1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Welcome one and all to the Professional Homegirl Podcast. Before 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 1: we begin today's episode, we want to remind you that 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: the views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those 4 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: of the host and guests and are intended for educational 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: and entertaining purposes. In this safe space, no question is 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 1: off limits because you never know how someone's storyline can 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: be your lifeline. The Professional Homegirl Podcast is here to 8 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: celebrate the diverse voices, stories and experiences of women of color, 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: providing a platform for authentic and empowering conversations. There will 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: be some key king, some tears, but most importantly a 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: reminder that tough times don't last, but professional homegirls do 12 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: enjoy the show. 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 2: Hello professional Homegirls, ishiger everyday here and I hope all 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 2: is cute now. On this week's episode of the Professional 15 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 2: Homegirl Podcast, Down with a professional homegirl who spent nearly 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 2: twenty years serving and protecting her community. My guest share 17 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: is was really like to work in law enforcement? Now? 18 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 2: The game, the male dominated feel carrying the weight of 19 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 2: the badge while balancing it all with real life. We 20 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 2: talk about the highs, the heartbreaks, the tough decisions, and 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: the moments that made it all worth it. You know, 22 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 2: I really enjoyed this episode. You all. This conversation was 23 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 2: so amazing because my guest not only was she raw 24 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: and powerful, but this conversation was a reminder of the 25 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: strength it takes to stand on the front lines while 26 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: navigating the complex realities of being black and wearing blue. 27 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: So get ready because behind the badge, my journey in 28 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: law enforcement starts now. All right, to my guests, thank 29 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: you so much for being on the show. How are 30 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: you feeling, how you doing? 31 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. I feel good. I felt good. 32 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 3: Today's a good day. We're here. Okay, it's not me. 33 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: It's raining, but we're here, so it's okay. 34 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: It's a good day. I feel nice and relaxed, like 35 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: I feel ready to conquer the day. So I feel 36 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:09,839 Speaker 2: good too. 37 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a good day. 38 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: Listen. I am so excited to share your story. I 39 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: know when niggas see you, maybe like, yeah, you could 40 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 2: take me to jail. Baby. How many niggas try to 41 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:19,839 Speaker 2: hit on you. 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 3: Only do how many times I've heard that, Like, especially 43 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 3: back when I was in uniform every day, every single day, 44 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 3: anybody cute, It didn't even matter because I know I'm 45 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 3: going to jail, And even if it was somebody who 46 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 3: wasn't going to jail, it was someone who was just 47 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 3: saying that. For me, I'm like, if you would even 48 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 3: say that to me, you're not my type. 49 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: Yeah that's what she's saying, y'all. But she a bad 50 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 2: of y'all. I know, niggas hitting her at the station 51 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 2: all day every day. 52 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 3: Listen between them and the coworkers. The girl, it's a mess. 53 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 4: Yeah. 54 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: Well, let's start from the beginning. What kind of kid 55 00:02:58,800 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 2: were you growing up? 56 00:02:59,639 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 3: Like? 57 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 2: Were you you always draw into like protecting people. 58 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 3: I am the eldest daughter. 59 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: Oh, there you go. That makes sense me too. 60 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 3: As the eldest daughter is like, I've always taken care 61 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 3: of my younger siblings Like this side. I have three 62 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 3: younger siblings, so I've always been the protector of them. 63 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: Mm hmm. 64 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,959 Speaker 3: I mean so it was in me. I didn't want 65 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,839 Speaker 3: to be a cop, but I guess just the way 66 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 3: that I grew up, it kind of God makes no mistakes, 67 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 3: so it worked out the way it was supposed to. 68 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, we have a lot in common I have. I'm 69 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 2: the oldest other and I have three younger siblings too. 70 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: Oh do you yeah, all girls. 71 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 4: Listen the eldest daughter, girl, right, listen, the eldest daughter, Siria, 72 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 4: it is stressful that part, but. 73 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 3: It prepared me. I'll say it did help prepare me. 74 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 3: But yeah, eldest daughter. 75 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: So tell them about the first time when you you 76 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: know what, I want to be a cop. Like where 77 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: sparked that moment. 78 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 3: I never thought I want to be a cop, like 79 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 3: that thought that some people have like as kids, Oh, 80 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 3: I want to be a cop. I want to, you know, 81 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 3: save the day. Say that was never me. Oh, I 82 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 3: actually wanted to be a veterinarian. 83 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:21,720 Speaker 2: Oh wow. 84 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 3: I went to school for pre veterinary medicine, Like literally 85 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 3: went to college for pre veterinary medicine. But you know, 86 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 3: the first two three weeks you get your first exam. 87 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 3: Mine was like the a diagram of a cow with 88 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 3: all the parts labeled and you had to match them up. 89 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 3: And I was like, I'm not doing this. So I 90 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 3: literally got up in the middle of that class of 91 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 3: the test, walked out, switched my major from pre veterinary 92 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 3: medicine to criminal justice. But even then, I didn't want 93 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 3: to be a cop. I wanted to be a forensic psychologist. 94 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 2: M But smart. 95 00:04:59,279 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: I try to be. 96 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 2: I didn't keep it. 97 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 3: Going, but I mean, obviously even that didn't happen. So 98 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 3: a little bit of my backstory. The beginning of my 99 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 3: junior year, I got a phone call that my mother 100 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 3: was ill and she was hospitalized and she would be 101 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 3: in the hospital for quite some time. And at the time, 102 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: those younger siblings were miners, and he wasn't in the 103 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 3: picture at that moment. You know, he had his own 104 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 3: things that he was dealing with. And so at that call, 105 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 3: I literally packed up my dorm room and dropped out 106 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 3: and went home to take care of my family. So, 107 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 3: oh wow, I was twenty. It was the beginning of 108 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 3: my junior year, and I had to become an adult overnight. 109 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: So I had to find a job to supplement income. 110 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 3: I had to put food on the table, clothes on backs, 111 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 3: paid the mortgage or at least as much as I could. 112 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,679 Speaker 3: You know, I'm doing homework and baths and parent teacher 113 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 3: conferences a single mom power of attorney like all of 114 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 3: that overnight, and it was a lot. So forward to 115 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,160 Speaker 3: my mother getting better and me trying to go back 116 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 3: to school. So living in the area that I lived 117 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 3: in and then traveling like an hour to school every day. 118 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 3: So I would work from eight am to four am, 119 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 3: get out of work, hop on the main rule to 120 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 3: get to where I was going. It was an hour 121 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 3: and a half in traffic. So I would get the class, 122 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 3: sitting class from five thirty to eight thirty, then try 123 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: to go to the library to do my papers and 124 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 3: my studying and assignments. I would leave there at like 125 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 3: one twelve am, one o'clock in the morning, stop at 126 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 3: a rest stop, set my alarm for five am, sleep, 127 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 3: get up, drive the rest of the way home, get dressed, 128 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 3: and go back to work. And I did that Monday 129 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 3: through Thursday for a year. Oh wow, it got to 130 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 3: be too much, so I was like, I couldn't do it. 131 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 3: Of course I dropped out again, and so then I'm 132 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 3: just working. So then fast forward. My mother is retired 133 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 3: law enforcement, so at this time she's on the job, 134 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 3: and she had been trying to get me to take 135 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 3: the Civil Service Exam, which is the exam that you 136 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 3: take in order to become law enforcement in a lot 137 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: of states, specifically this state. So she was like, so 138 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 3: I she came home from work and I was in 139 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 3: my room crying. She's like, what's wrong. And I'm like, listen, 140 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: I just got paid. I just paid my car, note, 141 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 3: car insurance, credit card bill, cell phone. 142 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: Bill that didn't have me self here. So many times we. 143 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 3: Did loan bill for the degree that I did not 144 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 3: have because remember I dropped out earlier. And I was like, 145 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 3: I only have twenty six dollars left. And I'm like, 146 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 3: that's not enough to put gas in my car for 147 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 3: the next two weeks, let alone for me to live. 148 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 3: And I'm like, I'm doing this the right way. I'm 149 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 3: doing everything I'm supposed to do, and it's not getting like, 150 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 3: it's not getting me and this is not enough. I 151 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 3: can't live off of this. And my mother was like, well, listen, 152 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 3: if you take the Civil Service exam like I've been 153 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 3: asking you to, I will pay your card, not and 154 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 3: inssurance for a year, okay. 155 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 2: And I look like, bet any guys stay with nothing 156 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 2: more once? Baby? 157 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 3: What say less? We weren't say less than, but I 158 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 3: was like, stay less. And so I took the exam 159 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 3: and I scored extremely high, and I got certified by 160 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 3: several different departments, and I went with the one that 161 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 3: I felt was the best at the time, and I 162 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: went into State corrections and I was I went to 163 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 3: the academy and I was a state corrections officer. 164 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 2: Oh y'all, no, you don't play no games, baby, and 165 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: don't and don't listen me and my guess. When I 166 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 2: see her out, I make sure I am close by 167 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 2: because I know if anything was a pop all, I 168 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 2: know I am good hands if she's nearby. 169 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 3: And it does not matter if I am in boots, flats, 170 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 3: a five inch heels, a gown. 171 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 2: I know you got that shrap ready. 172 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: It's on. Where she is my buddy. 173 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: Wherever I go, she goes listen. And it is another 174 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: young lady that I met, and she he's also a 175 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: detective too, and she was like, hey me, my purse 176 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 2: right there, and I'm like okay, And I was like, dude, 177 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,839 Speaker 2: what you got to hear? It feels heavy as hell. 178 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 2: She was like, I got my shruck. I said, okay, listen. 179 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 3: Anytime that happened to me and somebody's like, what you 180 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 3: got in here? I'm like, you know what I got 181 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 3: in there? 182 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 2: They're like, oh, you play no games. I'm like, bet 183 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 2: say less. I wish somebody would pop off. 184 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 3: And it's not even a matter of me trying to 185 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 3: super cop. It's just a matter of like, this world 186 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 3: is crazy right now. So I don't know that I 187 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 3: could live with myself if something happened and I didn't 188 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 3: have the tools and resources that I need. 189 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 2: The tools and resources, that's what we're calling it. 190 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 3: That was on my call. I mean, but to do what, yeah, 191 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 3: to do like it is my job to protect. I'm not. 192 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 3: I'm not that person that's like all my cop stuff 193 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 3: twenty four to seven. But if I and something happens, 194 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 3: I'm going to do my job. I'm going to respond. Yeah, 195 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: I'm going to make sure my girl is on me 196 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 3: at all time. Right. 