Winright on Policing | National Catholic Reporter

Winright on Policing | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: This piece hits all the right points, especially his first-hand knowledge of that metro area, hitting racism in the police force (and incidentally the Church), the militarization of policing, and the need for a non-violent, British style, community policing model rather than a war on crime.  I would add that ending the war on drugs - not just weed, is an essential first step.  Are murders sane?  Ever? I think not.  In most cases, crime can be treated - either thourgh health or fixing economiic and social deficiencies - like illiteracy.  In this model, should mental health workers carry guns?  Of course not.  Note even tasers.  A nice, fast acting, tranquilizer dart should do.  The only times lethal force should be necessary is defense against terrorism and when a murderous prisoner is not reachable with treatment - say a sociopath - and the only option besides locking them in a cage until they die is euthanizing them quietly (not as a media event showing the strength of the justice system).  This probably should have been the #1 story, not the Obama vacation.