The Capital Times published an editorial yesterday about Rep. Chris Taylor's "wise counsel on police-community relations." I'd like to respond. These thoughts are mine. I'm not an attorney or expert on law enforcement, but I *have* had an opportunity to work with Madison PD via our neighborhood watch group for the past several years. And I've heard members of the law enforcement community speak on a number of topics, including use of force. As a result, I've done quite a bit of reading on policing in the past couple of years, and have had an opportunity to listen to both sides of the argument. There are two themes that I'd like to address from the editorial. The first is . . . RACIAL INJUSTICE: The article quotes Rep. Taylor as saying " . . .We must address the deeply rooted racial injustice that plagues our community and state." That statement, like most statements about "racial injustice" from certain groups, is vague. I've yet to hear one of them define how certain groups are specifically being oppressed. And who precisely, in their minds, is responsible? Let's take a look . . . The police? Cops mainly go to situations based on calls citizens like you and I make. So if someone is creating a disturbance, is in the midst of perpetrating a sexual assault, or is waving a gun around, a scared neighbor may then call the police. It is the responsibility of law enforcement, and part of their oath, to respond to these calls. Cops aren't driving around, looking to oppress people of color or any particular group. Does this happen somewhere in this nation? I'm certain there are bad cops, just as there are bad priests, bad doctors, bad lawyers, and bad legislators. But to make sweeping generalizations is not only incorrect, but downright dangerous. For all of us. Are they blaming the courts? It's an imperfect, overburdened system, to be sure. Here's just one variable that plays strongly into it: Those with access to financial resources tend to get the best defenses. And sadly, whites have traditionally had more access to paid defense. It sucks, I know. But to make it sound like the police and courts are plucking people of color off the streets and locking them up lacks foundation and critical thought. Do they blame the people committing the crimes? We've had major violent crimes committed in Madison, most recently gang-involved. But I've yet to hear Rep. Taylor and her colleagues address these issues, or to focus their work on true victims of crimes - including the black victims of black crimes. Tough love is real love: Not holding people accountable for their actions and treating them like victims when they're not, is not true love. Because if someone is perpetually treated like a victim, Rep. Taylor, they have little motivation to improve their situations. USE OF FORCE: Rep. Taylor, per the article: "The shooting sparked a public outcry and peaceful protests that paralleled those following the shootings of African-American men in communities across the country." The media spins its own narrative. They cherry-pick specific situations, find a few more similar situations to back up that narrative and their own brand of reality, then label it as a trend. And the public laps it up. People don't hear about the cops being assaulted, punched, kicked, spit upon, shot at, and killed. On a regular basis. They also don't hear about the heinous violent crimes, some of which occur right here in Madison. Examples: My Dane County supervisor didn't even know a 90-year-old victim of a home invasion had a gun put to her head. And most people aren't even aware of a vicious home invasion, in which a pregnant woman was gang raped. (Read the police incident reports some times; you'll be shocked.) And you'll understand that cops are operating in war zones. Cut them some slack. Rep. Taylor, per the article: "We must reform law enforcement use-of-standards . . ." Here's what I've learned from listening to police officers give speeches and from reading up on the issue . . . Cops have a nanosecond in which to make life-saving decisions. The rest of us have the luxury of making judgments and wasting time on Facebook with yadayada, without understanding the myriad of variables at play. Easy-peasy for you and me. But every situation isn’t clear cut or subject to a specific set of rigid guidelines. "Well, there's a man approaching me with a knife. Gee, maybe I should consult Rep. Taylor's use of force recommendations." The goal, is of course, to use the least force possible. (No kidding!) But it's not always possible to use a taser. They work about what, 50 percent of the time, if that? As for shooting someone in an extremity - I have come to learn that shooting someone, especially a moving target, is extremely difficult. Even in the most perfect of situations. And even for the most skilled of shooters. Add the adrenaline associated with threat to personal safety and to the public which you swore to protect, and it's even more challenging. But then again, Rep. Taylor and her colleagues would know these things if they attended our neighborhood watch meetings and the myriad of police-sponsored community meetings. They are always most certainly welcome to attend our watch meetings. All are welcome. I'll give Rep. Taylor credit for authoring legislation that mandates outside agencies do police-involved investigations. I believe reasonable people from both sides of the argument would agree this is prudent for a number of reasons. But the rest of her thoughts on police-community relations? I'll pass. All the best. --Paula Fitzsimmons CLARIFICATION: The following was written as part of the editorial, and is not a Rep. Taylor quote:"The shooting sparked a public outcry and peaceful protests that paralleled those following the shootings of African-American men in communities across the country."