197 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 2: Did JR. Mom or like your siblings ever have to 198 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 2: have a converse about that time period where you had 199 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 2: to step up, because that's a lot of responsibility for 200 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 2: a twenty year old. 201 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 3: It wasn't really a conversation. It was just I just 202 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 3: did it. Yeah, when I got that phone call, I 203 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 3: did not even think about not going home. It wasn't 204 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 3: a thought at all. It was just like, okay, all right, 205 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 3: I'll be there, right. And I did my siblings, I mean, 206 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: they understood what it was. Mommy was in the hospital, 207 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 3: and so I had always been the eldest daughter, right, 208 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 3: so used to me kind of taking care of them 209 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:34,559 Speaker 3: to a certain extent. Not to say that my mother 210 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 3: didn't take care of us, because she is an amazing mother, 211 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 3: like my boo, I love her so much. But I 212 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:45,559 Speaker 3: was the eldest daughter, so you know, they knew that. 213 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 3: They were used to me bossing them around when we 214 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 3: were younger. So yeah, I remember when we were kids. 215 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 3: We used to my mother would be like, clean up 216 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 3: and I would give I would delegate assignments to them, 217 00:10:56,160 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 3: and I would be the supervisor. They're like here she go, 218 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 3: y'all cleaning up and I would be supervising. So but yeah, 219 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 3: fast forward to that time. It was challenging, but we 220 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:09,719 Speaker 3: got through it. 221 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. So are your siblings or anybody else besides your 222 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 2: mother's surprise that you are in law enforcement because you've 223 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 2: been doing this for almost twenty years, right, I. 224 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,719 Speaker 3: Am in my eighteenth year. Wow, eighteenth year, and I 225 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 3: can't believe it. It's like it's been a journey. But 226 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 3: when I think back, I remember the very first day 227 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 3: of my first academy because I've been through too, but 228 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 3: I remember the first day like it was yesterday. 229 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 2: And were you nervous, hopeful, Like, how are you feeling nervous? 230 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 3: I kind of knew what to expect because again, my 231 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 3: mother is on the job, so she told me what 232 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 3: to expect. But I was nervous. I knew I wouldn't 233 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 3: get it through. Like I didn't have any doubts about 234 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 3: making it through, but I just it's just nerve wracking. 235 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 3: It was residential, so I had to live there Monday 236 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,679 Speaker 3: through Friday. It was for corrections, so I couldn't have 237 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 3: my phone. They were, you know, conditioning us to be 238 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,679 Speaker 3: in a jail or a prison without your phone, so 239 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 3: I didn't have contact with the outside world. It was 240 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 3: It's a lot. I hated it. 241 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a big shift from going from a large 242 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 2: family and being outside being do your thing to being 243 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 2: on lockdown down. 244 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I hated it. I hated every second of it. 245 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. 246 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,599 Speaker 2: I can only imagine. So when you first started out, Like, 247 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 2: what did you think the job would be compared to 248 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 2: what it is now? 249 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 3: Well, I mean the job when I first started is 250 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 3: different from what I do now, just because of the 251 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 3: starting in corrections and then transitioning over to policing. So 252 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 3: but like when I first started, the job, kind of 253 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 3: was what I expected it to be, And I guess 254 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,719 Speaker 3: that's because my mother was in the job. My mother 255 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 3: was a corrections officer, so somewhat knew what to expect 256 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 3: going into it. But I was very nervous going into 257 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 3: the prison, like just anxiety, Like I knew I would 258 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 3: be good, but I'm walking into a prison with a 259 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 3: bunch of people who were incarcerated. I don't really like 260 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:11,959 Speaker 3: the word inmate anymore. I don't. I try not to 261 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 3: use that word anymore. That's a whole other conversation. But 262 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: incarcerated persons like that that wasn't my lifestyle, were men 263 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 3: or women. I was a men and the prison that 264 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 3: I worked at, the men who were there were from 265 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 3: age like eighteen to like thirty five, so they were 266 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 3: younger guys. So it was really interesting going into a 267 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:38,719 Speaker 3: space where those that age range of men are the 268 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 3: men who would be hollering at me. Yeah, right, because 269 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,719 Speaker 3: I started at twenty three, so I was there with 270 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 3: like my age groups, So okay a certain extent. Yeah, 271 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,439 Speaker 3: interesting because I was navigating, like making sure that I 272 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,599 Speaker 3: showed up fair, firm, and consistent. That's something that we 273 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,559 Speaker 3: learned in the academy and stuff with with me. I didn't. 274 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: I wasn't the person who was going to overdo it. 275 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 3: But I also wasn't the person who was going to 276 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 3: be taking advantage. 277 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 2: Of Yeah, because the moment they see weakness, it's a rap. 278 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 3: Rap And so I had to come in with like 279 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 3: that strong demeanor. And it's interesting because some of them 280 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 3: would say, Yo, she's mad, cool, and then other ones 281 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 3: would say, yo, she's a bitch. 282 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: Right. 283 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 3: And my model was, you get what you give to me. 284 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 3: If you come at me with respect, then you're going 285 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 3: to get that back. If you come and me crazy, 286 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 3: then I'm going to have to handle you accordingly. And 287 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 3: so you know, and when I say handle accordingly, I 288 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 3: wasn't the person to put my hands on somebody like unjustly. 289 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 3: But they knew, Like, but I'm. 290 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 2: Going to match your energy, like they knew what it was. 291 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 3: That was my record. 292 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 2: Hmm, you know I spoke to I don't know if 293 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 2: you listened to the last episode I did. I accidentally 294 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 2: took someone's life and she was a CEO and very unfortunate, 295 00:14:57,480 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 2: very sad story, like you have to listen to it. 296 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 2: But to make a long story short, she was on 297 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: her way to work she was a law abiding citizen, 298 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 2: never been into any issues obviously because she worked in 299 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 2: law enforcement and a person cut her off on her 300 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: way to work, which caused her to have a very 301 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: severe accident and somebody died in the result of it, 302 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 2: and she got it got put on her so right, 303 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 2: it's so sad. So so we was talking and for 304 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 2: a period of time while she was in jail, she 305 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 2: was somewhat paralyzed and she was in a wheelchair, and 306 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: she was just saying, how you know, she saw the 307 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 2: difference between women prison and men prison and how she 308 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 2: was like, she used to be a CEO or for 309 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 2: a men's prison and it was way more easier than 310 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 2: working being in a woman prison. And she was saying, 311 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 2: how women prisons are just like ruthless. 312 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 3: I could see that. Yeah, I've never worked in a 313 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 3: women's prison, but I could definitely see especially being a 314 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 3: woman working in prison. So if you think about society 315 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 3: as a whole, where unfortunately I don't subscribe to this, 316 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 3: but there are unfortunately too many women who do subscribe 317 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 3: to cattiness and patting, you know, that type of jealousy 318 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: and nonsense. As women's prison is just a microcosm of society. 319 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 3: I have that type of environment where the women who 320 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 3: are incarcerated have been traumatized, They've gone through things, they've 321 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 3: experienced things where they're not operating at their best sells 322 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 3: for them to even be incarcerated in the first place. 323 00:16:36,920 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 3: Then you have women who are the officers on top 324 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 3: of that telling them what to do. It just it 325 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 3: creates a dynamic that's actually a documentary or study somebody 326 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 3: should do like it just should creates a dynamic where 327 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 3: I could, like, women who I know who are CEOs 328 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 3: have always said that it's been harder for them to 329 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 3: work in a women's prison than a men's. 330 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 2: And you would think it would be harder to be 331 00:16:58,960 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 2: work with men. 332 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 3: Women wanting to fight you all the time and stuff 333 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 3: like that, where you don't, at least I didn't experience 334 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 3: that when I worked in a men's prison, and I 335 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,880 Speaker 3: worked there just under a year before I transitioned to policing. 336 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 3: But I didn't experience guys wanting to fight me all 337 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 3: the time. I experienced the men who were incarcerated trying 338 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 3: to holler at me or trying to get over on me, 339 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 3: trying to get something that they weren't supposed to get, 340 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 3: like if it was extra time out of their cells 341 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 3: or extra food or smoke or path stuff like that. 342 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 3: But that's them trying to see if they can get 343 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 3: you to do something small that you're not so they 344 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 3: can condition you to something bigger. 345 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, So talk about that transition from being a 346 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 2: CEOs and now into policing. 347 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 3: Yeah. So, while I was at the prison, I got 348 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 3: certified by another department and I actually wasn't going to leave. 349 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 3: But one of my friends, he had gone through the 350 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,239 Speaker 3: academy with me and went to the same prison as 351 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: me and got certified by that same department at the 352 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 3: same time. And I was talking to him about it 353 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 3: and he was I was like, I'm not going to leave, 354 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 3: Like I'm here, I've gone through the academy. My coworkers 355 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 3: know how I am. At the time when I was 356 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 3: using that phrase, the inmates know how I am. Like 357 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 3: I'm good, I'm chilling. He was like, if you don't 358 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 3: bring your ass with me, this person, like, why would 359 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 3: you choose to intentionally be stuck in a prison for 360 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 3: the next twenty five years of your progrem We have 361 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 3: the opportunity to transition out and then be able to 362 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 3: do so many different things, And so because of him, 363 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 3: I took the new job. But I had to go 364 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 3: through another academy because there's a difference in the certification 365 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 3: between policing, between corrections and policing. Yeah, director's academy is 366 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 3: preparing you to be inside of a jail or a prison, 367 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 3: where policing is preparing you to work outside of it. 368 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 3: So I went through another academy and it was it 369 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 3: was it was a lot, you know, being the only 370 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 3: black woman in the academy. But I was the only 371 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 3: black woman, he was the only black man. It was 372 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 3: us against the world the colonizes, and they treated us 373 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 3: that way too. 374 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 2: Oh wow. And how long is the what's the time 375 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 2: frame for the academy? 376 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 3: Like? Is it a year or five to six months? 377 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 2: Mm? 378 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:26,680 Speaker 3: Like anywhere between twenty to twenty five weeks? 379 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 2: Oh wow? And you felt every bit of it? 380 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, every single bit of it. 381 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 2: H But are you glad that looking back? Are you 382 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 2: happy that he pulled you with him, because what do 383 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 2: you think your life would have looked like if you 384 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 2: would have still have been a CEO for twenty something years? 