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* Statehouse reporter Dusty Rhodes is a longtime pal of mine and she posted this on Facebook early Sunday morning…
That moment when your kid arrives home in a cop car bc he was playing Pokemon Go with friends past curfew in Leland Grove. Luckily, all those years of training him to be respectful and cooperative with cops paid off, and he is safe. Huge thanks to Amy Ballinger-Cole and Ben Cole for telling the officers that Evan is a great kid.
Dusty’s son Evan is black. Dusty is white. If you aren’t familiar with Leland Grove, it’s a suburb within Springfield that is 97 percent white, 0.44 percent black and has the highest per capita income outside of the Chicago metro area.
* Dusty posted a follow-up yesterday…
Warning: This is long. But it’s also long overdue. I should’ve written this at 2 a.m. Sunday. But I’d like to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to Ben Cole. The incident with Evan and Pokemon Go and police — the whole thing has taken a while to sink in. And many of my friends have commented “it all turned out fine” or words to that effect, as though I should feel grateful that my son — innocent of any crime — actually survived his encounter with police. I am grateful. But I’m mainly grateful to Ben and Amy Ballinger-Cole.
If you’re around kids (and we are talking about a child here, despite the fact that he’s 6 feet tall and has facial hair), you know that they’re easily provoked into defensive words, gestures, or exclamations. And such gestures from a black male can be easily misconstrued. When Evan got home, he told me that one of the officers kept accusing him of lying. “I emptied out my pockets, mom, just to show him I didn’t have ANYTHING.” Even as an older adult, I know how frustrating it can be to argue with someone who refuses to believe you.
The fact that first Ben and then Amy were right there is what probably saved the entire situation. Their presence meant that Evan (not the most articulate child) didn’t have to argue alone. Their presence meant that he felt supported and affirmed. Their presence meant that the two officers knew that homeowners (potential “burglary” victims) were vouching for the innocence of my son. Their presence meant that WHITE people were saying he’s a good kid. Their presence lessened the provocation, the friction that was building between Evan and the officer accusing him of being a thief.
There are so many ways this could’ve turned out wrong. I didn’t write this very well. I may come back and edit it again. Evan’s dad, Randy Erwin, is also still processing this experience.
* Evan’s dad explained more in reply to someone who asked what their 15-year-old kid was doing out after curfew…
He was in front of a friend’s house with children his age who lived in that house. But instead of telling them all to go inside, and despite the pleading of their parents, the police singled him out because of his skin color, and using the curfew law as a pretext, took him away in a squad car.
Aside from the hyperpartisan ravings, my social media streams are filled these days with rantings about cops, black people and Pokemon Go. So, this has everything. But let’s try to avoid ranting here or silly armchair judging.
This isn’t about cops, necessarily, or the plight of black kids.
It’s about a real life mom who got the scare of her life, and about two parents and a kid struggling to make sense of it all.
…Adding… Dusty updates in comments…
I need to correct something Evan’s dad said. Evan’s friend was also taken home in a squad car, and she’s white. So both kids got the ride. That said, I’ll also add that Amy and Ben tell me their teenage daughters +friends frequently walk to the nearby supermarket or church playground late at night, and have never been stopped for curfew violation. So I guess they haven’t experienced the Grove’s rite of passage yet.
Like I originally said: I’m still figuring all this out. The only thing I know for sure is 1) I’m grateful Amy and Ben were there, and 2) my kid won’t be walking anywhere after dark ever again.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:33 pm
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It’s not a secret. I’m white, my sons are white.
My sons have black friends. They’ve had to eat the hood on routine traffic stops. My sons never have.
They’re not idiots, they all know what’s going on.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:37 pm
I know Ben. He’s a good dude. Good for him for helping manage the situation.
Comment by Consideration Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:39 pm
Unless and until we all grapple with the fact that parents of black and brown kids must live with this fear, trauma, and justifiable rage, we won’t get anywhere in resolving this mess. Living with that fear the outward result of systemic racism. My white privilege is that I do not experience this fear and trauma in a daily visceral way. My assumption is that my kids are safe. I am sure that I can only understand a fraction of the terror that parents of black and brown kids, especially parents of boys, must feel, and I can only imagine what living with that fear day in and day out must do to your peace of mind, your health, and even your soul. Anguish, rage, and resentment would probably only be the tip of the iceberg. We’ve got to acknowledge everyone’s humanity here and we have to be honest in facing these uncomfortable truths.
Comment by Pawn Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:43 pm
I am a white male who has been stopped and questioned by the cops a few times over the years for no other reason then being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A few times in high school when I was in the school uniform. Once behind my house after throwing out the garbage.
