Grand Rapids Man Shot and Killed by Police Office in Routine Traffic Stop

 Another tragedy involving an officer shooting and killing an unarmed black man has made national news--only this incident occurred in our backyard. About a week and a half ago, during a routine traffic stop, Patrick Lyoya attempted to walk away from the scene when asked for his driver's license. After an ensuing struggle, the responding officer shot Patrick in the back of the head, killing him. 

It is unclear why Patrick attempted to leave or why he refused to comply with the officer's directions. I imagine that information will come out in the investigation. But as video evidence has shown, Patrick was not a danger to the officer or to any bystander, when the officer escalated the situation, eventually shooting Patrick. 

Most people would agree that when stopped by police, the best response is to comply with instructions and not resist. But most people would also likely contend that lethal force is extremely excessive in a situation that does not involve a weapon or immediate danger to anyone. Patrick may have been wrong in how he responded to the officer, but that gave no cause for lethal force. 

Though I am not African American, I have to imagine that the prevalence of these officer involved deaths of black men for seemingly small infractions has got to have a traumatic effect on one's psyche. It's traumatic for entire communities of people. It's little wonder why so many African Americans do not trust law enforcement. 

In prison, the response to George Floyd's death was anger and frustration, especially among the African American population. The response to Patrick's death has been largely sad resignation. It's a double tragedy that these incidents have become so commonplace that entire communities of people are no longer shocked or surprised by such absurdity. 

Grand Rapids' new police chief has his hands full, and he hasn't even been on the job a month yet. He claims to be reform-minded, and I hope he is for the sake of the community. "Something has to change" has become such a trite response that unless something actually changes, nobody can believe it ever will.

When lethal force is used by those in power, excessive for the problem at hand, it illustrates a double standard in our society. When African Americans and other minorities, especially, but the poor, prisoners, and former prisoners of all colors also, are accused of committing even minor infractions, the consequences are often severe. When people in power commit much more severe crimes, they are often protected from public scrutiny and severe consequences. This double standard further erodes the public's trust in law enforcement and the courts.

New officer training might limit the number of tragic cases like those that led to Patrick Lyoya's death, but only a heart-change in society will lead to real change. We, police officers and citizens alike, must start treating people with inherent dignity first, not as threats to be neutralized.