385 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,639 Speaker 3: I am one thousand percent happy that he convinced me 386 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 3: to leave I don't think that my life as a 387 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 3: CEO would have been bad. I know I would have 388 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 3: made rank by now. I know I'm at eighteen years 389 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 3: in and I test, well, I probably would have been 390 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 3: I probably would be a captain by now, lieutenant our captain. Yeah, 391 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 3: but the quality of life is just not great. 392 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: You are. 393 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: Essentially incarcerated too, Like for that eight to sixteen hours 394 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 3: that you're there, you're there. There's no access to outside life. 395 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 3: You can't just go take a walk, you can't just 396 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 3: go get lunch. Yeah, you could get stuck if something happens, 397 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 3: you know, And as as dangerous as it is policing 398 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 3: on the outside, it's just as dangerous, if not more, 399 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 3: as what CEOs I call policing on the inside. 400 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. 401 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:41,400 Speaker 2: I used to date the COEO. He was so fine, 402 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 2: but he used to be a cl He was so fine. 403 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 2: He was a she laughing y'all. But he was a 404 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 2: CEO at rikers. 405 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 3: And like when huh, they don't do it? 406 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 2: Reconsidered listen recent litter because he was miserable, like and 407 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 2: then I didn't understand, you know, well, you're not in 408 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 2: that world. You're like, where are you at? Like it's 409 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 2: three o'clock and he'd be like, we locked down, like 410 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 2: it was a crazy fight. Next thing, you know, the 411 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 2: inmates fight and the police officer, so we just can't leave. 412 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 2: Like He'll be stuck thirt until like like twenty four 413 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 2: thirty six hours. And I'm like, nah, this is crazy to. 414 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 3: Keep a go back in my car just in case 415 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 3: I got locked down and needed to get like a 416 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 3: change of clothes, a change of underwear, toothbrush, like, you know, 417 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 3: if if I even had the opportunity to go to 418 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 3: my car to get it. Yeah, but yeah, that's real. 419 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 3: And the fighting all the time is real, especially in 420 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,479 Speaker 3: the prison I was in. Those young boys fought all 421 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: the time. I was in the best shape of my life. 422 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 2: I bet you were. 423 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,639 Speaker 3: I was burning from one end to the prison to 424 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:47,120 Speaker 3: the other end every day when they called out that code, 425 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 3: I'm running from one end to the next. That's just 426 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 3: what it was. 427 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, y'all should definitely listen to the episode I did 428 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 2: with she's retired now, but she was a CoA Rikers. 429 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 2: You said you listened to it and that was a 430 00:21:58,920 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 2: really good conversation. 431 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I understood what she was talking about, even 432 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 3: though I was only a CEO for just under a year. 433 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 3: I related to everything that she was saying, and not 434 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 3: for nothing. I think that every officer should. It's my belief. 435 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 3: Everyone doesn't agree with this, but a lot of people do. 436 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:21,440 Speaker 3: Every officer should be a CEO first before they go 437 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 3: out to the streets, in my opinion. 438 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 2: And why is that? 439 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 3: Because as a CEO you learn interpersonal skills, you learn 440 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 3: communication skills, you learn how to speak to people, how 441 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 3: to de escalate verbal judo. You know, when I am 442 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 3: in the prison and I'm working a housing unit, and 443 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 3: I'm on a tier and there are a hundred guys 444 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 3: who are living on that tier, and I walk down 445 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:45,360 Speaker 3: a tier and if I open the doors and half 446 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:48,400 Speaker 3: of them come out, So there's fifty guys out. Am 447 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,440 Speaker 3: I going to be tough tony right? Or people with 448 00:22:51,560 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 3: respect and treat them with respect? Right, even though they're incarcerated, 449 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,239 Speaker 3: that doesn't mean that they don't still deserve respect. Now 450 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 3: you come at me crazy, then I'm gonna address you accordingly, but. 451 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 2: Crazy in the. 452 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 3: Right. But I'm not going to just pop off on 453 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 3: somebody unnecessarily. I'm putting myself at risk. Right, These are 454 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 3: guys as tough as I might be. I'm still a woman, 455 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 3: right fun of them hit me the wrong way. If 456 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 3: one of them decides that they want to sexually assault me, 457 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm going to fight until the end. But 458 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 3: essentially these guys could end up doing whatever they wanted 459 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 3: to do to me. So I have to operate in 460 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 3: a way where I'm treating them with respect so that 461 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 3: I can get that in return. It's reciprocal. Yeah, when 462 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 3: I don't have all of those tools around my back, 463 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 3: around my belt inside of the prison, like I don't 464 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 3: have a gun, a taser, I don't have any of that. 465 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 3: I have, you know, a key for it to open 466 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 3: the to unlock the gates, and like I have a 467 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 3: radio with a little red button on it that I 468 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 3: can hit while I'm getting my ask if I can. 469 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: Get to it. 470 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,159 Speaker 2: Wait, so you didn't have a gun on are you? 471 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 3: There are no guns inside of jails or prisons. 472 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 2: I mean, I guess that would make sense, because God 473 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 2: forbid if one of the inmates get it. That's a 474 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 2: wrap exactly. 475 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 3: Absolutely no guns inside of jails or prisons. Mmmm. 476 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 2: Okay, So we're going to get into your first day 477 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 2: on the job as a police officer. But I want 478 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 2: to know your thoughts about all of the corruption that 479 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:26,200 Speaker 2: goes on with the prisons, because you have people either 480 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,399 Speaker 2: having babies with the people who are incarcerated, you have 481 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 2: people that's like hustling and like it's just so much 482 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 2: corruption that's going on, or even with the sexual assault 483 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 2: and things of that nature, like what do you think 484 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 2: about that and what can what can be done to 485 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 2: make it better? 486 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 3: I mean, there's a lot of that that goes on. 487 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 3: There's a lot more of that that doesn't happen. Let 488 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 3: me start with that. You know, the bad things tend 489 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 3: to be highlighted, and I agree. You know, so there 490 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 3: are a lot more officers who are not engaging in 491 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 3: that behavior. But for those who are, is like was 492 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 3: it already in their character or was it a matter 493 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:09,400 Speaker 3: of them slowly being conditioned? You know, the people who 494 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 3: are in prison or jail, they don't have anything but 495 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:16,840 Speaker 3: time to study you, right, And so I used to 496 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 3: say to my coworkers, like when I was working, I'm like, 497 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 3: do not use my first name, Do not talk about 498 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 3: like where I'm from, Like I don't. I wouldn't talk 499 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 3: about like restaurants that I went to, just in casual 500 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 3: conversation with my coworkers because those guys are listening to 501 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 3: everything we say. Talk about who my football team was, 502 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 3: because then they would know what area of the state 503 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,920 Speaker 3: I was from. I like, I kept it real general 504 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 3: because I did not want people to know anything about 505 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 3: me so that they could try to use certain thing 506 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 3: or find out what it's like, find out who my 507 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 3: mother is, find out who my siblings are, target them 508 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 3: to try to get me to do something that they 509 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 3: wanted me to do. Like I just I was very 510 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 3: cognizant of that stuff. And maybe it's because my mother 511 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 3: was on the job, but I was like, I'm not 512 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 3: with it, and I made sure that my reputation was 513 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 3: they know she ain't the one like in housing unit 514 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 3: because I'm the young, cute, shit right, brand new. I 515 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 3: come on the housing unit. All of a sudden, these 516 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 3: jokers got their shirts off or they they doing pull ups, 517 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 3: they doing push ups, and I wasn't with it. I 518 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 3: was like, put some clothes on or lock in. Oh, 519 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 3: you can't tell me what to do. I'm telling you 520 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 3: put some clothes on to night. It's your choice. Here's 521 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:39,679 Speaker 3: one and they will put some clothes on or there 522 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 3: were some like man, fuck this I'm locking in this 523 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 3: got me fucked up, it's your choice right in doing 524 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 3: that and making that name for myself. They knew I 525 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 3: wasn't with the ships like they I wasn't that chick 526 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,400 Speaker 3: that they could get that off on. So I never 527 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,960 Speaker 3: had a situation and granted again, I was only there 528 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:01,920 Speaker 3: for less than a year, but I never had a 529 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 3: situation where someone asked me to do something I wasn't 530 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 3: supposed to do, or put or bring something in or 531 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 3: m or any of them tried to come at me sexually. 532 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 3: I had like one blow a kissed at me or 533 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 3: something like that, but I just like I wrote him up, 534 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 3: like you know, like but they knew, yeah, he was new, 535 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 3: and it got to the point where they would police themselves. 536 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 3: So if there was a new guy at the prison 537 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:27,679 Speaker 3: who didn't know that and he would start, the other 538 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 3: ones be like no, no, no, no, no, chill, chill, chill, 539 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 3: we got him. We got him, Like get your boy. 540 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 3: No no, no, no, no, no, we got him. We 541 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 3: got him. Were good because I used the and I 542 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 3: guess maybe I got this from the academy, But it's 543 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 3: like if one messes up, you all mess up. So 544 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:46,080 Speaker 3: if one person disrespects me. Everybody on the housing unit 545 00:27:46,119 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 3: feels it. Yeah, and where they would police themselves. 546 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,200 Speaker 2: So its the one sound one this bitch. 547 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: Y'all. 548 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 2: Bet tell old boy, listen. 549 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 3: Now. 550 00:28:07,960 --> 00:28:10,880 Speaker 2: You spoke about how certain things in academy it felt 551 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 2: very it was very real, like being that you were 552 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 2: the only black woman and as well as your partner. 553 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 2: What were some of those things that you felt, if 554 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:22,720 Speaker 2: you can speak about because of your race, you felt 555 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 2: like it was like something's not right. 556 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,880 Speaker 3: I felt like they scrutinized me a lot more than 557 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 3: some of my parts. There weren't a lot of us 558 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 3: in the class. We started with thirty five and I 559 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 3: think we graduated thirty two, so it wasn't a huge class. 560 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:40,840 Speaker 3: But it was one black man, one black woman, and 561 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 3: I think there might have been eight wo men in 562 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 3: that class. And I definitely was treated differently than the others. 563 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 3: They were a lot harder on me when it came 564 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 3: to the physical aspect of it. They couldn't come at 565 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 3: me when it came to the academic part of it 566 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 3: because I'm intelligent, like I didn't. I didn't have issues 567 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 3: with the testing or the academic aspect of it, but 568 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 3: the physical and then just the rest of the day 569 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 3: to day, like in the academy, were always wrong, even. 570 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 2: When we're right, we're wrong right. 