I was questioned in college once for wearing a warm coat in the middle of winter.
I have never done anything to provoke these stops but have considered them part of life.
Now that I am older and unfortunately look it, I have not been stopped once in the last ten years.
I have always been respectful of the police even when they were rude to me.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:44 pm
The list of stupid things I did as a kid that I might not have survived if I had been Black is too long to recall.
As the president said yesterday, we need to drop the crazy notion that the justice system is immune from bias.
At the same time, I think the president did a great job of articulating just how impossible our leaders make the jobs of officers when they slash social services, gut mental health, eviscerate drug treatment, direct economic development dollars to big corporations instead of our poorest neighborhoods, and fundamentally fail to make adequate investments in our schools.
If it sounds like I am talking about the Illinois state budget, it should.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:44 pm
I would hope, truly hope, that the police will use this as a “take a breath” lesson. Don’t jump to conclusions. Stop and listen to the people who you serve. Was it really necessary to take Evan away in a squad car when the parents of the other kids were vouching for him??? Better community policing would have been to call Evan’s folks and offer to take him home, or wait at the house Evan was at for Dusty or Randy to come and get him. Breathe… just breathe!
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:48 pm
Not a rant, but what the two parents and a kid are trying to make sense of, is exactly about cops and blacks. What else could it be? Why Pokemon Go is so popular?
Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:48 pm
Getting stopped in the Grove is a rite of passage for any kid, black or white, in the Springfield area. Make sure you’re driving 3 mph UNDER the speed limit and don’t dare drive your junker through the Grove if a tail light is out or there’s a hole in the muffler. Sop at the stop sign and count to ‘3′ before proceeding. It hasn’t changed in 50 years….
Comment by Joe Schmoe Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:48 pm
We’re fortunate to have Dusty around to articulate this problem (although it wasn’t fortunate for her that she had to do that). Downstate frequently likes to think all the problems are in Chicago or the suburbs or anywhere else but our backyard. As this story shows, that’s not the case. There are enough glass houses to go around, folks.
Comment by Not quite a majority Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:53 pm
Have to agree with Joe Schmoe, “the Grove’s” finest don’t profile by just race, they do it by the look and condition of cars driving through their area.
Call it what you want, they profile by race and income and don’t seem too shy about proving it the residents of their patrol area.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:56 pm
Part of the fear lies in knowing you can’t even make a complaint about the difference in treatment. All you can do is hope and pray your black child comes away from this unscathed. But, the psychological damage is irreparable.
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:56 pm
I’m a middle-aged white male professional. Several months ago a state patrol officer pulled me over for speeding in a construction zone on the Interstate into Chicago. The officer invited me to sit in his car while he processed the ticket - next to him in the front seat. We talked football for about 10 minutes. He gave me a speeding ticket, but for a minor violation. White privilege? Without a doubt.
Comment by Elgin Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:57 pm
How is he violating curfew if he is on a porch and there adults around vouching for his presence there?
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:57 pm
—
Why Pokemon Go is so popular?
—
It’s what’s called an ‘Augmented Reality’ app. It’s virtual items superimposed on the real world via a phone (or any kind of device that can simultaneously take a picture of the surroundings and then generate an image on those same surroundings).
It’s pretty cool actually — AR in concept, not Pokemon Go specifically — and is becoming popular just when “virtual reality” devices (big black goggles that you fasten to your head with embedded TV screens) are starting to hit the mainstream market. (The dual TV screens flat against your eyes make, for example, a video look as big as an Imax screen.)
I develop for these VR devices (one’s called an ‘Oclus Rift’ and the other is the ‘HTC Vive’) and what’s especially interesting is that HTC has hand controllers so your hands — or images corresponding to your hands — appear in the virtual world. You set up laser trackers around your room so as your body moves, the images in the VR goggles adjusts.
Anyway, it’s all — AR and VR — totally trippy. VR especially fools your brain into believing something is there when it’s not. I was playing VR pool the other day, and it’s so real that as I was leaning in to line up a shot, I forgot that there was no pool table there.
AR — the Pokemon GO stuff — is definitely in its bust-out phase now. People are riding trains and buses and going places to gather the “virtual” items they need (from the real world). Crazy times!
Comment by Formerly Known as Frenchie M Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:59 pm
===they do it by the look and condition of cars driving through their area.===
Try reading.
He wasn’t driving. He was in a friend’s front yard playing with other kids.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:59 pm
=== I am a white male who has been stopped and questioned by the cops a few times over the years for no other reason then being in the wrong place at the wrong time. ===
Sounds like you weren’t hauled away in a squad car though.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:01 pm
Thankyou for sharing this
Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:03 pm
The real reason we have police issues is because law enforcement is underpaid and you don’t get quality people willing to be killed for a little more than minimum wage. Another reason is we have too many police forces draining our tax dollars. Eliminate the Leland Grove, LLCC, and other small police forces and invest on one better county force.
