Sucker Punched

Sucker Punched

On the street, in jails and prisons, in the home, at work, occasionally even on an airplane, one person assaults another. This seems to be an inevitable part of the human condition, most often performed by males of the species. What sometimes is surprising is that even with the ...
The Baraka Hull Case

The Baraka Hull Case

Nineteen years ago this month, I testified in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco in the matter of Hull vs. City of Oakland, Calif. I was reflecting on the circumstances of the case recently and thought perhaps the details of the shooting, the ...
Time for Introspection

Time for Introspection

It is good—no, let me rephrase that—it’s quite necessary for me to look in the mirror and carefully, honestly, and methodically self-assess what I am about. As a law enforcement professional, my self-assessment deals with my actions, as well as those of my brother and sisters who put ...
Picking up Shattered Glass

Picking up Shattered Glass

From affluent neighborhoods and upscale retail areas, to dilapidated apartment complexes and forgotten dead-ends, a city’s police department is obligated to serve the needs of all. How communities perceive their police departments can vary significantly. At its simplest level, some ...