571 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 3: But for me, it was like above and beyond. So 572 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 3: I remember specifically so in my first academy for corrections, 573 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 3: I developed asthma I had as an adult. I had 574 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 3: my first asthma attack on the PT field like a girl, 575 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 3: and so thankfully it was like a Friday, so Saturday, 576 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 3: I got cleared by my doctor and was able to 577 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 3: return to the academy. But fast forward to my second academy, 578 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 3: the physical aspect of it was a lot harder for 579 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:46,600 Speaker 3: me than it was the first time, because now I 580 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 3: have asthma where I didn't have it. 581 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 2: Before, and so I'm interested. 582 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 3: I taught myself how to run through an asthma attack. 583 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 3: Like we'd be running for miles and miles and miles, 584 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,280 Speaker 3: I'd be having an asthma attack. I taught myself how 585 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 3: to push through because I was like, I'm not quitting, 586 00:30:02,280 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 3: I'm not getting kicked out of this academy. And so 587 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 3: the physical part was a lot harder for me, and 588 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 3: I remember one specific day, PT was grueling, the physical 589 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 3: part of it, but I pushed through. I had an 590 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 3: asthma attack in the middle of it. I pushed through, 591 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 3: and so one of the instructors at the end of 592 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 3: our PT session came up to me. He's like, yo, 593 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 3: I saw you pushing through, like you did your thing. 594 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 3: Like I'm proud of you. 595 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 2: You did your thing, and you didn't have your pump, 596 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:32,440 Speaker 2: did you? 597 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 3: I have my pump. But another instructor was like, nah, 598 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 3: she didn't fucking do anything. She was fucking sandbagging. She'd 599 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 3: fuck her because this is when they could talk to 600 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 3: us like that's in the academy. Fuck her, she didn't 601 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 3: do anything. She was fucking sandbagging. She doesn't get any 602 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 3: kudos for that. Fuck her, Go get in line, and 603 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 3: like yelled at me to go get in line. That 604 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 3: shit pissed me off so much because I'm like, yo, 605 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:02,520 Speaker 3: I am bustling my behind out here, and like, again, 606 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 3: you're always wrong in the academy, but this specific day, 607 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 3: I was like, I ain't with it today, but I 608 00:31:09,720 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 3: maintain my academy bearing. I didn't say anything to him, 609 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 3: even because. 610 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:16,239 Speaker 2: I would have been like, nigga, you got me fuck up. 611 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:18,920 Speaker 3: That's what was going on in my head. 612 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 2: I would have gotten that nigga face, but you got annything. 613 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 3: You're academy, are you right? Why I get kicked out? 614 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:27,800 Speaker 2: So and you came this far and not to come 615 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 2: this far exactly. 616 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 3: So, at the end of the day, when we're getting 617 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 3: ready to leave, he's giving us our you know, summary 618 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,320 Speaker 3: of the day, our marching orders for that night, whatever 619 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 3: homework we're going to have, and we're supposed to look 620 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:44,320 Speaker 3: at him, like we're supposed to sit straight up looking 621 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 3: at him, and I'm looking, but I'm not looking at him. 622 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 3: I'm kind of looking next to him, like I'm not 623 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 3: giving him the eye contact that he wants m and 624 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:56,959 Speaker 3: he goes off like crash out. That's what they say now, 625 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 3: crash out. He crashed out in the podium. He was 626 00:32:00,840 --> 00:32:03,480 Speaker 3: he was like, you don't fucking treat me this way. 627 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 3: You fucking look at me when I'm talking to you. 628 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 3: And he picked up the podium and like flung it, 629 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 3: like tried to throw it at me. And I'm sitting 630 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 3: there and I'm looking. Now I'm looking at him, and 631 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 3: I have like, you know, the black girl, resting bitch face. 632 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 3: I don't say black girl, but the resting bitch face. 633 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,440 Speaker 2: You know what I'm talking about like, nigga, I wish 634 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 2: you would, because. 635 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 3: At this point I'm not saying anything, but I'm looking 636 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 3: like I dare you. I dare you because in my mind, 637 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 3: I'm like, I will own this entire academy. I will 638 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 3: own this entire state. I promise you, I will sue 639 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 3: the shit out of all of y'all if you put 640 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 3: your hands on me. I promise you, I will sue 641 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,480 Speaker 3: all of y'all. Like, this is what my face is saying. 642 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 3: And I think he caught it because he calmed down, 643 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 3: and he walked out, and somebody else came in and 644 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:54,480 Speaker 3: dismissed us for the day. But I didn't forget that 645 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 3: there was nobody else in that class who he had 646 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 3: ever treated that way, even the biggest fuck ups of 647 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,040 Speaker 3: the class, even those who could never get it together. 648 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 3: He had never ever ever treated any of them that way, 649 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 3: so far to the point where he damn near hits 650 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 3: them with a podium. 651 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,440 Speaker 2: Now, I don't want to play the game guess what 652 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 2: race that is? I don't want to ask the question. 653 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 3: You already know. 654 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 2: But that was just one of you know, But why 655 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 2: do you think he had a personal vendennag issue? Like 656 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 2: and he I know he ain't treat the black man 657 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 2: like that. They messed with him too, but not so 658 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 2: for they threw a podium at him. No, not they 659 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 2: didn't throw a qodium at him, but they definitely messed 660 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 2: with him too. I mean, I can say that during 661 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 2: that police academy, they messed with the two of us 662 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 2: so much that I was like, I'm not quitting. I 663 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 2: will never quit, but once I'm done, I'm suing them. 664 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 2: I was in regulations of the academy. I was like, 665 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 2: because something is off. This is like the the treatment 666 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 2: between us and the other recruits is so disparaging, Like nah, no, 667 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 2: you no, it's so crazy. I just had an a 668 00:34:04,320 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 2: high moment because being that you're a woman, he wanted 669 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:09,680 Speaker 2: to evoke fearing you because he's a man, and probably 670 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 2: with your partner, he probably wanted to emasculate him and 671 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 2: fuck with him mentally. 672 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 3: That could definitely be it right, probably onto something, but 673 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 3: I just I wasn't with it. 674 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 2: I was like, nah. 675 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 3: And I think by the end of the academy class 676 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:24,400 Speaker 3: it got to the point, and this is something that 677 00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 3: I experienced throughout my career. I think they got to 678 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:30,920 Speaker 3: the point where they were like Okay, we are not 679 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,360 Speaker 3: instilling fearing her. We can't beat her, maybe we should 680 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 3: join her because of the way that I presented, because 681 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 3: I was intelligent, because I spoke a certain way, calm too, 682 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 3: because I carried myself a certain way. Because of I 683 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:52,480 Speaker 3: think that they felt like I was palatable, so I 684 00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 3: could be the black face quote unquote. 685 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. 686 00:34:56,640 --> 00:35:01,879 Speaker 3: So not realizing that just because I speak a certain way, 687 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 3: just because I'm intelligent, just because I carry myself a 688 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 3: certain way, doesn't mean that I am not like fist 689 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,440 Speaker 3: in the air like power to the people because I 690 00:35:10,560 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 3: am them. It was like, Okay, we can't beat her, 691 00:35:14,239 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 3: let's join her, Let's make her, you know, kind of 692 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:22,400 Speaker 3: like the face. So fast forward to my career, it 693 00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,439 Speaker 3: was the same thing. Like I had supervisors who tried 694 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:28,959 Speaker 3: to mess with me in the beginning, and I would 695 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:30,680 Speaker 3: make it clear like I'm not that person that you 696 00:35:30,760 --> 00:35:32,719 Speaker 3: can get that off on. You're not going to treat 697 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:34,919 Speaker 3: me a certain way, You're not going to instill fear 698 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,480 Speaker 3: in me, You're not going to attempt to write me 699 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:39,480 Speaker 3: up for nonsense so that you can get stuff on 700 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 3: my jacket. So that fast forward, I can't go to 701 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 3: specialized units and I can't get like. It's very strategic 702 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,759 Speaker 3: in how they do certain things. And I recognized they 703 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 3: were trying to do it, and I nipped it in 704 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 3: the bud early. It was just like so one of 705 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:55,719 Speaker 3: the things that they always taught us is that our 706 00:35:55,880 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 3: pen is one of our most mighty weapons in policing. 707 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:03,759 Speaker 3: If it's not on paper, it didn't happen. Right for me, 708 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 3: I remembered that, and I write, well, again, I'm intelligent, 709 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 3: so and I'm not gonna say that. I'm just gonna 710 00:36:14,040 --> 00:36:18,080 Speaker 3: say I am probably more intelligent than a lot of 711 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:23,840 Speaker 3: my colleagues. I'll leave it at that, right, but especially 712 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:27,880 Speaker 3: going into this particular department and supervisors who would try 713 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 3: to write me up for nonsense, and I would confront 714 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:36,319 Speaker 3: them in the moment like, Okay, the captain is telling 715 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 3: you to write me up for this nonsense, but you 716 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 3: know it's nonsense. I know it's nonsense you need to do. 717 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 3: But I'm gonna see you m hm. So I'm not 718 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 3: telling you what to do because you are my supervisor, 719 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 3: you're my sergeant. I'm not here to tell you what 720 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 3: to do. 721 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:53,919 Speaker 2: But play with something else that's safe, because I ain't 722 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 2: gonna want. 723 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 3: To do. But they would try to do that and 724 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 3: when they saw it wasn't working, and they saw how 725 00:37:02,239 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 3: I interacted with the community, how people gravitated towards, how 726 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 3: people enjoyed me, and how I did my job, how 727 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,360 Speaker 3: I could make people do what they were supposed to do. 728 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 3: I could de escalate like I was good at my job. 729 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 3: It transitioned to oh shit, let's let's use her. Yeah, right, 730 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,000 Speaker 3: And in that I took advantage of. 731 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:25,400 Speaker 2: That as you should. 732 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,720 Speaker 3: They were using me. I used them back. Every training 733 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 3: that I asked to go to, it was granted, right, 734 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:36,440 Speaker 3: So I stacked my resume. Opportunities that came to me, 735 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:40,320 Speaker 3: I stacked my resumee. I had the opportunity to be 736 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:44,319 Speaker 3: on loan to a task force, like a federal task force, 737 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 3: again to stack my resume like specialized units. So it 738 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:51,880 Speaker 3: helped me for you know. So they started out not 739 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 3: liking me, and then it was that we can't beat her, 740 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 3: so let's join her. And then they did. And then 741 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,120 Speaker 3: the table switched when they asked me to do the 742 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:01,960 Speaker 3: things weren't I wasn't supposed to do, and when I 743 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,359 Speaker 3: said no, then the table switch and it was now 744 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 3: target her. Yeah, because I had used that time to 745 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:15,600 Speaker 3: stack my resume. It helped me and that time to 746 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:20,720 Speaker 3: build my network and people to see my work product, 747 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,560 Speaker 3: how I am, what my true character is, not what 748 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:26,319 Speaker 3: these people were trying to say that I was right. 749 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:30,040 Speaker 3: It built such a network that it was helpful for 750 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 3: me to leave and go somewhere where I was more 751 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:33,840 Speaker 3: appreciated and value. 752 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:36,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, y'all, when I tell you our guests, you 753 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:40,080 Speaker 2: are definitely strategic. Because she'd be outside and even when 754 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:43,200 Speaker 2: I was, I was on your Instagram page and I 755 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:45,000 Speaker 2: was like, wait, I need to ask her to come 756 00:38:45,040 --> 00:38:47,800 Speaker 2: on the show, because I can tell how the different 757 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 2: speaking engagements you have done, the different volunteer opportunities you've 758 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:52,719 Speaker 2: been a part of, like you could just you can 759 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:55,400 Speaker 2: tell through the pictures how people gravitate towards you and 760 00:38:55,520 --> 00:38:57,600 Speaker 2: how they really respect you. And I think that's a 761 00:38:57,680 --> 00:38:59,160 Speaker 2: great thing to have, especially with you me and a 762 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:02,280 Speaker 2: black woman and the relationship between black people and police, 763 00:39:02,520 --> 00:39:04,759 Speaker 2: and I think you do a really good job with 764 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 2: repairing it. 765 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:07,080 Speaker 3: Thank you. 766 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 2: That's why I was like, I got to have you 767 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:12,360 Speaker 2: on the show because yeah, and just to know what 768 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,480 Speaker 2: you've been through up until now, it's like that is crazy. 769 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,120 Speaker 3: That's that's just, that's one percent. 770 00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:19,319 Speaker 1: Right. 771 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,440 Speaker 3: Career has been. But it's you know, I appreciate you 772 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,600 Speaker 3: saying that, because I truly do believe that my journey 773 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 3: to this profession was all God. Again, I seem to 774 00:39:30,120 --> 00:39:32,799 Speaker 3: be a cop. I had no desire to be a cop, 775 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:35,040 Speaker 3: but the just the way that my life happened, it 776 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 3: led me to it. And I do believe that I 777 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:39,680 Speaker 3: am walking in my purpose. I'm supposed to be here, 778 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:43,040 Speaker 3: I would not be as passionate about it. Yes, I 779 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:47,120 Speaker 3: wasn't supposed to be here, like, I am extremely committed 780 00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:48,719 Speaker 3: to making sure that this job is done the right 781 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:52,320 Speaker 3: way on my watch. Yeah right, I'm a person I 782 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:54,520 Speaker 3: truly believe in procedural justice. 783 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 2: Like I'm not going to procedural justice. 784 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's like, it doesn't mean that I'm not holding 785 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:05,359 Speaker 3: people accountable when they like I'm still doing my job, 786 00:40:05,719 --> 00:40:08,319 Speaker 3: but I'm making sure that it's done fair. I'm making 787 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:13,319 Speaker 3: sure that it's done equitably like its people aren't going 788 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:16,680 Speaker 3: to be railroaded on my watch. I'm not going to 789 00:40:16,760 --> 00:40:20,480 Speaker 3: let that happen. Or when victims who look like us 790 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:23,160 Speaker 3: come in and they feel like they're being revictimized by 791 00:40:23,239 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 3: the system, and they're being revictimized by people who are 792 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:29,920 Speaker 3: supposed to be in their corner but don't understand them. 793 00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:31,680 Speaker 3: They don't look like them, they don't understand the way 794 00:40:31,719 --> 00:40:34,239 Speaker 3: that they speak, they don't understand the way that they 795 00:40:34,280 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 3: were raised, they don't understand the culture right. And then 796 00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 3: I come in with a level of cultural competency that 797 00:40:40,719 --> 00:40:44,719 Speaker 3: the people around them before did not have and make 798 00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:47,800 Speaker 3: these people feel seen and heard and valued and supported 799 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 3: and appreciated and supported, and like that's important to me, 800 00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:54,120 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, Just making sure that the 801 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:57,239 Speaker 3: community knows that there is somebody on this side of 802 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:00,640 Speaker 3: the fence or the coin or whatever doing things the 803 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:03,960 Speaker 3: right way, who actually has their best interest at heart. 804 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:05,160 Speaker 2: And who cares right. 805 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:08,880 Speaker 3: I truly do. Like even when I was in uniform, 806 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:14,440 Speaker 3: people knew, like, again, she cool, but she's gonna do 807 00:41:14,520 --> 00:41:19,080 Speaker 3: her job. She's cool, Like she's When I can use discretion, 808 00:41:19,239 --> 00:41:22,719 Speaker 3: I absolutely will. But in moments that I can't, I can't, 809 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:26,400 Speaker 3: but I can't. It's going to be fair to you, 810 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:28,440 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, Like you're not going to 811 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:31,040 Speaker 3: be treated wrong, You're not going to have hands put 812 00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,520 Speaker 3: on you unnecessarily. Now, am I saying that I've never 813 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:35,840 Speaker 3: had to lay hands on anybody. No, it comes with 814 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:37,680 Speaker 3: the job. There have been people who tried to hurt me, 815 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:40,640 Speaker 3: or people who I was trying to arrest who were resisting, 816 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:43,640 Speaker 3: where yes I did have to get them under control. 817 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:47,160 Speaker 2: I know you can be a bitch down perfect. No, 818 00:41:47,640 --> 00:41:48,680 Speaker 2: she's trying to be humble. 819 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:54,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll say this. You know, people tend to make 820 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:58,320 Speaker 3: yep because they see me and I don't present like 821 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:01,439 Speaker 3: a cop. If I don't tell people that I'm a cop, 822 00:42:01,719 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 3: nine times out of ten, they would not think. 823 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:05,360 Speaker 2: I'm telling y'all, she a baddie. She's small at the. 824 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:09,719 Speaker 3: Tea, hair done, nails done, everything did. 825 00:42:10,040 --> 00:42:12,160 Speaker 2: Listen. Every time I see how y'all, I'm telling my 826 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:16,400 Speaker 2: beat to the gods. Okay, outfits be snatched. I'm like, listen, 827 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:18,799 Speaker 2: if people only knew, because I could tell you how 828 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:19,400 Speaker 2: you give it up. 829 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:22,000 Speaker 3: Listen. And I tell my mentees, because I do a 830 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:23,879 Speaker 3: lot of mentorship, I tell them, I'm like, you don't 831 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:26,200 Speaker 3: have to lose your femininity to do this job. You 832 00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,160 Speaker 3: can't print surround like a princess, but you don't have 833 00:42:29,360 --> 00:42:34,600 Speaker 3: to try to assimilate to this hardened masculine you know, 834 00:42:34,760 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 3: persona if that's not who you are. But because I 835 00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:43,440 Speaker 3: come hair done, nails done, everything, did people think I 836 00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:46,319 Speaker 3: don't have hands? And I'm like, I'm like, don't let 837 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:49,040 Speaker 3: the smooth taste fool you. I'm like, my model is like, 838 00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 3: I ain't a killer, but don't push me right, I'm 839 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:55,319 Speaker 3: going to start anything. But if you try to put 840 00:42:55,360 --> 00:42:58,279 Speaker 3: your hands on me and hurt me, You're gonna have 841 00:42:58,320 --> 00:42:58,760 Speaker 3: a problem. 842 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:04,279 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. Have you ever been in a situation where 843 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 2: you had to arrest someone but you saw yourself in them? 844 00:43:09,480 --> 00:43:14,960 Speaker 3: That's a good question. Not necessarily saw myself in them? 845 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 2: In like, now do you want to give them a 846 00:43:18,200 --> 00:43:19,839 Speaker 2: second chance or help them out? 847 00:43:20,840 --> 00:43:25,200 Speaker 3: That happens all the time. So not necessarily see myself 848 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,640 Speaker 3: in them, but I see their story. Yeah, the type 849 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:33,960 Speaker 3: of person where I recognize that everyone has a story, absolutely, 850 00:43:34,640 --> 00:43:39,200 Speaker 3: and everyone's story is what led them to this exact 851 00:43:39,320 --> 00:43:42,520 Speaker 3: moment that we're in and what caused them to do 852 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:47,040 Speaker 3: whatever it is that they did. And I recognized the 853 00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:50,520 Speaker 3: trauma that people have been experienced that lead them to 854 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,080 Speaker 3: do certain things. And there are times where I do 855 00:43:53,200 --> 00:43:55,440 Speaker 3: feel like people do deserve a second chance. But I 856 00:43:55,560 --> 00:43:59,640 Speaker 3: also recognize that sometimes in someone being arrested, it is 857 00:43:59,800 --> 00:44:01,960 Speaker 3: for they're good, because that's that moment in their life 858 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:03,040 Speaker 3: where they pivot. 859 00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:08,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, doing and being what they were to being the. 860 00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:11,520 Speaker 3: Best version of themselves. This is where they get the 861 00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:13,719 Speaker 3: help or that maybe it's a slack on the wrist 862 00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:15,440 Speaker 3: that they get, but now they're in a program that 863 00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:17,480 Speaker 3: helps them to be better, you know what I mean, 864 00:44:17,520 --> 00:44:19,920 Speaker 3: And they're able to go back and speak to other 865 00:44:20,520 --> 00:44:23,360 Speaker 3: people who are troubled, who were going down the wrong path, 866 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:27,440 Speaker 3: and they're able to help them. Like, I definitely recognize 867 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:29,520 Speaker 3: that I've had people run up to me. I had 868 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:32,759 Speaker 3: a girl she ran up to me back back in 869 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:34,920 Speaker 3: the day when I shopped at Walmart, because I definitely 870 00:44:34,960 --> 00:44:37,600 Speaker 3: don't anymore. I stop shopping at Walmart way before the nonsense, 871 00:44:37,680 --> 00:44:41,360 Speaker 3: but I definitely help now. But she ran up to me, 872 00:44:41,840 --> 00:44:43,840 Speaker 3: calling my name, and I looked because I'm like, I 873 00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:47,120 Speaker 3: don't know if she's friend or fall. Yeah, because even 874 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:49,239 Speaker 3: though I'm not an asshole cop, that doesn't mean that 875 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:51,120 Speaker 3: people don't like me just because I'm a cop. 876 00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:52,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a fact. 877 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:55,279 Speaker 3: She's running up on me and I'm looking at her 878 00:44:55,640 --> 00:44:58,920 Speaker 3: and I'm like, yeah, how can I help you? And 879 00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:01,360 Speaker 3: she's like, no, no, no, it's nothing bad. But you 880 00:45:01,560 --> 00:45:03,640 Speaker 3: arrested me three years ago. 881 00:45:04,440 --> 00:45:06,440 Speaker 2: Garriad Walmart, I don't want to her this shit. 882 00:45:06,760 --> 00:45:10,560 Speaker 3: But no, but I appreciate it. Arrested me three years ago, 883 00:45:11,080 --> 00:45:13,200 Speaker 3: and you remember I was pregnant and you took me 884 00:45:13,280 --> 00:45:16,200 Speaker 3: to the hospital and you talked to me, and girl, 885 00:45:16,280 --> 00:45:20,040 Speaker 3: she found out she was having twins. That oh, listen, 886 00:45:20,280 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 3: it's a whole story. But I remember looking at the thing. 887 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:25,080 Speaker 3: I was like, oh, that looked like two heartbeats, but 888 00:45:25,239 --> 00:45:27,080 Speaker 3: I didn't say anything, and come to find out it 889 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:30,759 Speaker 3: was twins. But I had arrested her. She was going 890 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:32,760 Speaker 3: to jail for quite some time, and she was pregnant 891 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:36,680 Speaker 3: and she had our babies in jail. But she's talking 892 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:40,800 Speaker 3: to me now about getting out and getting custody of 893 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:43,600 Speaker 3: her kids back, and she's working and she's clean and 894 00:45:43,719 --> 00:45:47,239 Speaker 3: she's like to do And she was like, I just 895 00:45:47,320 --> 00:45:49,400 Speaker 3: want to thank you for being kind to me, for 896 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:52,640 Speaker 3: treating me like a person. You weren't mean everyone's mean 897 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:52,840 Speaker 3: to me. 898 00:45:53,200 --> 00:45:55,200 Speaker 2: You weren't like that because you imagined she would have 899 00:45:55,239 --> 00:45:56,239 Speaker 2: came across the wrong cop. 900 00:45:57,960 --> 00:46:03,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, and that's why I'm like, I again, I'm 901 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:05,120 Speaker 3: committed to making sure this job is done the right 902 00:46:05,120 --> 00:46:07,239 Speaker 3: way on my watch. You don't have to be an 903 00:46:07,320 --> 00:46:11,440 Speaker 3: asshole to do this job. Yeah, we really don't. Now 904 00:46:11,760 --> 00:46:13,239 Speaker 3: do I have moments where I have to pull the 905 00:46:13,280 --> 00:46:15,800 Speaker 3: asshole out every now and then. Yes, for the joker 906 00:46:15,840 --> 00:46:19,839 Speaker 3: who is fighting me, yes, yeah, Yoko who are trying 907 00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:24,800 Speaker 3: to hurt me, Yes, But day to day, interaction to interaction, 908 00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:27,600 Speaker 3: you don't have to be an asshole like. I enjoy 909 00:46:28,200 --> 00:46:32,440 Speaker 3: when someone has an interaction with me and I have 910 00:46:32,640 --> 00:46:37,200 Speaker 3: them leave me thinking a little bit more highly of cops. Yeah, 911 00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:40,160 Speaker 3: like they see you know what, maybe not all of 912 00:46:40,239 --> 00:46:42,560 Speaker 3: them are the same. And on the opposite end with 913 00:46:42,680 --> 00:46:46,680 Speaker 3: my colleague, I operate in this space where I'm like, 914 00:46:46,960 --> 00:46:49,440 Speaker 3: I want to make sure that the people who look 915 00:46:49,600 --> 00:46:52,800 Speaker 3: like me recognize that everyone who wears a badge like 916 00:46:52,920 --> 00:46:55,160 Speaker 3: me isn't the same. And then I also operate from 917 00:46:55,239 --> 00:46:57,360 Speaker 3: I want to make sure that everyone who wears a 918 00:46:57,400 --> 00:46:59,840 Speaker 3: badge like me understands that everyone who looks like me 919 00:47:00,080 --> 00:47:00,960 Speaker 3: it's not the same. 920 00:47:02,560 --> 00:47:03,719 Speaker 2: Folk chow No. 921 00:47:04,239 --> 00:47:09,040 Speaker 3: But I sit at this intersection of being black and blue, 922 00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:12,680 Speaker 3: as I call it. Yeah, So I have the opportunity 923 00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:15,399 Speaker 3: to have a positive influence on both sides of the point. 924 00:47:16,120 --> 00:47:17,440 Speaker 3: So I want to make sure that I do that 925 00:47:17,560 --> 00:47:19,920 Speaker 3: as much as I can. Have you ever been physically 926 00:47:20,120 --> 00:47:24,439 Speaker 3: hurt on the job, Like, not really bad, but yeah, 927 00:47:24,520 --> 00:47:27,360 Speaker 3: I remember trying to arrest someone and him throwing me 928 00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:31,839 Speaker 3: into a brick wall. And brick walls are not sheet rocked. 