Comment by Real Reason Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:05 pm
Juvenal, I think you are exactly right in tying this devaluation of humanity to the Illinois state budget impasse. The environment in which a majority of the Illinois public is willing to shrug their shoulders about the health and well-being of our fellow community members is the same environment in which police can profile and discriminate against a child for being a kid outside with his friends.
Comment by Pawn Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:05 pm
I hope that this will awaken folks to the reality faced every day by black folk. If you’re uncomfortable with this story, if you have the need to be defensive, obfuscate, or substitute your own experience in an effort to dilute the rawness, then you need to wrestle with a racial bias. And it’s hard to do that. I get it. In the interest of full disclosure, it took me 2 years to become totally comfortable working in East St. Louis. Now I have no problem going into shops or restaurants here, getting gas etc, without feeling like I’m going to get robbed. When I was in seminary a professor called me out and said I had “racist tendencies”. You know what, she was right. I did. I get it now and it’s part of why I chose to work where I do instead of the two other predominately white DHS offices here. I want my bias to be challenged every day. It’s hard to read her account because now I see my coworkers children and I worry for my fellow caseworkers. This is their daily reality and I as a white person honor them most by fighting for their voice and demanding that we have justice. It’s why what Dusty wrote is so important. It’s a bridge to understanding.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:07 pm
Honeybear- ” It’s a bridge to understanding.”
No truer words. Thank you.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:13 pm
Glad to hear that everything ended well. Much better outcome than many of the sad stories on the news lately.
Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:14 pm
Leland Grove….because when your rich and white, it’s just easier to create your own community.
I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with the law (I’m ornery) but have always managed to skate away by the hair on my chinny chin chin. Why? Because I’m white. Fact.
There is bias. There is prejudice. And there is racism. We can’t continue to deny it.
Comment by Under Influenced Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:19 pm
Nearly every teen I know white or black has been stopped by the police and agree this is a right of passage. The problem is how often the black teen receives disparate treatment as seen in this case. This kid was taken by the police even though his white friends were not. Lesson Learned: I am treated differently and what is the only difference? my skin color. Over time and enough of these instances and the teen is now creating a profile of the police. Lesson: I see a police officer and they will stop me for no reason and harass me because I am black. Neither are lessons that are desired. I would love for this story to go be provided to the Mayor and Police Chief and figure out a way this could be discussed in general with the police and the community. It is time to begin to find a way to expose each of our biases and figure out how to address without compromising anyone’s safety.
Comment by illlinifan Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:27 pm
== If you’re uncomfortable with this story, if you have the need to be defensive, obfuscate, or substitute your own experience in an effort to dilute the rawness, then you need to wrestle with a racial bias. ==
Well put Honeybear.
Comment by Century Club Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:34 pm
This is a good post with an important clear message. Thank you Dusty (and Rich).
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:35 pm
No question that many police act on their biases or sometimes do things because of mood rather than professionalism. In the 60s and 70s long haired white kids were often the target. College town cops were notorious for arresting kids then “suggesting” that they just forfeit bail rather than come to court, even thought they were innocent. I was on Green Street in Champaign the night the “police riot” happened in 1972.
Getting unnecessarily “rough’ doesn’t deter crime, it just fans the fire. Good cops know this. The places with problems usually have a department culture that fosters it, and that’s correctable IF there’s a will to fix it…
Comment by Illinois Bob Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:43 pm
To illinifan: I need to correct something Evan’s dad said. Evan’s friend was also taken home in a squad car, and she’s white. So both kids got the ride. That said, I’ll also add that Amy and Ben tell me their teenage daughters +friends frequently walk to the nearby supermarket or church playground late at night, and have never been stopped for curfew violation. So I guess they haven’t experienced the Grove’s rite of passage yet.
Like I originally said: I’m still figuring all this out. The only thing I know for sure is 1) I’m grateful Amy and Ben were there, and 2) my kid won’t be walking anywhere after dark ever again.
Comment by dash30dash Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:43 pm
Another sad, sad side to this…Evan’s young friends left on the porch watching him being hauled away. No matter what, their perceptions have changed, too.
Comment by Interested Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:45 pm
Thank you so much to both Dusty and Rich for sharing here.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:47 pm
I know what Leland Grove is. I know about bias. When we lived in Tara Hills we had a foster kid hassled by the Leland Grove police, so I know about the Leland Grove police. But I don’t know what Pokemon Go is, have never heard of it.
Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:48 pm
While thrilled this ended well, seriously? Is there anyone who can actually defend what these police officers did?
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:49 pm
When it comes to human nature, every sense of security can be a false sense. People buy into whatever tendencies they think apply.
Best thing that happened here is that the other kids bore witness to what occurred. It wasn’t hypothetical. It happened before their very eyes. A black kid was judged differently from them; very bad. Also, two white parents came to his aid and defense; very good and inspiring.
It has more than one lesson. One we desperately need to fix as a society and a second lesson we should all aspire to adopt.
This one hits home for me personally. We must endeavor to do so much better.
We’re on parallel tracks that become dangerous every time they intersect. It’s time to really focus on safe crossings for everyone. And be a part of the solution.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:50 pm
They (our leaders) don’t want to figure this out. They passed the laws to build plenty of prisons and they can’t get volunteers to fill them. So the strong preys on the weak.
I too am a professional Black male and carry myself accordingly. I too have survived my rounds with the police, and some behaved poorly. But why must this be a celebratory event for blacks?? Then we despise the slogan ‘Black Lives Matter.’ It’s rhetorical. Just think about it.
I feel for that kid who will ‘never’ forget that officer who’s duty was to protect (no accuse) and uphold the law (not unlawfully detain). God help him with his scars.
Lastly, there is strength in numbers and I do believe more whites should take a stronger stance against such blatant behavior. Then, maybe then, a solution will arise.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:52 pm
No matter what may be said to explain, the facts demonstrate that white cops will generally identify a black male in almost any setting as a likely criminal and treat him accordingly. And that has become a self-fulfilling prophecy and a vicious cycle. Again, a gross generalization, but it is hard to state that white cops see black males as individual humans in the same manner they see most whites as individual humans. And the war on drugs over the past forty plus years has created this poison that has done more harm than all the drugs.
Comment by d.p.gumby Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:53 pm
I’d suggest Leland Grove address the racism in their police department now, before they make the national news.
Comment by Northsider Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:57 pm
@ Give Me A Break
“[T]hey profile by race and income…”
You are probably right. But I think that the income thing seems to always be brought up as if to say because there’s systematic classism we shouldn’t be appalled at systematic racism.
Let’s forget for a moment that race and class are deeply intertwined thanks to overtly racist policies in the past and today’s arguably racist policies. Let’s also forget that even if you aren’t poor you will still be discriminated against if you aren’t the right shade–as demonstrated by this story. Let’s just make this a simple question:
Why can’t I be angry that my black partner AND my poor white cousins have to worry about being unfairly treated by the systems meant to protect us?
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 1:58 pm
Many years ago Rolland Tipsword,, Taylorvill,, State Rep. Judge, proposed eliminating local sheriff positions as unqualified individuals.
Comment by Big foot Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:03 pm
I’ve known Dusty for many years. It’s unfortunate her son was treated that way. I’m white and have lived here in the Grove for 15 years. The cops here still roust me! Race most likely played a part, but it’s also a hyperstrict city to most everyone.
Comment by Kent Gray Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:03 pm
I read an article the other day from Neil deGrasse Tyson concerning his run-ins with officers for JBB (just being black). On campus, he was stopped serval times bringing textbooks to his office, but never while going to the gym.
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:04 pm
Curfew law still exists? Even more so, it is enforceable on private property against the wishes of the property owner?
Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Cheryl44,
My impression is the Leland Grove Police are doing exactly what the overwhelming majority of Leland Grove residents want them to do.
I don’t believe too many people who actually live in Leland Grove get hassled by their police.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:12 pm
Wow, this seems ridiculous to me. Half the nation is talking about wanting to “make America great again.” I don’t know what time period they’re referencing exactly….the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s? I’m not sure. But, you can’t get any more American Pie than a bunch of kids playing in the neighborhood on a hot, lazy summer night…catching lightning bugs, playing hide-n-seek, Pokemon, whatever. You can’t have it both ways…either that scene is picture-perfect American Pie, or it deserves the local police bringing the hammer down. And since when is it breaking curfew playing on private property or even running from property to property? I live in a smaller town in Sangamon County, and that is still a regular occurrence. Geez.
Comment by Moby Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:13 pm
As a former pony-tailed, jeans and Army jacket wearing kid (albeit a white one) - I ate the hood a couple times too, got the frisk and empty the pockets routine. It sucked. I recognize that African-Americans (and Hispanics) have it much worse than I did (and don’t have the option of growing out of what gets law enforcement’s ill attentions).
