Why Black policing matters: A conversation and reflection with Officer Frimpong

As a young Black man, I have always been wary of the police, and this line of thinking isn't exclusive to me.

Black people have always been in conflict with the police. Back when slavery was prevalent, slave patrols were common to catch runaway slaves, primarily in the South.

Even after slavery ended, the police force was not necessarily kind to folks who look like us. Police violence and brutality still go on to this day. Mass incarceration has separated fathers from their families, and Black men from larger communities, because of the actions of racist police and policies.

These unjust practices often directly stem from the criminalization of drugs such as crack, which is similar to other “white party drugs” like cocaine. However, far harsher sentences are handed down to Black people in possession of this drug. Similarly, harsher sentences are handed down to Black individuals in possession of drugs such as marijuana. 

Given all these realities, it makes sense why Black people would not trust the police in so many instances. Many times, in cases such as that of Framingham State Police Officer Andrew Frimpong, one’s reputation might be stained over the belief that they are betraying their race for wanting to go into law enforcement.

“It was almost kind of a sellout for a Black person to go into the police force after the Stephen Lawrence incident,” Frimpong said.

Frimpong spoke at length about his past and experiences in a feature written by my friend Dylan Pichnarcik published in the Jan. 30 issue of The Gatepost, titled “Andrew Frimpong brings kindness to community policing.”

During our conversation, we touched on George Floyd and how that was the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement. Frimpong reflected on a similar tragic incident, during the time he was in the UK, when Stephen Lawrence was brutally murdered by a racist group of white teens.

The way the case was handled exposed the systemic problem with policing in the UK.

However, the murder of Lawrence and his mother’s reaction inspired Frimpong. Lawrence’s mother, Doreen Lawrence, who had her child taken away from her and was mistreated by the justice system, decided to help carry the flag at the Olympic Games, which Frimpong believed showed her bravery and sense of hope.

“It took incredible humility to bear the flag of the country where your son was murdered. I couldn’t imagine,” Frimpong said. Both of these people were his inspiration to fight for a better world.

Frimpong and I quickly agreed that the logic for Black people to stray from professions in policing - while often coming from family or friends who might be trying to protect you from a profession that is not only dangerous, but has mistreated Black people for years - is flawed.

This stigma often overlooks that the person who chooses to wear the badge is often an officer just like Frimpong who is often the person of reason in tough situations. His background helping counsel young people allows him to always think about others and bring those experiences and perspectives to his work.

Frimpong spoke about the benefits of mental health workers riding with a police officer to respond to the numerous mental health-related issues that pop up, especially in a world where mental health is becoming destigmatized and more police are called to deal with mental health crises.

No matter the location on earth, it seems police and Black people are on opposite ends. However, I believe officers like Andrew Frimpong and the rest of the FSUPD help bridge that gap.

FSUPD focuses on community policing and it is a police force that represents the campus community. This leads to the FSU community feeling more comfortable with calling FSUPD for help if they need it. Seeing someone who looks like us can help us feel safer and a part of this community.

Policing, like many fields including health, housing, and education, has excluded and mistreated Black folks for centuries. There is a completely legitimate question of whether one might want to go into a profession with a troubled racist past.

However, if we looked at every potential occupation that Black folks can get into, then we would have a tough time fitting in any occupation because so many professions have a historically racist past.

Nevertheless, Black policing matters, just like every other profession. If those in powerful professions such as policing, housing, and healthcare are not representative of the population of society as a whole, then what power do people from underrepresented groups, including Black folks, have?

None.