Skip to content
News
Link copied to clipboard

Philly officers get training on bias and race

The unconscious biases of police can damage community relations, sensitivity trainers told a roomful of Philadelphia officers and their supervisors Wednesday.

Mary Hoerig, an inspector with the Milwaukee Police Department, addresses Philadelphia police officers during a training session titled “Fair and Impartial Policing.” (DAVID MAIALETTI/Staff Photographer)
Mary Hoerig, an inspector with the Milwaukee Police Department, addresses Philadelphia police officers during a training session titled “Fair and Impartial Policing.” (DAVID MAIALETTI/Staff Photographer)Read more

The unconscious biases of police can damage community relations, sensitivity trainers told a roomful of Philadelphia officers and their supervisors Wednesday.

"We get our legitimacy from the community we serve," said trainer Sandra A. Brown, a former police lieutenant from Palo Alto, Calif.

Brown told the 25 Philadelphia officers and supervisors that the session, dubbed "Fair and Impartial Policing," would involve a "tough conversation" about race. But she said biases affect issues beyond race as well.

To overcome her own preconceptions, she said, she speaks with homeless people outside her apartment building, learning their names and stories.

The program is funded by the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). After 21/2 days of training, the participants are supposed to become trainers in the Philadelphia department.

The focus on race in policing comes amid a national discussion about white officers shooting black men.

Lt. Ray Rice, a black St. Louis County (Mo.) Police Department investigator who was serving as one of the trainers, asked what words "our community" uses to describe black officers.

"Uncle Tom," one officer shouted.

"Sellout," said another.

But Andrew Campbell, an African American officer from the 18th District, said he heard those slurs rarely. Campbell suggested that some of the anger could be overcome through good community policing.

Another section of the training focused on media portrayals, in particular, Hollywood's view of successful people.

It included a video of Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent. Boyle, who at age 48 was far from a typical starlet, was lifted to instant fame after a tour de force performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" on the ITV reality competition show.

Mary Brandenberger, spokeswoman for the Justice Department's COPS office, said the training was critical instruction being provided to more than 680 police agencies and more than 2,200 individuals.

215-854-5831