I am very glad that young Mr. Rhodes was not harmed. But this whole scenario was not “all right” at all. The young man was singled out, on an obviously improper basis, with the adult homeowners right there and vouching for him. This is one that warrants the press seeking some sort of official explanation from Springfield PD.
I really hope this latest round of problems and upheaval result in real improvement in how the Police and minority communities coexist going forward.
Comment by titan Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:14 pm
To say it “isn’t about cops, necessarily, or the plight of black kids” seems to minimize exactly what the third graf of Dusty’s follow up & Evan’s dad’s response highlight, in their minds, this is exactly what it was about.
Comment by DriXander Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:16 pm
there is a new study confirms that black men and women are treated differently in the hands of law enforcement. They are more likely to be touched, handcuffed, pushed to the ground or pepper-sprayed by a police officer, even after accounting for how, where and when they encounter the police. I think the Springfield PD owe some answers.
Comment by anonymous Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:24 pm
–Another sad, sad side to this…Evan’s young friends left on the porch watching him being hauled away. No matter what, their perceptions have changed, too.–
YES! YES! Great catch! White folk have racially scarring events as well. My favorite book on that subject addresses this in detail “Learning to be White” by Thandeka. Affirming this is not to take away from the horror and rawness of Rhodes incident but rather to expose the collateral damage that racism does to so many others.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:25 pm
- illlinifan @ 1:27 pm: ” I would love for this story to go be provided to the Mayor and Police Chief and figure out a way this could be discussed in general with the police and the community. It is time to begin to find a way to expose each of our biases and figure out how to address without compromising anyone’s safety.”
IllliniFan, ask Rich & Dusty Rhodes if they would allow you to share this story with your Mayor, Police Chief and the community.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:38 pm
This story made me want to cry for the kid and rage at a society that fosters this kind of intimidation of people of color.
This article from “The American Prospect” talks about the problem of “implicit bias,” especially among police officers, and suggests possible ways to combat it through recognizing the problem and training cops to mitigate it:
http://prospect.org/article/how-we-move-beyond-dallas
I would add, also, there needs to be a way to systematically address the cultures of individual departments, and to simply weed out racist cops. A lot of it does have to do with local police department culture. (Surprised to find myself agreeing with Illinois Bob here.)
I am white and my spouse is Hispanic. I wonder sometimes how different my teenage son’s (positive) experiences with authority would be if he were darker-skinned or more ethnic-looking, or spoke less middle-class English, with an accent. At the same time, I know my anxieties are as nothing to the daily fear that faces parents of black males.
I honor the police officers like the Dallas cops who “protected and served” citizens last week, without bias and a terrible situation. At the same time, there should be zero tolerance for the “bigots with a badge” types that seem to prevail in places like Leland Grove.
This is just one manifestation of larger cultural issues that need to be addressed (e.g., issues reflected in the state budget, mentioned by Juvenal @12:44). But maybe changing the way policing is conducted is a place to start.
Comment by Crispy Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:43 pm
“This isn’t about cops, necessarily, or the plight of black kids.”
Rich, how can you make this statement when the whole story is about the plight of a black kid and a cop who did not believe the kid even though the home owners vouched for him? Please explain.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:43 pm
Titan and anonymous. Read the story. This is not about Springfield PD at all.
Comment by Just Curious Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:47 pm
President Obama did a great job in his speech in Dallas yesterday. He was trying to get people to have an open dialog between black and white people and their police, & work to change the course to better represent all people.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:52 pm
I’m not going to be my usual logical self here and state what may be an unpopular opinion. We shouldn’t be broad brushing all police, as a few seem to be generalizing. I know quite a few LE, active and retired, state county and city, all of whom I have found to be professional. I do not know any of the smaller municipal LE, such as where this occurred.
For better or worse, unless they are on a desk or running traffic enforcement, police officers only see people when they receive complaints of crimes or perceived crimes, and then have to deal with the proximate cause of the complaint. Whether the public likes it or not, that interaction tends to create a self-reinforcing bias over time even if none existed in the first place. Maybe those early retirements for police officers that the public doesn’t like to pay for are actually a good thing in helping to reduce burnout and bias. Since I don’t know the officer involved, I can’t guess if it was a mistake by an over zealous rookie, a bad action by a burnt out old-timers, or flat out bad policing.
From what I have read here, it does sound like the Leland Grove officer was over the line, and that issue should be reviewed and dealt with at an appropriate level to forestall reoccurrences. I’m glad it was resolved without violence but also think it should have been handled better. The village mayor and board should be facing some hard questions about why this happened.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:55 pm
Try irony, Rich! The commentator was quite plainly referring to the PD’s profiling practices in general, not to this particular case. You insulted one of your readers based entirely on your failure to read.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
===they do it by the look and condition of cars driving through their area.===
Try reading.
