Tell on Someone Today
My column this week is about talking to the police. Many, especially in urban areas, no longer talk to the police when they witness a crime. A shooting can go down and no one sees or hears anything. It's not a new phenomenon but it has grown more prevalent as a new generation is introduced to omerta via hip hop.
No one wants to be a snitch. It's an ugly word.
But perspective is necessary. There's a difference between gossiping and telling police what you know about a crime. Society as we know it would fall apart if we didn't honor this compact that we will tell what we know if we witness a crime.
Why give a safe haven to criminals?
In 2004, Cathi and I observed a man across the street suspiciously standing near an apartment window, looking around. He started prying off the screen. Then he climbed in the window. I told Cathi to call 911, which she did. The cops arrived in record time. And they were smart about it. They parked their cars on another street and came walking down our street, guns drawn. They positioned themselves around the apartment at all of the windows while an officer banged on the front door. They gained entry. Cathi and I were, by now, walking down our driveway. Two cop cars pulled up. We informed them that the other officers had made entry into the apartment and that we never saw the suspect leave. Sure enough, the cops came walking out of the apartment with the fellow, his hands cuffed behind his back. They put him in a squad car and took off.
We felt good helping out like that. I don't want some punk thinking he can walk in my neighborhood in broad daylight and break into a house and no one's going to say anything if they see him. No way.
If that makes me a snitch, I'll be a snitch. I'll be a snitch living in a safe neighborhood.
No one wants to be a snitch. It's an ugly word.
But perspective is necessary. There's a difference between gossiping and telling police what you know about a crime. Society as we know it would fall apart if we didn't honor this compact that we will tell what we know if we witness a crime.
Why give a safe haven to criminals?
In 2004, Cathi and I observed a man across the street suspiciously standing near an apartment window, looking around. He started prying off the screen. Then he climbed in the window. I told Cathi to call 911, which she did. The cops arrived in record time. And they were smart about it. They parked their cars on another street and came walking down our street, guns drawn. They positioned themselves around the apartment at all of the windows while an officer banged on the front door. They gained entry. Cathi and I were, by now, walking down our driveway. Two cop cars pulled up. We informed them that the other officers had made entry into the apartment and that we never saw the suspect leave. Sure enough, the cops came walking out of the apartment with the fellow, his hands cuffed behind his back. They put him in a squad car and took off.
We felt good helping out like that. I don't want some punk thinking he can walk in my neighborhood in broad daylight and break into a house and no one's going to say anything if they see him. No way.
If that makes me a snitch, I'll be a snitch. I'll be a snitch living in a safe neighborhood.
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