929 00:47:32,520 --> 00:47:36,880 Speaker 3: They do not give at all. Oh my god, I 930 00:47:37,000 --> 00:47:41,319 Speaker 3: was hurt that. I was sore for about a week 931 00:47:41,400 --> 00:47:45,440 Speaker 3: after that one. Now, thankfully I didn't have any permanent damage, 932 00:47:45,480 --> 00:47:48,719 Speaker 3: like I didn't break anything or pulling. God, but that 933 00:47:48,800 --> 00:47:54,319 Speaker 3: brick wall that hurt. Oh wow, that hurts. Yeah. 934 00:47:55,200 --> 00:47:57,800 Speaker 2: Okay, So what are some of the biggest misconceptions that 935 00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:01,080 Speaker 2: people have about police officers? Because I think that in 936 00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:03,399 Speaker 2: situations like this, I think that a lot of times 937 00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:05,920 Speaker 2: the bad out weigh the good you do. 938 00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:10,279 Speaker 3: So I would say a big misconception that people have 939 00:48:10,480 --> 00:48:13,799 Speaker 3: about police officers is that the good cops don't tell 940 00:48:13,840 --> 00:48:17,719 Speaker 3: them the bad cops. That's I hear there are no 941 00:48:17,800 --> 00:48:19,600 Speaker 3: good cops because the good cops don't tell them. That's 942 00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:23,279 Speaker 3: a good one. And that's not true, right, It's not true. 943 00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:26,879 Speaker 3: And it's also I also take it a step further 944 00:48:27,120 --> 00:48:30,600 Speaker 3: to say that there are a lot of good cops 945 00:48:30,640 --> 00:48:34,960 Speaker 3: who do speak out when someone is doing something that 946 00:48:35,000 --> 00:48:40,520 Speaker 3: they're not supposed to do. My all to action to 947 00:48:40,640 --> 00:48:42,839 Speaker 3: the community to those who say there aren't any good 948 00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:44,480 Speaker 3: cops because they don't tell them the bad cops is 949 00:48:44,920 --> 00:48:47,080 Speaker 3: when those good cops do tell them, the back cops 950 00:48:48,080 --> 00:48:51,360 Speaker 3: show up for them, and we are targeted by our 951 00:48:51,440 --> 00:48:57,239 Speaker 3: departments for telling on the bad cops, are suspended, and 952 00:48:57,360 --> 00:48:59,800 Speaker 3: we lose our jobs, and we can't pay our bills, 953 00:49:00,239 --> 00:49:04,479 Speaker 3: and we're depressed, and we're going through divorces, et cetera, 954 00:49:04,520 --> 00:49:08,319 Speaker 3: et cetera. The same people who scream from the mountaintops 955 00:49:08,480 --> 00:49:10,160 Speaker 3: that there are no good cops because they don't tell 956 00:49:10,200 --> 00:49:12,319 Speaker 3: on the bad cops, when the good cops show up 957 00:49:12,440 --> 00:49:14,480 Speaker 3: and do what we're supposed to do and we're targeting, 958 00:49:14,920 --> 00:49:17,120 Speaker 3: the same people aren't there to support us. There aren't 959 00:49:17,120 --> 00:49:22,400 Speaker 3: any gofundmeans, there aren't any protests for all, and so 960 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:25,080 Speaker 3: now we've done what we're supposed to do, and we 961 00:49:25,160 --> 00:49:26,719 Speaker 3: did it because we're supposed to do it, But now 962 00:49:26,760 --> 00:49:30,040 Speaker 3: we're left on an island by ourselves and everyone else 963 00:49:30,040 --> 00:49:32,160 Speaker 3: who screamed for us to do our job the way 964 00:49:32,160 --> 00:49:36,560 Speaker 3: we're supposed to bring go on about their lives right now, 965 00:49:36,719 --> 00:49:41,560 Speaker 3: we're here trying to figure it out. So to me, 966 00:49:42,000 --> 00:49:44,640 Speaker 3: like there's this misconception that there aren't any good cops. 967 00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:46,480 Speaker 3: There are a lot of us out here who are 968 00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:50,480 Speaker 3: really really doing this job the right way. My call 969 00:49:50,560 --> 00:49:53,080 Speaker 3: to action to the community is to identify those of 970 00:49:53,200 --> 00:49:55,799 Speaker 3: us who are and show up for us. 971 00:49:56,280 --> 00:49:57,839 Speaker 2: So do you think it's a slap in the face 972 00:49:57,880 --> 00:50:00,920 Speaker 2: when the community be like, we need police reform or 973 00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:02,160 Speaker 2: let's defund the police. 974 00:50:02,280 --> 00:50:04,279 Speaker 3: Like, No, I don't think it's a slap in the face. 975 00:50:04,640 --> 00:50:07,960 Speaker 3: Do I like the term defund the police? No, because 976 00:50:08,640 --> 00:50:11,920 Speaker 3: that I think it's too broad. If we're going to 977 00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:15,440 Speaker 3: talk about doing an audit to see where all the 978 00:50:15,520 --> 00:50:17,680 Speaker 3: funds that are going in a police budget and making 979 00:50:17,719 --> 00:50:21,520 Speaker 3: sure that they're being allocated appropriately, that that I'm one 980 00:50:21,600 --> 00:50:26,440 Speaker 3: thousand percent cool with, right, but defund the police. The 981 00:50:26,560 --> 00:50:31,440 Speaker 3: community can't ask for more training for police and simultaneously 982 00:50:31,520 --> 00:50:36,800 Speaker 3: say defund the police. Right, training costs money. Right, community 983 00:50:37,440 --> 00:50:41,160 Speaker 3: can't say that, you know, we need crime taking care 984 00:50:41,239 --> 00:50:45,040 Speaker 3: of and simultaneously say defund the police, because then there 985 00:50:45,080 --> 00:50:47,320 Speaker 3: are less officers on the street to take care of 986 00:50:47,400 --> 00:50:51,440 Speaker 3: that crime. Like, I think that it's too far opposite 987 00:50:51,520 --> 00:50:53,520 Speaker 3: end of the spectrum. I think there's more of a 988 00:50:56,280 --> 00:51:02,000 Speaker 3: it's a more nuanced conversation, lad. But I don't have 989 00:51:02,120 --> 00:51:04,680 Speaker 3: any problem with police reform. I am an advocate for 990 00:51:04,800 --> 00:51:07,640 Speaker 3: police reform. There are a lot of things that are 991 00:51:07,760 --> 00:51:10,600 Speaker 3: done that could be done differently, could stand to be 992 00:51:10,680 --> 00:51:14,520 Speaker 3: done differently. I recognize that, and I'm here for it, right. 993 00:51:14,600 --> 00:51:18,520 Speaker 3: But I do think that it's important for those who 994 00:51:18,640 --> 00:51:24,000 Speaker 3: are advocating for police reform to talk to us officers 995 00:51:24,080 --> 00:51:29,000 Speaker 3: who actually understand and want to better our communities and 996 00:51:29,120 --> 00:51:31,400 Speaker 3: the profession, so that they can have an understanding of 997 00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:37,200 Speaker 3: what police reform could look like realistically in a way 998 00:51:37,280 --> 00:51:39,399 Speaker 3: that it's going to work for everyone. And I say 999 00:51:39,440 --> 00:51:43,839 Speaker 3: that because sometimes I hear policies that are so far 1000 00:51:44,040 --> 00:51:46,760 Speaker 3: right that I'm like, nah, because you're marginalizing my community 1001 00:51:46,880 --> 00:51:49,399 Speaker 3: and I'm not here for that, right, right. I hear 1002 00:51:49,480 --> 00:51:51,799 Speaker 3: policies that are so far less I'm like, Okay, now 1003 00:51:51,840 --> 00:51:54,359 Speaker 3: you're trying to get me killed and while I'm doing 1004 00:51:54,440 --> 00:51:56,360 Speaker 3: my job, because you're not allowing me to actually do 1005 00:51:56,480 --> 00:52:00,840 Speaker 3: my job, right, So there has to be more nuanced 1006 00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:04,960 Speaker 3: conversation and there can be. But you know, there's a 1007 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:07,520 Speaker 3: lot of reform that needs to be done. There's overhaul 1008 00:52:07,600 --> 00:52:09,640 Speaker 3: that needs to be done. You know, I'm one of 1009 00:52:09,680 --> 00:52:12,960 Speaker 3: the people who believe that this system. I don't think 1010 00:52:13,000 --> 00:52:15,480 Speaker 3: it's broken. I think it's working exactly how it was 1011 00:52:15,520 --> 00:52:19,920 Speaker 3: intended to work, y right. It wasn't intended to have 1012 00:52:20,320 --> 00:52:24,279 Speaker 3: our best interest at the part the fact. But I 1013 00:52:24,480 --> 00:52:28,400 Speaker 3: also don't agree with people who don't believe that there 1014 00:52:28,440 --> 00:52:30,920 Speaker 3: should be any police at all, because, like there are 1015 00:52:30,920 --> 00:52:32,960 Speaker 3: people who are upset with any of us being in 1016 00:52:33,040 --> 00:52:35,680 Speaker 3: the system, Like people who think I'm a bad guy. 1017 00:52:35,719 --> 00:52:37,480 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter how good hearted I am. You're a 1018 00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:39,680 Speaker 3: part of the system, so you're bad. And I look 1019 00:52:39,719 --> 00:52:43,480 Speaker 3: at it like this, Why do you not want someone 1020 00:52:43,600 --> 00:52:44,680 Speaker 3: in this system who has. 1021 00:52:44,600 --> 00:52:46,399 Speaker 2: Your best elites about to say that we need more 1022 00:52:46,440 --> 00:52:48,680 Speaker 2: people like you in the system to advocate for people 1023 00:52:48,840 --> 00:52:49,040 Speaker 2: like me. 1024 00:52:50,000 --> 00:52:53,440 Speaker 3: I would not want to make sure that the job 1025 00:52:53,560 --> 00:52:55,520 Speaker 3: is done the right way, because there are a lot 1026 00:52:55,560 --> 00:52:58,520 Speaker 3: of doctors who don't do what they're supposed to do, 1027 00:52:58,680 --> 00:53:00,680 Speaker 3: but you still want black doctors. Or there are a 1028 00:53:00,719 --> 00:53:02,800 Speaker 3: lot of teachers who don't do what they're supposed to do, 1029 00:53:03,120 --> 00:53:03,960 Speaker 3: but you still want. 1030 00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:05,400 Speaker 2: Teacher representation matters. 1031 00:53:06,040 --> 00:53:08,640 Speaker 3: It matters, and we need it all throughout the criminal 1032 00:53:08,760 --> 00:53:12,279 Speaker 3: justice system. We needed role, we need an approbation. We 1033 00:53:12,360 --> 00:53:16,200 Speaker 3: needed in officers. We need it in prosecutors. We need 1034 00:53:16,280 --> 00:53:18,480 Speaker 3: it in public defenders, we need it in judges. We 1035 00:53:18,600 --> 00:53:21,879 Speaker 3: need it everywhere and every system. 1036 00:53:21,640 --> 00:53:24,200 Speaker 2: Entry level, all the way up to top rank. 1037 00:53:24,719 --> 00:53:29,319 Speaker 3: Education system, health system, criminal justice system. We need advocates 1038 00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:35,280 Speaker 3: and ollies within every system. So you know, they single 1039 00:53:35,360 --> 00:53:38,080 Speaker 3: out policing and say that those of us who are 1040 00:53:38,120 --> 00:53:39,840 Speaker 3: doing the job right are still bad because we're a 1041 00:53:39,880 --> 00:53:43,839 Speaker 3: part of the system. I'm just like, it doesn't make 1042 00:53:43,880 --> 00:53:48,120 Speaker 3: sense to me because my presence de escalates the situation. 1043 00:53:48,719 --> 00:53:51,400 Speaker 3: My presence is going to ensure that you don't get 1044 00:53:51,440 --> 00:53:52,640 Speaker 3: your behind kicked unjustly. 1045 00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:04,600 Speaker 2: So do you think that trust between police and the 1046 00:54:04,600 --> 00:54:06,680 Speaker 2: black community can ever be fully restored? 1047 00:54:09,920 --> 00:54:16,839 Speaker 3: I don't know, Yeah, don't I think that. I think 1048 00:54:16,920 --> 00:54:19,799 Speaker 3: that the needle has been moved some, but there's still 1049 00:54:19,880 --> 00:54:21,320 Speaker 3: a long way to go. 1050 00:54:21,760 --> 00:54:22,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 1051 00:54:22,719 --> 00:54:26,359 Speaker 3: I think that. Unfortunately, the times that we're in right now, 1052 00:54:26,800 --> 00:54:29,040 Speaker 3: we're going to see a lot more of a regression. 1053 00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:33,120 Speaker 3: And I think that that's because people are really becoming 1054 00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:37,400 Speaker 3: emboldened right now during these current times, in this current 1055 00:54:37,840 --> 00:54:43,359 Speaker 3: federal administration, and I don't know what that is going 1056 00:54:43,440 --> 00:54:46,600 Speaker 3: to look like for policing in the event that, Like so, 1057 00:54:46,760 --> 00:54:52,080 Speaker 3: there's a conversation about officers potentially having full immunity, right that, 1058 00:54:53,640 --> 00:54:57,120 Speaker 3: to me, that would be problematic and I'm scary as 1059 00:54:57,160 --> 00:55:00,320 Speaker 3: an officer, I don't I don't think that officers should 1060 00:55:00,320 --> 00:55:03,960 Speaker 3: have full immunity. There are laws and guidelines that we 1061 00:55:04,040 --> 00:55:05,640 Speaker 3: should have to abide by as well. 1062 00:55:06,200 --> 00:55:07,759 Speaker 2: Absolutely nobody is above the law. 1063 00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:11,480 Speaker 3: Nobody is above it, and no one should be above it. 1064 00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:15,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely from me, I don't think, not even the president. 1065 00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:21,360 Speaker 3: No, I don't think that we should have full community 1066 00:55:21,480 --> 00:55:25,560 Speaker 3: and not for nothing. For someone who does this job 1067 00:55:25,600 --> 00:55:28,560 Speaker 3: and is doing it the right way, what do you 1068 00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:33,400 Speaker 3: need full immunity for? Yeah, because if you have to, 1069 00:55:33,600 --> 00:55:37,640 Speaker 3: unfortunately discharge your firearm for some reason, if you're doing 1070 00:55:37,719 --> 00:55:40,400 Speaker 3: it because you had no choice, if it was the 1071 00:55:40,520 --> 00:55:42,760 Speaker 3: last resort, if someone was shooting at you or shooting 1072 00:55:42,760 --> 00:55:45,840 Speaker 3: at someone else, or whatever it might be. If you 1073 00:55:46,000 --> 00:55:48,000 Speaker 3: did your job the way that you're supposed to do it, 1074 00:55:49,320 --> 00:55:52,960 Speaker 3: that's the issue will clear you. So what do you 1075 00:55:53,080 --> 00:55:57,160 Speaker 3: need full immunity for? Yeah, because you did your job 1076 00:55:57,200 --> 00:55:58,600 Speaker 3: the way it was supposed to be done. You didn't 1077 00:55:58,600 --> 00:56:01,040 Speaker 3: step outside of the bounds. Why do you need full immunity? 1078 00:56:01,840 --> 00:56:04,440 Speaker 2: You know, as an officer, when you see videos of 1079 00:56:04,600 --> 00:56:07,360 Speaker 2: police brutality and they go viral, what's your first reaction? 1080 00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:14,160 Speaker 3: Here we go again, Here we go again. And I 1081 00:56:14,400 --> 00:56:16,839 Speaker 3: have gotten to the point where, for the most part, 1082 00:56:17,160 --> 00:56:18,800 Speaker 3: I can't watch the videos anymore. 1083 00:56:18,840 --> 00:56:20,000 Speaker 2: Oh, I can't watch the videos. 1084 00:56:20,440 --> 00:56:23,799 Speaker 3: I used to watch the videos and people would send 1085 00:56:23,840 --> 00:56:26,480 Speaker 3: the videos to me, and I would kind of dissect 1086 00:56:26,520 --> 00:56:29,960 Speaker 3: them from an officer perspective, people like, you know, what 1087 00:56:30,040 --> 00:56:31,680 Speaker 3: do you think about this? And I would look at it, 1088 00:56:31,760 --> 00:56:35,200 Speaker 3: and you know, from an officer perspective, with all of 1089 00:56:35,239 --> 00:56:38,080 Speaker 3: the facts that I actually did would have at that time. 1090 00:56:38,120 --> 00:56:40,640 Speaker 3: I would say, based on what I see here and 1091 00:56:40,760 --> 00:56:45,560 Speaker 3: what I know, yes this was justified or not this 1092 00:56:45,760 --> 00:56:51,360 Speaker 3: wasn't okay right. And sometimes what I say the person 1093 00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:54,040 Speaker 3: agrees with, and sometimes what I say they don't like. 1094 00:56:54,120 --> 00:56:56,640 Speaker 3: If I say it's justified, and how could you say that? 1095 00:56:57,400 --> 00:57:01,040 Speaker 3: And then I walked them through the incident and what happened, 1096 00:57:01,800 --> 00:57:04,960 Speaker 3: and I'm like, I would have done the same thing, 1097 00:57:07,320 --> 00:57:10,960 Speaker 3: And I'm like, you're looking at it from a broad perspective, 1098 00:57:11,000 --> 00:57:14,239 Speaker 3: and I understand from your position as a layperson why 1099 00:57:14,360 --> 00:57:16,960 Speaker 3: it's problematic for you, and I get it. Anyone losing 1100 00:57:17,000 --> 00:57:18,600 Speaker 3: their life or being shot any at. 1101 00:57:18,560 --> 00:57:20,240 Speaker 2: All is not good, right. 1102 00:57:21,640 --> 00:57:24,720 Speaker 3: I'm like, but from the eyes of an officer, I 1103 00:57:24,920 --> 00:57:26,440 Speaker 3: want to go home at the end of the night. 1104 00:57:27,640 --> 00:57:31,200 Speaker 3: In every inn's life, you do, right, you do. And 1105 00:57:31,320 --> 00:57:35,320 Speaker 3: I'm like, I need you to humanize this officer. Right, 1106 00:57:35,520 --> 00:57:39,880 Speaker 3: You're upset because you see a white boy who did this, 1107 00:57:40,120 --> 00:57:43,040 Speaker 3: and I'm telling you, as this black woman officer, I 1108 00:57:43,040 --> 00:57:45,800 Speaker 3: would have done the exact same thing and this is why. 1109 00:57:45,920 --> 00:57:47,720 Speaker 3: And I break it down. And once I break it down, 1110 00:57:47,720 --> 00:57:49,360 Speaker 3: they're like, oh, I didn't think of it like that. 1111 00:57:49,800 --> 00:57:51,400 Speaker 3: And I'm like, I get it, and I don't expect 1112 00:57:51,400 --> 00:57:54,160 Speaker 3: you to because you don't do this job right. Right, 1113 00:57:54,240 --> 00:58:00,120 Speaker 3: But there are certain things that happened, so like if 1114 00:58:00,120 --> 00:58:02,439 Speaker 3: I'm looking for someone, like there have been situations where 1115 00:58:03,560 --> 00:58:06,200 Speaker 3: officers might have gone into a house looking for someone 1116 00:58:06,240 --> 00:58:10,720 Speaker 3: and there's a child in the house, an eight year old. 1117 00:58:11,520 --> 00:58:14,320 Speaker 3: Officers guns are drawn while they're looking for this person. 1118 00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:20,640 Speaker 3: The community might be upset with the fact that officers 1119 00:58:20,720 --> 00:58:23,840 Speaker 3: have guns drawn and there's an eight year old there, right, 1120 00:58:24,440 --> 00:58:27,600 Speaker 3: and I get that as a community member. But on 1121 00:58:27,720 --> 00:58:30,640 Speaker 3: the law enforcement side, this person that we're looking for 1122 00:58:30,880 --> 00:58:33,600 Speaker 3: is one if a homicide is known to have weapons, 1123 00:58:33,840 --> 00:58:35,560 Speaker 3: has stated that they don't want to go back to 1124 00:58:35,640 --> 00:58:37,840 Speaker 3: jail and will likely do anything that they can to 1125 00:58:37,960 --> 00:58:41,200 Speaker 3: not go back to jail. So while I am looking. 1126 00:58:41,040 --> 00:58:43,120 Speaker 2: Clearly putting an eight year old child in danger. 1127 00:58:43,880 --> 00:58:44,200 Speaker 1: Thank you? 1128 00:58:44,680 --> 00:58:44,840 Speaker 2: Yeah? 1129 00:58:44,920 --> 00:58:48,080 Speaker 3: Right, So while I'm looking for them, yes, my gun 1130 00:58:48,200 --> 00:58:49,840 Speaker 3: is going to be drawn. Isn't going to be drawn 1131 00:58:49,880 --> 00:58:52,400 Speaker 3: at that eight year old? Absolutely not. It's the house 1132 00:58:52,520 --> 00:58:54,200 Speaker 3: going to be cleared to make sure that that child 1133 00:58:54,400 --> 00:58:58,320 Speaker 3: is out of harm's way, Absolutely right. But can I 1134 00:58:58,600 --> 00:59:02,680 Speaker 3: prevent that child being triedmatized from the initial interaction from 1135 00:59:02,800 --> 00:59:07,240 Speaker 3: US arriving, I can't prevent that. But I encounter with 1136 00:59:07,440 --> 00:59:10,040 Speaker 3: that community member, I'm like, but you're the one harboring 1137 00:59:10,080 --> 00:59:12,840 Speaker 3: a fugitive and you had this eight year old in 1138 00:59:12,920 --> 00:59:16,200 Speaker 3: the house, So did I put that child in danger? 1139 00:59:16,280 --> 00:59:19,520 Speaker 3: Or did you put that child in danger? And so 1140 00:59:20,040 --> 00:59:21,640 Speaker 3: but then I take it a step further and I'm like, well, 1141 00:59:21,720 --> 00:59:23,720 Speaker 3: because I'm here, I'm going to do everything in my 1142 00:59:23,840 --> 00:59:27,600 Speaker 3: power to mitigate the trauma that comes to that child, 1143 00:59:28,760 --> 00:59:31,640 Speaker 3: everything in my power to kind of like get them 1144 00:59:31,720 --> 00:59:33,760 Speaker 3: out and talk to them after the fact and help 1145 00:59:33,800 --> 00:59:36,240 Speaker 3: them to make them feel better because I'll go above 1146 00:59:36,240 --> 00:59:37,960 Speaker 3: and beyond. But every cop is not going to do that. 1147 00:59:38,320 --> 00:59:40,520 Speaker 3: But I'm like, don't be mad at me for doing 1148 00:59:40,600 --> 00:59:44,200 Speaker 3: my job when you're harboring the fugitive. And so it's 1149 00:59:44,280 --> 00:59:48,400 Speaker 3: just like moments like that where it's like I have 1150 00:59:48,560 --> 00:59:51,160 Speaker 3: to have these hard conversations with members of the community, 1151 00:59:52,000 --> 00:59:54,120 Speaker 3: But I have those hard conversations with my colleagues too, 1152 00:59:54,240 --> 00:59:56,400 Speaker 3: Like there have been times where I've stepped in where 1153 00:59:56,440 --> 00:59:58,640 Speaker 3: my colleague was about to do something that they weren't 1154 00:59:58,680 --> 01:00:01,160 Speaker 3: supposed to do and step in and I shut it down. 1155 01:00:01,960 --> 01:00:05,600 Speaker 3: That always been me. But you don't see those videos 1156 01:00:05,720 --> 01:00:10,480 Speaker 3: happening all the time because it doesn't escalate because us 1157 01:00:10,600 --> 01:00:13,720 Speaker 3: good cops jump in and intervene. It doesn't become a thing, 1158 01:00:13,920 --> 01:00:17,400 Speaker 3: so people don't ever know about it. It's when something 1159 01:00:17,760 --> 01:00:20,560 Speaker 3: goes bad and goes left and escalates that's where we 1160 01:00:20,600 --> 01:00:23,440 Speaker 3: see those videos go viral. But when one of us 1161 01:00:23,480 --> 01:00:27,920 Speaker 3: steps in, that's not salacious, right, that's not sexy, right, 1162 01:00:28,080 --> 01:00:31,280 Speaker 3: that's not something that people want to go viral, or 1163 01:00:31,440 --> 01:00:34,000 Speaker 3: it's not even captured because nothing happened, and. 1164 01:00:34,080 --> 01:00:37,320 Speaker 2: You know, people have a very unhealthy relationship with trauma. 