He wasn’t driving. He was in a friend’s front yard playing with other kids.
Comment by gopower Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:55 pm
Chicago_Downstater @ 1:58 pm - “Why can’t I be angry that my black partner AND my poor white cousins have to worry about being unfairly treated by the systems meant to protect us?”
Chicago_Downstater, Why? Because anger solves nothing. Do something constructive like be the change you want to see in others. Lead by example.
Comment by Mama Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:56 pm
Remember folks, Leland Grove is “an island unto itself” and is in no way under the jurisdiction of the City of Springfield.
I readily admit to getting away with a lot as a kid. Having two tiny stickers on my car that denoted “County Board Chair” and “UI President’s Council” made me almost bulletproof in C-U and I pushed it to the absolute limit. I made sure my kids didn’t grow up like that. They learned to drive in LG/ Jerome five below the limit, don’t drive anywhere with squealing tires, and look after your Black friends because, well, life is unfair. Except for one wreck each among the AA Princesses, I’ve never had to make any trips to the pokey to claim a kid. Well, there was a time when an underage drinking party…..
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:06 pm
RNUG- “For better or worse, unless they are on a desk or running traffic enforcement, police officers only see people when they receive complaints of crimes or perceived crimes, and then have to deal with the proximate cause of the complaint.”
*****
I don’t think “only” is always true. If a police officer is out on patrol, and sees what he/she perceives to be an actionable offense, then he/she may take action on his/her own- over the line or not. In this case, the reports by Dusty and Randy didn’t indicate a complaint was being followed up on. Instead, the officers appeared to be using the curfew restriction as a reason to, IMHO, go over the line. This situation did not have to play out this way.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:08 pm
After reading and re-reading this many times, I still do not understand how this “isn’t about cops, necessarily, or the plight of black kids.”
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:15 pm
MrJM, read the next sentence.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:27 pm
It’s about a real life mom who got the scare of her life, and about two parents and a kid struggling to make sense of it all.”
She wouldn’t have had the scare of her life, if not for cops and her son being a black kid, no?
Comment by Mad Brown Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:38 pm
IIRC, Dick Durbin is a resident of Leland Grove. Maybe Dusty can share this story with him to use on the Senate floor. He should also be aware of issues like this in his own neighborhood.
Comment by Casual observer Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:41 pm
=== MrJM, read the next sentence. ===
Research has shown over and over that stories that focus on the details of individual cases without putting them into a broader social context do not lead to social change.
The debate instead becomes one about what various individuals did, or didn’t do. Should, or shouldn’t have done. And dissenters will derail any debate by showing how their personal experience contradicts the facts presented.
So, this may help:
According to the 2014 Illinois Traffic Stop Statistical Report, under legislation sponsored by the President of the United States, minority drivers account for 26.8% of traffic stops in Leland Grove while only making up 13.9% of the driving population.
In Springfield, minority drivers were stopped 8,781 times, accounting for 43% of all stops, even though they only make up 20% of the driving population.
Find the 965 page report listing every law enforcement agency in Illinois in alphabetical order here.
Hope readers find it useful context for the vast anecdotal evidence.
Yes, this story includes one mother’s experience. But in Springfield alone, it is about the collective experience of thousands of moms.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:52 pm
Just fyi…
In Illinois, a child under the age of 17 violates curfew when he or she lingers or stays in a public place or even a private business during curfew hours. Curfew hours are from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings. Violating curfew is a petty offense carrying a fine up to $500, and a judge can order the parent to perform community service. A parent or guardian can also be charged with a curfew violation if they knowingly allow a minor to violate curfew.
– Fortunately, there are many exceptions to this rule. —
Your child can be out during curfew hours if they are with you. Your child can stand on the sidewalk next to your or your neighbor’s house (provided the neighbor doesn’t call the police if it’s by their house). You can send your child to the store or on another errand and your child can keep a job, provided they do not detour in route. Other defenses include riding in a motor vehicle in interstate travel; being involved in an emergency; attending an official school, religious, civic or recreational function supervised by adults or exercising First Amendment rights.
When it comes to driving, curfew applies to licensed drivers under the age of 18 (rather than 17). You are not allowed to drive between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights or between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weeknights. However, many of the same exceptions to curfew apply to your driver’s license as well. You may drive if 1) you are accompanied by your parent or guardian or running an errand at their request, 2) involved in an emergency, 3) driving to or from a religious, recreational or school activity without making stops, 4) driving on the interstate, 5) going to or from work, 6) you are married or otherwise emancipated, or 7) you are exercising First Amendment rights.
Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:53 pm
== I readily admit to getting away with a lot as a kid. ==
You bring up a valid point. Lot’s of the stuff we got away with back then would cause us to be locked up without a key today. Standards have changed, both for good and bad.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 3:53 pm
-It’s hard to read her account because now I see my coworkers children and I worry for my fellow caseworkers. This is their daily reality and I as a white person honor them most by fighting for their voice and demanding that we have justice.-
As a black woman I want to thank you for this, Honeybear. America is embroiled in a powerful, frightening, and necessary conversation with itself about race and equality. Some days, some weeks it feels like we’re caught in a tailspin of violence and hatred. Your words, and the actions of the parents in this story, give me hope that we’ll find the right path. What Juvenal said earlier is relevant too - when we start addressing basic inequalities in access to quality education, social services, etc. we’ll really start to see change.
Comment by Secretary Bird Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:13 pm
Leland Grove, Jerome, Southern View and Grandview are all excellent locations to get a DWB (driving while brown). I am not white and not black just an interesting olive color in the middle but I have learned through the years that is close enough
Comment by theq Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:21 pm
Bob - I remember the National Guard patrolling the campus after Kent State in May, 1970.
I have no idea what “police riot” you are talking about in 1972. I completed my MA that year - refresh my aging memory.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:27 pm
I am not going on an anti-cop rant, because not all cops deserve that.
I am not going on an anti-racism rant, because it is a fact that until our culture changes, race will always be a factor…whether it is in encounters with police, or in politics or, yes, in court.
All I will say is my heart goes out to Dusty and her husband, and their son.
And to all others who have to deal with these situations daily.
All parents know that bringing up kids isn’t easy. It is fraught with danger, and with worry.
We should all celebrate an ending that, if it wasn’t happy, was safe…
Comment by Independent Retired Lawyer Journalist Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:37 pm
Secretary Bird- All my love to you. There is great hope right now! What is happening all around us is frightening and scary, uncertain and challenging, but these are birthing pains. We must engage as never before in action, word, and thought. We must push! We must not close our eyes to it again. Stay Woke, as they say! But we will evolve. We will become better. Controversy and disagreement force change to happen UNLESS it is suppressed. There is a lot of suppression and oppression going on. But things are going to change. I have faith.
I hope that the folks of Leland Grove become active and initiate change there. I literally rage at the idea that Evan cannot be outside at night. That is unacceptable to me. Those ordinances need to change. Those police officers need a counseling to help them understand that giving two kids, especially a young black man, a squad car ride was a bad bad bad bad idea. Loving God I would have turned into Grislybear if a squad car had brought my daughter home while playing on PRIVATE PROPERTY under obvious parental supervision! Regardless, it’s time for Leland Grove to do some revamping. As soon as I get home I’m putting this post on my facebook. We must fight where we stand. But SB we will prevail. Again all my love and all my love to Evan and his family. Evan don’t you ever feel alone. So many stand behind you brave young man.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:46 pm
It’s missing the point to say that the police in this town are strict to everyone. Growing up in Normal in the 1980s, the police force was pretty mediocre (it’s professionalized since from what I understand) and hassled people for literally nothing white or black. But I’m white and I could tell them they were out of line. It didn’t do any good, but it stopped there. Not true for African-Americans in town. Add to that more stops and attention to those who were African-American.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:50 pm
To my Labor sister or brother who is the FOP steward for The LGPD. Please talk with the officers involved about how, in light of what our nation is struggling with right now, taking a black child home in a squad car for violating curfew while on private property under adult supervision, was really really a bad idea. No discipline but issuing an apology in person would be a good idea. Actually it’s a must. This could be a really great learning event here. We all make mistakes. But few have the courage to admit them and correct them. Don’t hide behind your union. We have to stop that. Up to you all, but you’ve got a great opportunity to show how professional your local is.
Comment by Honeybear Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 4:56 pm
ArchPundit:
I just glance through the racial profiling report.
It ain’t true to say police in Leland Grove are strict to everyone. Minorities are twice as likely to be stopped.
That said, take a look at the data over in Jacksonville. Scary.
Statewide, police ask white drivers if they can search their vehicle 1 percent of the time, minority drivers 2 percent of the time.
Shoot over to Jacksonville.
They ask to search white drivers 7 percent of he time and minority drivers 14 percent of the time.
What the?!?
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:03 pm
I’m sad to hear about what happened to Evan. I don’t know whether Dusty has complained to the police department, but that should be done and supported by the other parents too.
Yesterday I was very moved by Obama’s comments at the Dallas memorial. When the talking heads were speculating about the message, I hoped his speech would focus on the families of the officers. Upon hearing his speech, I’m so glad it was more expansive. It was a strong recognition of the complexity of the issue and how different perceptions impact on our responses.
