Where Are All the Witnesses Now?

To the protest leaders nationwide, what is required to show your good faith is that every time a troublemaker shoots in a crowd, or hurls rocks, bottles or Molotov cocktails at police officers, then melting back into the otherwise peaceful crowd, you must push them back out into the open.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Where are all the witnesses now? Two police officers were standing in front of the Ferguson PD, doing their job, maintaining order during the latest community protest. Out of nowhere, shots rang out from the vicinity of the crowd, striking two officers. One was shot just below his right eye, the bullet lodging behind his right ear. The second was shot in the right shoulder, exiting his back on the right side. By sheer luck or God's grace, they were not killed. Make no mistake that murder was likely the shooter's intent. Give credit to the professionalism of the remaining officers that not a shot was fired in return.

But here we are, more than 24 hours later and I want to know two things: Where are all the witnesses? Do not tell me nobody saw anything. I've heard that tired BS for 25 years. Every cop in this country is sick of that excuse. Cops work crime scenes 24/7 where crowds of hundreds all profess ignorance. Except, it seems, when a cop does the shooting. Then, everyone saw it. In my former department, the community enabled the murderer of two of our cops to hide among them for nearly a week. Someone in Ferguson -- probably more than a few -- know who shot those police officers. Where are they? Why aren't you clamoring for your 60 seconds of fame from the media?

Secondly, community leaders, even you, Mr. Attorney General, where is your responsible leadership? What is necessary right now is a call to identify this shooter and show that you care about true justice. This moment and every moment of violence requires it of good people if they truly wish to co-exist under the same rule of law. Mr. Holder is getting a lot of press for saying, "This was not someone trying to bring healing to Ferguson. This was a damn punk, a punk who was trying to sow discord." That's a great speech line, but what the country needs you to say, sir, is that somebody in Ferguson better give this coward up. Right now. To the protest leaders nationwide, what is required to show your good faith is that every time a troublemaker shoots in a crowd, or hurls rocks, bottles or Molotov cocktails at police officers, then melting back into the otherwise peaceful crowd, you must push them back out into the open. Identify them as those who are harming your community from inside. They are just as much a part of your problem as any government or law enforcement policy. Those who commit violence in any community should be the enemy of all who want to live in peace.

The City of Ferguson and its police department have been forced to look inwardly to recognize systemic problems. Beyond Ferguson, the conversation has grown nationwide. Law enforcement is undergoing a period of soul-searching and adjustment that is needed, and perhaps long overdue. Ferguson has forced out numerous leaders in the name of accountability and the beginnings of reform. For some, nothing will matter, as evidenced by two officers senselessly shot. In the wake of such a violent attack, law enforcement is closing its defensive ranks, and the baby steps of trust between cops and the community in Ferguson have vanished again. What's been largely missing in this ongoing debate is the hard truth that both sides have to give something. Police cannot turn a blind eye to racist or unlawful behavior in their ranks, but neither can the community. Please, everyone, think about this: The bad will always steal the spotlight from the many good. It's true on both sides. Ferguson terminated its worst offending cops and city officials as a start. Now, it's your turn, citizens of Ferguson. Turn in this punk who has destroyed the good you've tried to do.

When you harbor them in your midst, you lose the credibility. #alllivesmatter

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot