first U.S. city during the 1960’s (July, 1964) to experience a major uprising, rebellion, or riot (depending on one’s perspective). Let’s not pretend that all vestiges of racial profiling and police-brutality have been eradicated. They have not, which is why the above-referenced allegations should be thoroughly investigated. Let’s not pretend that there is no police-“minority”-community relations problem and issue in Rochester --- there is, which is why development of ongoing, broad-based, constructive, serious dialogue --- aimed squarely at building or rebuilding concrete working-relationships (beyond those which already exist) --- is critical.