The Sad Reality of Our World

There are too many cases where police officers have unlawfully killed innocent citizens because they assumed, they are a criminal or is a person up to no good.   Imagine being killed by the police because you have driven a nice car into a not so desirable neighborhood. A person could simply be in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time and that should not get them killed by the police.

In the short story, “Identities” written by W.D Valgardson, a disturbing reality is seen through the views of an upper-class male. The story is about a man dressed in attire that would resemble that of people in the neighborhood, yet he drives a Mercedes Benz which would be seldom seen in that particular neighborhood. As this man drives into this suspicious-looking neighborhood, a police officer shoots him while he exits the car to show his identification. There is no apparent reason other than a generalization made by this police officer. That the man was killed in an unjustified manner and police officers shooting harmless citizens is an event that happens far too often and it becomes justifiable. The officer did not have any information on the guy before approaching him, the only evidence was the manner in which the man was dressed. The officer should have questioned the guy or given the warning to put his hands up before shooting an innocent man.

As evident in the story, the police officer believed this man was not the rightful owner of the car, as he believes the man’s attire did not match the profile of a person driving a luxury car.  While the police officer did not have evidence that the car may have been stolen, the officer “is suspicious because of the [type] car and because the officer has been trained to see an unshaven man in blue jeans as a potential thief and not a probable owner” (Valgardson 5). If all police officers made assumptions and killed innocent people due to how they are perceived, there would be “accidental/justifiable” deaths all the time. The officer took a man’s life because he was suspicious but had no evidence to back up his claim. A citizen should be able to trust their law enforcement to keep them safe and not to hold people under suspicion without cause. Although the man felt comfortable with the officer, as “he turns part way around and recognizes the uniform, he does not feel fear but relief” (Valgardson 5). This explains how he trusts that the officer will help him stay safe, instead, the officer breaks that trust by shooting him without provocation. The communication between the officer and the man was non- existent and the police made assumptions about a citizen with no proof or prior questioning.  Being a person of authority, the police officer needs to be a role model that exudes safety and someone that any citizens should be able to trust.