1165 01:00:37,400 --> 01:00:41,640 Speaker 3: Porn absolutely dysfunction and trauma is like people just they 1166 01:00:41,800 --> 01:00:42,480 Speaker 3: thrive off of it. 1167 01:00:42,640 --> 01:00:43,200 Speaker 1: They do. 1168 01:00:45,000 --> 01:00:47,360 Speaker 3: There's so many of us out here who are doing 1169 01:00:47,440 --> 01:00:51,600 Speaker 3: good work, but we're not highlighted. And I guess, going 1170 01:00:51,680 --> 01:00:55,040 Speaker 3: back to your question about the misconception, that that's the misconception. 1171 01:00:55,480 --> 01:00:58,080 Speaker 3: There are so many of us out here who are really, really, 1172 01:00:58,160 --> 01:01:01,800 Speaker 3: really doing the work to bridge the community. But you know, 1173 01:01:02,360 --> 01:01:05,720 Speaker 3: bridge the gap between police and the black community and 1174 01:01:05,800 --> 01:01:08,680 Speaker 3: other marginalized communities. There are a lot of us out 1175 01:01:08,720 --> 01:01:10,920 Speaker 3: here doing this job the right way. And so to 1176 01:01:11,080 --> 01:01:15,960 Speaker 3: your listeners, I urge them to identify those officers in 1177 01:01:16,040 --> 01:01:19,040 Speaker 3: their communities and really show them some support because we 1178 01:01:19,120 --> 01:01:21,960 Speaker 3: need it. It's hard. Yeah, we talk to two communities 1179 01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:25,400 Speaker 3: where we were police officers and most of our colleagues 1180 01:01:25,400 --> 01:01:27,920 Speaker 3: don't understand us and don't really want us there. And 1181 01:01:28,000 --> 01:01:29,880 Speaker 3: then we belong to the black community, and there are 1182 01:01:29,920 --> 01:01:31,960 Speaker 3: members of the black community who don't understand us. 1183 01:01:32,160 --> 01:01:34,080 Speaker 2: Don't you too black for blue and too blue for black? 1184 01:01:34,680 --> 01:01:37,720 Speaker 3: Really, And that's litterally what I say. 1185 01:01:38,000 --> 01:01:39,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a real thing. 1186 01:01:40,040 --> 01:01:42,240 Speaker 3: I'm too black to be fully blue, and I'm too 1187 01:01:42,280 --> 01:01:43,400 Speaker 3: blue to be fully black. 1188 01:01:43,840 --> 01:01:45,400 Speaker 2: SOA, I'm sorry. 1189 01:01:45,960 --> 01:01:48,160 Speaker 3: I was just gonna say, belonging to two worlds that 1190 01:01:48,760 --> 01:01:52,240 Speaker 3: don't particularly care for one another all the time, and 1191 01:01:52,680 --> 01:01:54,919 Speaker 3: all you want to do is make both of them better, 1192 01:01:55,160 --> 01:01:57,880 Speaker 3: but you're not actually accepted fully in either of them. 1193 01:01:58,120 --> 01:02:01,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I can only imagine how difficult that 1194 01:02:01,760 --> 01:02:04,959 Speaker 2: is for you to navigate between both worlds, because those 1195 01:02:05,040 --> 01:02:10,680 Speaker 2: worlds have always yeah, that's a perfect word word. So 1196 01:02:10,800 --> 01:02:13,280 Speaker 2: when you see these videos again go on viral as 1197 01:02:13,320 --> 01:02:15,120 Speaker 2: a black woman, how does that hit differently? 1198 01:02:17,680 --> 01:02:25,960 Speaker 3: It there's a compounded layer of trauma that I experienced 1199 01:02:26,080 --> 01:02:29,960 Speaker 3: watching those videos. So like when George Floyd was murdered, 1200 01:02:30,400 --> 01:02:34,000 Speaker 3: only I watched the full video, but only watched it once. 1201 01:02:34,480 --> 01:02:44,960 Speaker 3: Same I hyperventilated, snodding like bald and it was just, 1202 01:02:45,320 --> 01:02:50,680 Speaker 3: it was so hurtful to me that one of my 1203 01:02:50,880 --> 01:02:56,360 Speaker 3: colleagues could do that to another person, let alone someone 1204 01:02:56,440 --> 01:02:59,479 Speaker 3: who looks like me. He could have been my brother, 1205 01:02:59,600 --> 01:03:01,400 Speaker 3: he could have been my uncle, he could have been 1206 01:03:01,440 --> 01:03:06,120 Speaker 3: my cousin. Yeh, daddy, And to see that, ye thus, 1207 01:03:07,080 --> 01:03:09,640 Speaker 3: it hurt me so much. And it's like, oh, I 1208 01:03:09,760 --> 01:03:13,840 Speaker 3: felt the same anger that the black community felt. And 1209 01:03:13,960 --> 01:03:16,920 Speaker 3: then it was compounded by the fact that I do 1210 01:03:17,080 --> 01:03:21,720 Speaker 3: this job right, and I actually felt a bit of 1211 01:03:21,800 --> 01:03:25,880 Speaker 3: guilt even though I know that all but like I 1212 01:03:25,920 --> 01:03:29,600 Speaker 3: said earlier, I have intervened so many times throughout my career. 1213 01:03:31,400 --> 01:03:33,120 Speaker 3: All I kept thinking, like, if I was there, that 1214 01:03:33,160 --> 01:03:35,200 Speaker 3: would not have happened. If I was there, that shit 1215 01:03:35,280 --> 01:03:38,160 Speaker 3: would not have happened. If I was there, I can 1216 01:03:38,240 --> 01:03:40,760 Speaker 3: say with one hundred percent certainty, George Flood would not 1217 01:03:40,840 --> 01:03:44,120 Speaker 3: have died that day. I can say with one hundred 1218 01:03:44,120 --> 01:03:46,920 Speaker 3: percent certainty, if I was there in New York, Eric 1219 01:03:46,960 --> 01:03:50,320 Speaker 3: Garner would not have died that day, Like because I 1220 01:03:50,760 --> 01:03:53,960 Speaker 3: stepped in. That's who I am, That's how I am, 1221 01:03:54,040 --> 01:03:57,960 Speaker 3: And so it just it hit different. And then when 1222 01:03:58,040 --> 01:04:03,800 Speaker 3: the protests came, it was challenging because now being a cop, 1223 01:04:04,240 --> 01:04:08,040 Speaker 3: you know, I have to navigate these protests and the 1224 01:04:08,120 --> 01:04:11,880 Speaker 3: community that I work so hard for within this profession 1225 01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:14,360 Speaker 3: making sure that things are done the right way are 1226 01:04:14,520 --> 01:04:18,560 Speaker 3: now attacking me and calling me everything but a child 1227 01:04:18,640 --> 01:04:22,880 Speaker 3: of God because of what I and not taking into 1228 01:04:22,960 --> 01:04:28,600 Speaker 3: consideration how I do it. Like Derek Chauvin, the guy 1229 01:04:28,640 --> 01:04:34,640 Speaker 3: who killed George Flood, like I'm not him, but because 1230 01:04:35,640 --> 01:04:38,800 Speaker 3: of him. I am being mistreated by people who I 1231 01:04:38,920 --> 01:04:41,960 Speaker 3: work so hard for. So it was just it was. 1232 01:04:42,320 --> 01:04:45,880 Speaker 3: It was a challenging time. It really, really really was. 1233 01:04:46,120 --> 01:04:49,960 Speaker 3: And you know, I know everybody can't receive that. There 1234 01:04:49,960 --> 01:04:51,760 Speaker 3: are some people who are like, well, yeah, you signed 1235 01:04:51,840 --> 01:04:53,240 Speaker 3: up for that job and that it just is what 1236 01:04:53,360 --> 01:04:56,320 Speaker 3: it is. And like, I hear you, But at your job, 1237 01:04:56,360 --> 01:04:59,000 Speaker 3: when you're mistreated, do you think, oh, well, I signed 1238 01:04:59,040 --> 01:05:02,720 Speaker 3: up for this job, so being is treated as cool. No, right, like, 1239 01:05:02,960 --> 01:05:07,800 Speaker 3: especially when I am truly doing the work to make 1240 01:05:07,840 --> 01:05:09,400 Speaker 3: sure it's done the right way. Oh my watch, Like 1241 01:05:09,520 --> 01:05:13,480 Speaker 3: I can't. I can't say that enough. Not everybody in 1242 01:05:13,640 --> 01:05:16,560 Speaker 3: this job shows up that way. Not everyone like us 1243 01:05:16,640 --> 01:05:18,680 Speaker 3: in this job shows up this way. And I'm not 1244 01:05:18,800 --> 01:05:20,760 Speaker 3: in any way, shape or form saying that I am 1245 01:05:20,800 --> 01:05:23,240 Speaker 3: the end all be all. I am not perfect. I 1246 01:05:23,360 --> 01:05:27,360 Speaker 3: make mistakes just like everybody else, right, but I truly 1247 01:05:27,560 --> 01:05:30,840 Speaker 3: put my best foot forward as much as I can 1248 01:05:30,960 --> 01:05:32,200 Speaker 3: to do this job the right way. 1249 01:05:32,400 --> 01:05:32,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. 1250 01:05:33,920 --> 01:05:37,200 Speaker 3: Be mistreated by the profession and the colleagues who don't 1251 01:05:37,200 --> 01:05:40,680 Speaker 3: want me there, right, mistreated by the community that I 1252 01:05:40,760 --> 01:05:44,480 Speaker 3: work so hard for. It it's rough. 1253 01:05:44,680 --> 01:05:47,480 Speaker 2: Listen, I can feel your emotions because I can't even 1254 01:05:47,600 --> 01:05:51,320 Speaker 2: imagine the weight of that type of guilt that you experience, 1255 01:05:51,600 --> 01:05:55,000 Speaker 2: especially during those times of like high emotion, high tension, 1256 01:05:55,720 --> 01:05:57,360 Speaker 2: and to a point where it makes you feel like 1257 01:05:57,360 --> 01:05:59,960 Speaker 2: you got to pick between your career and your community. 1258 01:06:00,520 --> 01:06:02,160 Speaker 2: Like that's that's a lot. 1259 01:06:02,840 --> 01:06:09,520 Speaker 3: Almost quit. Almost quit that that summer when George Club 1260 01:06:09,600 --> 01:06:12,720 Speaker 3: was murdered twenty twenty, I almost quit. I was like, 1261 01:06:12,800 --> 01:06:16,280 Speaker 3: why am I doing this right? Because one of the 1262 01:06:16,360 --> 01:06:20,000 Speaker 3: things that always helped me driven was being able to 1263 01:06:20,280 --> 01:06:22,680 Speaker 3: be one of those officers who could bridge that gap. 1264 01:06:22,760 --> 01:06:24,760 Speaker 3: And I'm like, well, dag, if I'm getting it from 1265 01:06:25,320 --> 01:06:27,480 Speaker 3: the profession and then I'm getting it from the community, 1266 01:06:27,560 --> 01:06:28,080 Speaker 3: what am I here for? 1267 01:06:28,280 --> 01:06:29,240 Speaker 2: What's right? 1268 01:06:29,840 --> 01:06:31,760 Speaker 3: Like? Why am I stressing myself out? Why am I 1269 01:06:31,840 --> 01:06:34,200 Speaker 3: putting my life in danger every day to go do 1270 01:06:34,280 --> 01:06:36,600 Speaker 3: this job for people who hate me because I do 1271 01:06:36,720 --> 01:06:42,520 Speaker 3: this job? Why joints? And so I did? I almost 1272 01:06:42,600 --> 01:06:47,040 Speaker 3: quit it? Yeah, your girl was out of here? 1273 01:06:47,440 --> 01:06:48,360 Speaker 2: So what did you going? 1274 01:06:49,320 --> 01:06:50,000 Speaker 3: I got therapy? 1275 01:06:50,880 --> 01:06:52,880 Speaker 2: Wow, And and stay way into my next topic, like 1276 01:06:52,960 --> 01:06:55,600 Speaker 2: how has this impacted to your mental health? 1277 01:06:56,440 --> 01:07:00,200 Speaker 3: In therapy, I had to m I had to talk 1278 01:07:00,240 --> 01:07:01,880 Speaker 3: to somebody. It was a I mean because it was 1279 01:07:01,920 --> 01:07:04,640 Speaker 3: the middle of COVID, so dealing with that and being 1280 01:07:04,640 --> 01:07:08,840 Speaker 3: an officer during COVID that's trauma in and of itself. 1281 01:07:09,280 --> 01:07:11,520 Speaker 3: And then George Floyd being murdered and dealing with that 1282 01:07:11,680 --> 01:07:13,560 Speaker 3: on top of that, and then other personal things I 1283 01:07:13,640 --> 01:07:16,000 Speaker 3: had going on in my life, like it. It was 1284 01:07:16,240 --> 01:07:18,120 Speaker 3: heavy for me at that time, and I was like, 1285 01:07:18,280 --> 01:07:20,040 Speaker 3: I need to talk to somebody, and so I got 1286 01:07:20,080 --> 01:07:22,520 Speaker 3: into therapy and it was the best thing I ever 1287 01:07:22,560 --> 01:07:23,640 Speaker 3: could have done for myself. 1288 01:07:24,000 --> 01:07:27,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, do you believe enough is being done to protect 1289 01:07:27,200 --> 01:07:28,560 Speaker 2: the mental health of officers? 1290 01:07:29,520 --> 01:07:35,120 Speaker 3: No. I think that we're talking about it more now, absolutely, 1291 01:07:35,880 --> 01:07:41,640 Speaker 3: and there are programs for that. But I do feel 1292 01:07:41,720 --> 01:07:47,320 Speaker 3: like the programs are performative because at the end of 1293 01:07:47,360 --> 01:07:51,120 Speaker 3: the day, when we really need support, I don't feel 1294 01:07:51,160 --> 01:07:56,080 Speaker 3: like we always get it right as officers. And it's 1295 01:07:56,360 --> 01:07:58,400 Speaker 3: to me, a mental health is really important, and it's 1296 01:07:58,480 --> 01:08:02,000 Speaker 3: really important for officers to be okay, because when officers 1297 01:08:02,040 --> 01:08:04,920 Speaker 3: are not okay, then they project whatever it is that 1298 01:08:04,960 --> 01:08:08,840 Speaker 3: they're going through. Oh, absolutely serving right. So to me, 1299 01:08:09,280 --> 01:08:13,800 Speaker 3: when you have more mentally healthy officers, you have less 1300 01:08:13,880 --> 01:08:20,599 Speaker 3: negative interactions with the community. So whether the officer is white, black, blue, brown, purple, 1301 01:08:21,880 --> 01:08:26,960 Speaker 3: that officer being healthy mentally is important to me. Yeah, 1302 01:08:28,080 --> 01:08:31,960 Speaker 3: that officer, white, black, blue, brown, purple is still going 1303 01:08:32,040 --> 01:08:34,559 Speaker 3: to interact with the community and they need to be okay, 1304 01:08:34,960 --> 01:08:37,920 Speaker 3: because just like I said, everyone has a story, right, 1305 01:08:38,080 --> 01:08:40,280 Speaker 3: So everyone in the community has a story, but every 1306 01:08:40,360 --> 01:08:41,640 Speaker 3: officer has a story. 1307 01:08:41,439 --> 01:08:44,040 Speaker 2: Too, absolutely absolutely. 1308 01:08:43,880 --> 01:08:46,519 Speaker 3: And experiences that got them to where they are and 1309 01:08:47,160 --> 01:08:48,880 Speaker 3: why they show up the way that they show up, 1310 01:08:49,360 --> 01:08:53,840 Speaker 3: So them actually speaking to someone and working on whatever 1311 01:08:53,960 --> 01:08:56,439 Speaker 3: their traumas are. Because I remember, as officers, we see 1312 01:08:56,479 --> 01:08:58,320 Speaker 3: the worst of the worst, right, and that's something that 1313 01:08:58,400 --> 01:09:01,840 Speaker 3: I think people forget. Like everybody else runs away from danger, 1314 01:09:01,920 --> 01:09:08,400 Speaker 3: we run towards it. Yeah, we experience trauma way more 1315 01:09:08,560 --> 01:09:12,080 Speaker 3: than the average person does, and so that really messes 1316 01:09:12,080 --> 01:09:14,160 Speaker 3: with our minds. And we don't have the opportunity to 1317 01:09:15,200 --> 01:09:18,160 Speaker 3: come down from that trauma because it literally takes time 1318 01:09:18,240 --> 01:09:23,120 Speaker 3: for the brain to decompress situation. But we don't have 1319 01:09:23,320 --> 01:09:26,599 Speaker 3: enough time to decompress because we're back in the next shift. Yeah, 1320 01:09:27,320 --> 01:09:30,840 Speaker 3: experienced something else, and then are we decompressed a little bit, 1321 01:09:30,880 --> 01:09:32,880 Speaker 3: But then we're back in the next shift, right, And 1322 01:09:32,960 --> 01:09:35,720 Speaker 3: so we're not taking care of ourselves as officers. We 1323 01:09:35,840 --> 01:09:37,640 Speaker 3: can't really take care of the community the way that 1324 01:09:37,680 --> 01:09:38,720 Speaker 3: they need to be taken care of. 1325 01:09:39,040 --> 01:09:41,840 Speaker 2: And I can only imagine how desensitized you are to 1326 01:09:42,000 --> 01:09:45,200 Speaker 2: a lot of things because it's always, probably like non 1327 01:09:45,320 --> 01:09:46,160 Speaker 2: stop sometimes. 1328 01:09:46,880 --> 01:09:51,080 Speaker 3: So it's interesting because I am desensitized to a lot 1329 01:09:51,160 --> 01:09:53,439 Speaker 3: of things. Like at one point, I was in special 1330 01:09:53,520 --> 01:09:55,280 Speaker 3: Victims units, so I'm dealing with that. 1331 01:09:55,479 --> 01:09:58,400 Speaker 2: I not she was on line in order child Oli. 1332 01:10:00,720 --> 01:10:03,200 Speaker 3: I wanted to be Alivia Benson at one point in 1333 01:10:03,280 --> 01:10:05,519 Speaker 3: my career, I was right, And so I'm dealing with 1334 01:10:05,640 --> 01:10:09,040 Speaker 3: those types of crimes, and I had to desensitize myself 1335 01:10:09,080 --> 01:10:11,880 Speaker 3: to a certain extent so that I'm not internalizing that stuff. 1336 01:10:12,160 --> 01:10:14,519 Speaker 3: But I also and this is something that I would 1337 01:10:14,520 --> 01:10:18,160 Speaker 3: tell my officers because at my department, when I first 1338 01:10:18,240 --> 01:10:20,519 Speaker 3: went to policing, I did make ranks, so I was 1339 01:10:20,560 --> 01:10:23,680 Speaker 3: a sergeant, and I would tell my officers, Yes, you 1340 01:10:23,760 --> 01:10:26,160 Speaker 3: have to desensitize yourself to a certain extent so that 1341 01:10:26,280 --> 01:10:29,160 Speaker 3: you don't internalize everything. But you also have to maintain 1342 01:10:29,200 --> 01:10:31,439 Speaker 3: a certain level of empathy to remember that just because 1343 01:10:31,479 --> 01:10:33,120 Speaker 3: this is your job and you deal with this stuff 1344 01:10:33,120 --> 01:10:36,120 Speaker 3: every day, this is this person's life. This is the 1345 01:10:36,320 --> 01:10:38,120 Speaker 3: worst day of their Life's the worst thing that they've 1346 01:10:38,200 --> 01:10:42,160 Speaker 3: ever experienced. So you appos need to show up with 1347 01:10:42,360 --> 01:10:47,639 Speaker 3: that in mind and not compound the trauma unnecessarily because 1348 01:10:47,680 --> 01:10:50,679 Speaker 3: of how you show up. But even in my being 1349 01:10:50,800 --> 01:10:53,639 Speaker 3: desensitized to a lot of things, I'm actually hyper sensitive 1350 01:10:53,720 --> 01:10:55,760 Speaker 3: to a lot of things too, Like I don't watch 1351 01:10:55,880 --> 01:11:00,719 Speaker 3: violent shows. I don't watch violent movies because my nervous 1352 01:11:00,760 --> 01:11:03,920 Speaker 3: system it doesn't respond to it. Well. Like I'm already 1353 01:11:04,080 --> 01:11:07,920 Speaker 3: in a profession that where I'm dealing with violence or 1354 01:11:07,960 --> 01:11:11,360 Speaker 3: I'm seeing violence, or I'm investigating violence. I don't want 1355 01:11:11,400 --> 01:11:12,559 Speaker 3: to see it in my off time. 1356 01:11:12,960 --> 01:11:15,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, damn, Like you gonna be watching Order and Organized Crime? 1357 01:11:16,200 --> 01:11:19,240 Speaker 3: Law and Order, isn't it? Like it's minimally violent because 1358 01:11:19,240 --> 01:11:21,680 Speaker 3: that's my ship, that's view is my Like I do 1359 01:11:21,840 --> 01:11:24,120 Speaker 3: love SV but like I used to watch Power, I 1360 01:11:24,160 --> 01:11:29,400 Speaker 3: can't watch it anymore violent, right I used to like 1361 01:11:29,600 --> 01:11:33,400 Speaker 3: movies and stuff, I can't watch it. So like Thrones, 1362 01:11:33,400 --> 01:11:35,519 Speaker 3: people like you don't watch it, No, it's too violent 1363 01:11:35,960 --> 01:11:38,799 Speaker 3: for me personally. I don't want to watch. 