KIM PETERSEN—An essay asked this question: “Are there ‘good’ cops? Of course there are, but the system is against them, and even they are inculcated in the culture of their work, taught the ‘facts of life’ and discouraged from ‘rocking the boat’.”
Imagine that you are a police officer, and you do your job enforcing the law without favor or prejudice. You have no racist bone in your body, and you sympathize with the plight of the poor. However, many of your colleagues are not serving the public good. In fact, they are breaking the law and are criminals themselves. You are aware that your colleagues are committing grave crimes, even murder. You oppose their racism and illegal actions, but you remain silent for whatever reasons. Maybe it is because you believe in the musketeerian one-for-all-and-all-for-one. Or maybe because you are told that it is a union matter, therefore, as a union member you are obligated to let the union handle the matter. Or maybe it is because you fear becoming a black sheep among your colleagues.