The Memphis Police Department threatens to demote officers who complain about racism

Final Call

Black police officers are often caught between White peers accused of police violence and criminality while trying to protect and serve their own communities. In some instances Black officers remain silent, willing and active participants in mistreatment and abuse Black communities are all too familiar with.

Amid distrust and dissatisfaction, Black police activists work knowing they are often struck by their community’s righteous indignation over police killings and excessive force from racist or rogue cops.

Some told The Final Call that while they feel key to curbing police shootings and beatings, they are caught in a crossfire as targets of racism, hatred, and police criminality—within the departments they serve.

Rochelle Bilal of Philadelphia at National Black Police Association meeting last year. Photo: Facebook

“You’ll be in the crossfire when you stand up for what you believe is not correct or is wrong dealing with this institution that we live in,” said Rochelle Bilal, president of the Guardian Civic League in Philadelphia. She is also a member of the National Coalition of Law Enforcement Officers for Accountability and Justice Reform.

“It becomes a bullying effect where you are targeted, ostracized, and sort of like shunned to the side, because they consider you not a blue brother or sister. But I’m saying there’s no such thing as blue, because you’re African American, or you’re Irish or Hispanic, but blue is the uniform you wear,” Ms. Bilal said.

According to Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, the Memphis Police Department threatened to demote officers who complain about racism.

The non-profit organization reported on its website that Memphis police officials said Black cops would be forced to pay back money they earned after receiving promotions, if they do not back down from claims against the department.

The organization accuses the Memphis Police Department of decades-long history of racism and discriminatory practices against Blacks on and off the police force. [MORE]