1364 01:11:38,640 --> 01:11:41,840 Speaker 2: It because because you experience it every day, I. 1365 01:11:41,880 --> 01:11:43,920 Speaker 3: Don't like the way it affects my nervous system. So 1366 01:11:44,040 --> 01:11:47,439 Speaker 3: I'm like, no, I want It's like if somebody were 1367 01:11:47,479 --> 01:11:49,120 Speaker 3: to say, like, what do you watch? I want the 1368 01:11:49,200 --> 01:11:53,680 Speaker 3: feel good I want the wrong com I have a 1369 01:11:53,720 --> 01:11:56,360 Speaker 3: good com like. I want something that's lighthearted, Like I 1370 01:11:56,479 --> 01:11:59,200 Speaker 3: just started watching a Different World again because it's on 1371 01:11:59,280 --> 01:12:04,000 Speaker 3: Netflix something like stuff like that. If it's not like that, 1372 01:12:04,160 --> 01:12:07,360 Speaker 3: you can keep it. I don't even watch like Love 1373 01:12:07,400 --> 01:12:09,680 Speaker 3: and Hip Hop basketball wise, Like, I don't watch any 1374 01:12:09,720 --> 01:12:11,400 Speaker 3: of that anymore. It's so dysfunctional. 1375 01:12:11,760 --> 01:12:12,000 Speaker 4: Yeah. 1376 01:12:13,479 --> 01:12:15,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, So do you think that officers should go through 1377 01:12:15,840 --> 01:12:17,400 Speaker 2: regular mental health evaluations? 1378 01:12:18,800 --> 01:12:22,840 Speaker 3: Yes, you know, we get screened to get on the job, 1379 01:12:24,000 --> 01:12:27,360 Speaker 3: But I do think that it's important for us to 1380 01:12:28,960 --> 01:12:31,040 Speaker 3: make sure that we're taking care of our mental health 1381 01:12:31,360 --> 01:12:33,120 Speaker 3: because when I first get on the job, I haven't 1382 01:12:34,080 --> 01:12:39,400 Speaker 3: responded to like especially like someone like NYPD. Right when 1383 01:12:39,439 --> 01:12:42,519 Speaker 3: that officer first gets on the job, that officer hasn't 1384 01:12:42,680 --> 01:12:45,120 Speaker 3: experienced all the trauma that they're going to experience over 1385 01:12:45,200 --> 01:12:48,240 Speaker 3: their career. Yeah, but five years in, when they responded 1386 01:12:48,600 --> 01:12:53,600 Speaker 3: to fatal car accidents and baby deaths and been in 1387 01:12:53,720 --> 01:12:59,920 Speaker 3: high speed chases themselves, and you know SVU and Arson, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 1388 01:13:00,320 --> 01:13:04,120 Speaker 3: Right the way that their mental state was when they 1389 01:13:04,160 --> 01:13:07,160 Speaker 3: started the job, is not with their mental later on, right, 1390 01:13:07,240 --> 01:13:11,160 Speaker 3: And it's not at any fault of the officer, but 1391 01:13:11,640 --> 01:13:15,760 Speaker 3: it's just it's just important to really put measures in 1392 01:13:15,840 --> 01:13:21,160 Speaker 3: place to make sure that we as officers are okay, yeah, yeah. 1393 01:13:21,280 --> 01:13:23,840 Speaker 2: We almost finished. But I remember when everything that was 1394 01:13:23,880 --> 01:13:27,320 Speaker 2: going on with George Floyd and Sandra Bland and just 1395 01:13:27,439 --> 01:13:30,599 Speaker 2: so many black people that was losing their hands to police. 1396 01:13:31,000 --> 01:13:32,800 Speaker 2: And I remember going to the store one time and 1397 01:13:32,880 --> 01:13:35,080 Speaker 2: I had to walk past this police officer. And I've 1398 01:13:35,200 --> 01:13:37,280 Speaker 2: never been scared scared of police because I know so 1399 01:13:37,360 --> 01:13:39,559 Speaker 2: many people growing up, especially in my family, who are 1400 01:13:39,680 --> 01:13:44,080 Speaker 2: in law enforcement. So I never had that type of 1401 01:13:44,120 --> 01:13:46,560 Speaker 2: relationship with police. But I felt nervous and scared, and 1402 01:13:46,640 --> 01:13:49,800 Speaker 2: I remember I was almost having an anxiety attack when 1403 01:13:49,840 --> 01:13:51,640 Speaker 2: I was walking past him, and I was I had 1404 01:13:51,680 --> 01:13:53,320 Speaker 2: to get myself together, and I think one of the 1405 01:13:53,360 --> 01:13:55,880 Speaker 2: black cops he saw me and he was like, you good, 1406 01:13:55,920 --> 01:13:57,360 Speaker 2: and I'm like, yeah, I'm good, I'm good, and then 1407 01:13:57,400 --> 01:13:59,960 Speaker 2: I came back to reality. So I say that to say, 1408 01:14:00,120 --> 01:14:01,639 Speaker 2: you know, what would you say to a young black 1409 01:14:01,680 --> 01:14:04,840 Speaker 2: boy or a girl who's afraid of the police but 1410 01:14:05,680 --> 01:14:08,519 Speaker 2: they want to be a police officer one day or 1411 01:14:08,600 --> 01:14:09,559 Speaker 2: work in law enforcement. 1412 01:14:10,640 --> 01:14:14,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would say, when you see a police officer, 1413 01:14:14,760 --> 01:14:22,960 Speaker 3: say him, say hi, start the interaction. Right, A lot 1414 01:14:23,200 --> 01:14:25,840 Speaker 3: of the community feels the same way that you felt 1415 01:14:25,880 --> 01:14:30,120 Speaker 3: walking past those officers. Right. Shoot, when I'm pulled over, 1416 01:14:30,240 --> 01:14:35,479 Speaker 3: my anxiety goes up, like right, let ask like how 1417 01:14:35,600 --> 01:14:37,639 Speaker 3: you probably feel when you're pulled over and your heart 1418 01:14:37,680 --> 01:14:42,120 Speaker 3: starts pitter pattern. Same thing happens to me. Right I'm 1419 01:14:42,160 --> 01:14:46,640 Speaker 3: in my eighteenth pier. But the only way that we 1420 01:14:46,760 --> 01:14:52,120 Speaker 3: are going to bridge the gap is to actually get 1421 01:14:52,160 --> 01:14:56,439 Speaker 3: to know and understand each other better. Absolutely, So we 1422 01:14:56,560 --> 01:14:59,479 Speaker 3: can't understand each other if we don't ever interact, if 1423 01:14:59,520 --> 01:15:03,760 Speaker 3: we don't ever communicate. Yeah, I tell members of the community, 1424 01:15:04,320 --> 01:15:08,559 Speaker 3: when you see an officer, say him, because that officer 1425 01:15:09,200 --> 01:15:12,200 Speaker 3: feels the tension, just like you feel the tension, and 1426 01:15:12,880 --> 01:15:15,280 Speaker 3: they may not want to say anything to you for 1427 01:15:15,439 --> 01:15:20,639 Speaker 3: fear of you rejecting them or it being it turning 1428 01:15:20,720 --> 01:15:24,080 Speaker 3: into a negative interaction when it didn't have to. So 1429 01:15:24,880 --> 01:15:28,759 Speaker 3: if you open up the door to have a positive interaction, 1430 01:15:28,960 --> 01:15:31,800 Speaker 3: they're going to be more receptive. And I say the 1431 01:15:31,840 --> 01:15:35,080 Speaker 3: same thing on the opposite end, right to my colleagues, 1432 01:15:35,080 --> 01:15:38,479 Speaker 3: I'm like, when you see people, just say hello, yeah, yeah, 1433 01:15:38,720 --> 01:15:40,840 Speaker 3: just say hi. And I'm like, no, you're not always 1434 01:15:40,840 --> 01:15:44,479 Speaker 3: going to get a positive response, but sometimes you will, 1435 01:15:44,560 --> 01:15:47,439 Speaker 3: and you probably will get a positive response more times 1436 01:15:47,520 --> 01:15:51,760 Speaker 3: than not. Say hi, right, And I try to do 1437 01:15:51,840 --> 01:15:53,800 Speaker 3: that when I'm out because again, I don't look like 1438 01:15:53,840 --> 01:15:57,680 Speaker 3: a cop. Right, So when I'm out, officers, how y'all doing? 1439 01:15:57,760 --> 01:16:01,760 Speaker 3: Stay safe? Because if my interaction as a black woman 1440 01:16:01,840 --> 01:16:04,559 Speaker 3: who they don't know as a cop can be positive 1441 01:16:04,680 --> 01:16:09,080 Speaker 3: and I can put that little implant in their head, Okay, 1442 01:16:09,200 --> 01:16:13,639 Speaker 3: this black woman is positive, then hopefully that can change 1443 01:16:13,760 --> 01:16:17,400 Speaker 3: that one interaction can change it a little bit. Right. 1444 01:16:17,840 --> 01:16:20,559 Speaker 3: That's all we can do is like plant the mustard seed. Right, 1445 01:16:20,800 --> 01:16:24,720 Speaker 3: So we all have to do better. So I tell 1446 01:16:24,920 --> 01:16:29,080 Speaker 3: I tell people, say hi, Start how's your day going? 1447 01:16:30,600 --> 01:16:34,360 Speaker 3: Start a conversation, And I tell people get to know 1448 01:16:34,479 --> 01:16:38,160 Speaker 3: the officers who police in their communities, and as a 1449 01:16:38,240 --> 01:16:40,080 Speaker 3: kid who wants to be an officer, say hi and 1450 01:16:40,200 --> 01:16:44,360 Speaker 3: ask them about being an officer. Tell them to an officer, 1451 01:16:44,840 --> 01:16:47,280 Speaker 3: ask them about the job, ask them about the academy, 1452 01:16:47,439 --> 01:16:52,080 Speaker 3: ask them things because you might get a mentor out 1453 01:16:52,080 --> 01:16:55,960 Speaker 3: of it. Yeah, you know what I mean. So I say, 1454 01:16:56,120 --> 01:17:01,479 Speaker 3: just I know that we're all walking on eggshells to 1455 01:17:01,520 --> 01:17:04,960 Speaker 3: a certain extent when it comes to each other, each community. 1456 01:17:05,120 --> 01:17:07,960 Speaker 3: But I just think if we just take a moment 1457 01:17:08,160 --> 01:17:15,040 Speaker 3: to see each other as human, yeah, and have human interactions, 1458 01:17:16,240 --> 01:17:17,760 Speaker 3: I think that will go a lot further. 1459 01:17:18,560 --> 01:17:21,680 Speaker 2: You know what, God bless you, sus, because I can 1460 01:17:21,800 --> 01:17:23,920 Speaker 2: only imagine the amount of work you have to do 1461 01:17:24,120 --> 01:17:25,120 Speaker 2: to keep your hearts off. 1462 01:17:28,400 --> 01:17:32,040 Speaker 3: It's rough, it is rough, but it's like I have moments. 1463 01:17:31,680 --> 01:17:35,080 Speaker 2: Where because even passion can harden you, sometimes. 1464 01:17:35,160 --> 01:17:38,000 Speaker 3: It can, it can, but I have those moments where 1465 01:17:38,040 --> 01:17:42,200 Speaker 3: I have those human interactions and it reminds me why 1466 01:17:42,280 --> 01:17:44,840 Speaker 3: I do this job. In the days where I'm tired 1467 01:17:44,920 --> 01:17:49,400 Speaker 3: and I'm like, yo, I'm ready to retire, and really 1468 01:17:49,439 --> 01:17:52,960 Speaker 3: good interaction, or I have a case where I'm able 1469 01:17:53,040 --> 01:17:55,479 Speaker 3: to show up for someone and they feel seen, like 1470 01:17:55,560 --> 01:17:58,920 Speaker 3: a victim who feels seen, heard, valued, or case where 1471 01:17:59,439 --> 01:18:01,920 Speaker 3: it's a mistaken identity and I'm the person who figures 1472 01:18:01,960 --> 01:18:03,880 Speaker 3: out that we got the wrong. Well not we, but 1473 01:18:04,080 --> 01:18:04,920 Speaker 3: they right. 1474 01:18:05,000 --> 01:18:07,200 Speaker 2: Because I ain't taking it. I don't want no credit 1475 01:18:07,280 --> 01:18:07,439 Speaker 2: for that. 1476 01:18:08,320 --> 01:18:10,320 Speaker 3: I'm not the one who charged and arrested them. To 1477 01:18:10,439 --> 01:18:13,479 Speaker 3: be clear, I'm the one who's investigating after the fact 1478 01:18:13,520 --> 01:18:18,840 Speaker 3: that my name on that part. There's no mistaken identities 1479 01:18:18,920 --> 01:18:22,400 Speaker 3: on my watch. But I recognize that they arrested the 1480 01:18:22,439 --> 01:18:26,479 Speaker 3: wrong person, and I'm able to articulate that and show 1481 01:18:26,560 --> 01:18:31,040 Speaker 3: that and that person gets those charges dropped like stuff 1482 01:18:31,200 --> 01:18:33,560 Speaker 3: like that. It's like, I literally look up and I'm like, 1483 01:18:33,600 --> 01:18:36,000 Speaker 3: all right, God, you can remind me why I'm still here, 1484 01:18:37,200 --> 01:18:39,599 Speaker 3: because you know, I needed that because I was ready 1485 01:18:39,640 --> 01:18:39,960 Speaker 3: to be out. 1486 01:18:40,360 --> 01:18:41,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, how many more years? 1487 01:18:41,320 --> 01:18:45,200 Speaker 3: You got seven and a half countdown? 1488 01:18:46,000 --> 01:18:48,080 Speaker 2: It's gonna go by fast, I pray. 1489 01:18:48,200 --> 01:18:51,320 Speaker 3: So, I mean the first seventeen and a half have 1490 01:18:51,479 --> 01:18:52,719 Speaker 3: gone by really fast. 1491 01:18:53,320 --> 01:18:55,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you still looking like you in your twenties child. 1492 01:18:57,920 --> 01:19:02,040 Speaker 3: This gray hair. You know, Like, why didn't say that? 1493 01:19:02,160 --> 01:19:04,200 Speaker 3: Because I used to be the youngest person in the 1494 01:19:04,320 --> 01:19:07,160 Speaker 3: room and now you know, I'm one of the veterans. 1495 01:19:07,600 --> 01:19:10,920 Speaker 3: I wanted over it, and it's just it's wild to 1496 01:19:11,439 --> 01:19:15,519 Speaker 3: me to that, you know. Yeah, but it is what 1497 01:19:15,640 --> 01:19:18,600 Speaker 3: it is. But I'm thankful, I'm blessed, and you know, 1498 01:19:19,080 --> 01:19:21,920 Speaker 3: I'm as challenging as it can be. I'm happy to 1499 01:19:22,000 --> 01:19:22,519 Speaker 3: do this job. 1500 01:19:23,040 --> 01:19:24,800 Speaker 2: So when it's time to hang up the badge, how 1501 01:19:24,880 --> 01:19:26,080 Speaker 2: do you want to be remembered. 1502 01:19:28,360 --> 01:19:29,400 Speaker 3: That's a great question. 1503 01:19:29,880 --> 01:19:31,559 Speaker 2: You know, I got to get my oprah on every 1504 01:19:31,600 --> 01:19:32,160 Speaker 2: now and then. 1505 01:19:33,040 --> 01:19:39,320 Speaker 3: I want to be remembered as the person who was 1506 01:19:39,479 --> 01:19:43,040 Speaker 3: again very passionate about making sure that this job was 1507 01:19:43,040 --> 01:19:45,320 Speaker 3: done the right way on my watch. I want to 1508 01:19:45,439 --> 01:19:49,520 Speaker 3: be known as the person who led with empathy and compassion, 1509 01:19:51,160 --> 01:19:55,800 Speaker 3: person who is remembered as someone who invested in the 1510 01:19:55,920 --> 01:19:58,680 Speaker 3: next generation of law enforcement, making sure that they're being 1511 01:19:58,800 --> 01:20:02,160 Speaker 3: taught and trained the right way and how to treat people. 1512 01:20:03,840 --> 01:20:07,559 Speaker 3: I want to be remembered as someone who practice what I. 1513 01:20:08,160 --> 01:20:11,479 Speaker 2: Preached, absolutely absolutely. 1514 01:20:11,920 --> 01:20:14,680 Speaker 3: Operated in the way that I am speaking right now. 1515 01:20:14,720 --> 01:20:16,800 Speaker 3: I want to be the person who is remembered as 1516 01:20:17,640 --> 01:20:20,920 Speaker 3: someone didn't only talk that talk, but walked it as well. 1517 01:20:22,160 --> 01:20:25,240 Speaker 2: M And last, but not least, one more question, what's 1518 01:20:25,320 --> 01:20:28,120 Speaker 2: your advice for people to stay safe and calm during 1519 01:20:28,200 --> 01:20:29,200 Speaker 2: police interactions? 1520 01:20:31,760 --> 01:20:36,599 Speaker 3: People are not gonna like this. H do what you're 1521 01:20:36,640 --> 01:20:41,280 Speaker 3: told to do in that moment. Your job in that 1522 01:20:41,439 --> 01:20:46,479 Speaker 3: moment is not to litigate whether you're right or wrong. 1523 01:20:47,760 --> 01:20:51,600 Speaker 3: Your job is not to convince the officer that you 1524 01:20:52,040 --> 01:20:55,160 Speaker 3: are whatever. Your job is to get through the interaction 1525 01:20:55,320 --> 01:21:00,759 Speaker 3: safely right. So if they tell you to do something. 1526 01:21:01,000 --> 01:21:05,840 Speaker 3: Do it. If you feel like they are not treating 1527 01:21:05,920 --> 01:21:10,080 Speaker 3: you properly or you did not do what they're accusing 1528 01:21:10,160 --> 01:21:15,640 Speaker 3: you of doing, take certain mental notes. Take note of 1529 01:21:16,200 --> 01:21:19,640 Speaker 3: what department it is. Take note of the name of 1530 01:21:19,720 --> 01:21:23,920 Speaker 3: the officer. Take note of the badge number. Where let's 1531 01:21:23,920 --> 01:21:26,559 Speaker 3: say it's the traffic stop. Remember where you were stopped, 1532 01:21:27,600 --> 01:21:29,560 Speaker 3: you were around, what day it was, what time of 1533 01:21:29,640 --> 01:21:32,519 Speaker 3: day it was, what the officer said to you, what 1534 01:21:32,640 --> 01:21:35,400 Speaker 3: the interaction was, So that if you feel like you 1535 01:21:35,560 --> 01:21:39,000 Speaker 3: do need to make a report, you have all of 1536 01:21:39,040 --> 01:21:43,559 Speaker 3: the information that someone would need to investigate. But at 1537 01:21:43,640 --> 01:21:46,120 Speaker 3: that moment, in the middle of it, it's not the 1538 01:21:46,240 --> 01:21:52,120 Speaker 3: time to bark up or get based like. It's not 1539 01:21:52,400 --> 01:21:54,960 Speaker 3: the time because at the end of the day, that 1540 01:21:55,120 --> 01:21:58,560 Speaker 3: officer has way more authority than you. Yeah, and that 1541 01:21:58,760 --> 01:22:09,360 Speaker 3: officer as the power to take your freedom and or life. Yeah, 1542 01:22:10,200 --> 01:22:14,240 Speaker 3: it's important that you remember that and not escalate a 1543 01:22:14,360 --> 01:22:20,200 Speaker 3: situation unnecessarily. And so I and you know a lot 1544 01:22:20,240 --> 01:22:24,040 Speaker 3: of people don't want to hear when someone says, well, 1545 01:22:24,240 --> 01:22:25,680 Speaker 3: you should have done what you were told to do. 1546 01:22:26,520 --> 01:22:29,479 Speaker 3: I get it, trust me, trust me, I get it. 1547 01:22:31,360 --> 01:22:33,599 Speaker 3: But I need you to get through the interaction safely, 1548 01:22:35,280 --> 01:22:37,760 Speaker 3: and so in order to do that, I need you 1549 01:22:38,160 --> 01:22:40,479 Speaker 3: to do what you were told to do and we 1550 01:22:40,560 --> 01:22:44,439 Speaker 3: will figure the rest out later. Right, you're not here 1551 01:22:45,240 --> 01:22:50,599 Speaker 3: or if you're hurt, that's not helping you. Yeah, right, 1552 01:22:50,720 --> 01:22:55,400 Speaker 3: So get through it safely and then we could talk 1553 01:22:55,439 --> 01:22:58,840 Speaker 3: about the rest later and navigate whatever it is that 1554 01:22:58,960 --> 01:23:02,960 Speaker 3: you need to do later. Yeah, get through it safely. 1555 01:23:03,439 --> 01:23:05,040 Speaker 2: You know what, sus. I know you've probably heard this 1556 01:23:05,080 --> 01:23:07,080 Speaker 2: a thousand times, but I really do appreciate what you 1557 01:23:07,160 --> 01:23:09,200 Speaker 2: do for our community. So thank you, thank you, thank you. 1558 01:23:09,360 --> 01:23:12,720 Speaker 2: Your years are definitely not in vain, so I appreciate you. 1559 01:23:13,320 --> 01:23:15,639 Speaker 2: I think that we need more people like you, especially 1560 01:23:15,720 --> 01:23:18,920 Speaker 2: in your field, to be more vocal and you know, 1561 01:23:19,080 --> 01:23:21,720 Speaker 2: to help foster this relationship or repair this relationship so 1562 01:23:21,800 --> 01:23:24,160 Speaker 2: we can have more conversations like this so we all 1563 01:23:24,200 --> 01:23:26,840 Speaker 2: can go home safely. So I appreciate you, sus I 1564 01:23:26,920 --> 01:23:29,400 Speaker 2: really do. This was an excellent conversation. 1565 01:23:29,960 --> 01:23:31,840 Speaker 3: That's so good. I needed this, And this is one 1566 01:23:31,880 --> 01:23:35,240 Speaker 3: of those moments where I'm talking, I'm actually talking about 1567 01:23:35,240 --> 01:23:37,479 Speaker 3: it out loud, and it's one of those moments like, sorry, 1568 01:23:37,560 --> 01:23:40,280 Speaker 3: thank you guys for reminding me why I do this job. Yeah, 1569 01:23:40,760 --> 01:23:43,360 Speaker 3: I appreciate you having me on. I appreciate you listening 1570 01:23:43,400 --> 01:23:46,680 Speaker 3: to my story, you caring about my story. You know, 1571 01:23:48,160 --> 01:23:50,080 Speaker 3: it makes it a little bit easier to do this job. 1572 01:23:50,160 --> 01:23:52,479 Speaker 2: So thank you of course, of course, and to the listeners, 1573 01:23:52,479 --> 01:23:54,479 Speaker 2: if you have any questions, comments and concerns, please make 1574 01:23:54,520 --> 01:23:57,360 Speaker 2: sure to email me a hello at the psgpodcast dot com. 1575 01:23:57,800 --> 01:24:00,240 Speaker 2: Like I always say, please share your stories because you 1576 01:24:00,320 --> 01:24:03,080 Speaker 2: never know how your storyline could be somebody else's lifeline. 1577 01:24:03,360 --> 01:24:05,759 Speaker 2: So to my guests, thank you so much and until 1578 01:24:05,880 --> 01:24:18,000 Speaker 2: next time, everyone later ye. The Professional Homegirl Podcast is 1579 01:24:18,080 --> 01:24:21,160 Speaker 2: a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more 1580 01:24:21,240 --> 01:24:25,360 Speaker 2: podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, app a podcasts, 1581 01:24:25,479 --> 01:24:27,760 Speaker 2: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Don't forget 1582 01:24:27,840 --> 01:24:30,759 Speaker 2: to subscribe and rate the show, and you can connect 1583 01:24:30,800 --> 01:24:33,599 Speaker 2: with me on social media at the PHG podcast