The news story from Arkansas this week about a video of another case of police officers being investigated for the way they made an arrest that shows them beating and kneeing the man, is stirring up renewed criticism among some of police officers in general.
In this case in Arkansas, it is not a young Black man police were trying to arrest but a young white man. But the incident does certainly remind us of what happened to George Floyd, the case of course that sparked protests, police policy reforms and lots of criticism of cops.
Many police officers themselves express criticism of the cops who don’t do their job well. And coincidentally as this story from Arkansas was breaking the San Diego Union Tribune posted a story of one local cop.
She is 41-year-old El Cajon police officer Amber Bolton. She told the Union Tribune reporter that “She was horrified by Floyd’s death — the video “made me sick to my stomach” — but disliked when protestors lumped her into the same category as Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis officer convicted of murdering Floyd.”
In the story about her, Officer Bolton tells of her life as a cop, dealing with criminals, drug addicts, domestic fights and being a negotiator when someone barricades themselves in a home. Not an easy job, but a job she loves.
And says that since signing up nearly 16 years ago, nothing has happened to make her rethink what she does.
El Cajon police officer Amber Bolton represents most cops who are dedicated and do their jobs well, at a time when being a cop probably has never been more challenging.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)