Exactly.
We are crime free because we are a community that keeps an on each other. We talk to strangers in the neighborhood. We are families that have fathers. Our children are not saints, but they stay in line. They graduate. They excel in sports. WE are involved.
The police are pretty good about rousting the kids parties. But they are also great at speeding tickets, donut sales, and hassling people for no reason, except they are bored.
I got stopped turning onto my street. Evidently the cop turned onto the main street right behind me, and because I turned as he pulled behind behind, he thought I was drunk(?)
When he pulled the car over and saw a 50 something guy, obviously on my way back from work (the car was full of cameras and lighting equipment) he back peddled so fast he almost fell over.
But, I was subjected to the cop pulling me over on my street—full lights and siren at 2 AM—and having him stand by my window with his hand on his weapon. I was asked where I had been, where I was going, and if I had been drinking.
Instead, I asked him why he stopped me. He told me because I turned in front of him. I asked him if he stopped everyone who turned while in front of him.
There was not explanation, no apology, not even a good night.
The distrust of the police is not due to them killing unarmed black kids after an altercation. The distrust of the police is because too many of them have acted in ways that do not generate a feeling of trust.