I would like to highlight some of my favorite paragraphs of Obama’s speech:
Dusty’s description of Evan’s experience and her fears and efforts, i.e. “the talk” to prevent this type of experience gave me a much better appreciation of the issues raised by many blacks. While I expected this was necessary in higher crime areas, I never thought of it as it related to Leland Grove or west Springfield. Whether it was naivety on my part or preconceptions doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we must be educated.
It’s also important for people of color to understand the basis for some of the perceptions I have as a white person.
I had a police “talk” with my sons, but unlike Dusty’s mine dealt with respect for authority not about the need to be careful because of the color of their skin. The “talk” my father had with me and one I had with my sons related to avoiding high crime areas. Implicit was that these areas were for the most part low-income communities of color.
My perceptions have also been affected by the fact that every surviving member of my immediate family has been a victim of crime by a person who happens to be black. I know these people perpetrated these crimes not because of the color of their skin but as a result of economic and social issues they endured as they grew up. While understanding the underlying causes, I see a crime problem that needs to be addressed in black communities. This perception makes it easier - with the lack of video evidence to the contrary - to accept police shootings of black. It also confuses me when some blacks automatically condemn the police even when the evidence is clear (in one instance that comes quickly to mind is a video of an officer being shot at before the officer drew and responded with deadly force). We all should wait on information before finalizing our conclusions.
Of course, I have more than enough positive experience to make it easy for me to accept education on where my perceptions need to be changed. I’ve taught my sons not to judge people by the color of their skin. They have many friends of color.
As Obama advocated, all of us need to work together to improve our country. Besides Obama’s message, listening to an interview of two young Springfield Southeast High School students by one of Dusty’s colleagues I was heartened by their discussion of the need for shared responsibility.
Good luck President Obama! Our kids need us to act.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:11 pm
Illini, I grew up there and don’t remember a 1972 police riot, either.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:21 pm
- Mama - Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
Chicago_Downstater @ 1:58 pm - “Why can’t I be angry that my black partner AND my poor white cousins have to worry about being unfairly treated by the systems meant to protect us?”
Chicago_Downstater, Why? Because anger solves nothing. Do something constructive like be the change you want to see in others. Lead by example.
I follow Capfax and read comments religiously. Although moved by many comments, I never post a response. This is an exception because I’m angry.
I’m angry that you would suggest that individuals can’t be angry at pervasive espousing of racial and economic (not to overlook religious and ethnic) motivated biases in American society. Talk about white privilege, dictating how individuals should process personal responses to unfair treatment. Individulas have the right to be angry. What’s important is how anger is channeled. It can and often is the driving force for positive change.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:22 pm
AA, I think it’s Bob being Bob.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:44 pm
Norseman and AA - Why would Bob ever let the facts get in the way of what he sees as being a “convincing” argument?
Comment by illini Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:52 pm
It seems that one of the solutions here is to have more minorities on the force, in leadership as well as street beat positions, and especially having mixed-race partner teams being more common. We could learn a lot from each other when we are not in our own little bubble in the workplace. Not that it’s as likely to happen in Leland Grove as it is in other communities.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 5:55 pm
I am a white male in my early 40’s. I got a few complimentary rides from the Grovers in the early 90s for being out past curfew. Sounds to me like they have been following the SOP’s for decades. Nothing to see here.
Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 6:38 pm
Norseman@5:11 - I just reread your comments for the third time. Very pointed and personal. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 7:46 pm
Pensions @ 6:38: the fact that white people sometimes get picked up by the police doesn’t prove that there’s no systematic bias against black people.
Comment by TooManyJens Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 7:48 pm
Thank you illini. I did see that I missed some words that need to be included in the text.
The original says, “to accept police shootings of black.” I meant to say “to accept the police version of black shootings.”
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 8:23 pm
Norseman - regardless, you made a very pointed statement.
Comment by illini Wednesday, Jul 13, 16 @ 8:37 pm
@Soccermom:
While I appreciate the effort behind researching and posting regarding Illinois curfew statutes, I understand the story to be that Evan and his friends were on the front lawn of that family’s home, after dark, when Leland Grove’s finest rolled by and decided Evan was trespassing, despite assurances from both homeowners telling the cops they knew him and he had their permission to be there.
Why the need to take him and another girl away in the cruiser? Are they trying to pad their productivity stats? I’m left with no other explanation…
Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 2:04 am
- Norseman -
Thank you, and thanks to all for sharing your stories here.
Powerful, and sobering too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 16 @ 6:59 am