The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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could trust the police, there was also a much larger percentage (38 percent compared to
18 percent) who would absolutely never respect the police (Tables 3, 4).
Blacks had less of a middle ground. Their reasoning in the interviews would seem
to be that there are some police who are consistantly racist and some who are usually
nice. Many of these youth had respect for police officers on an individual basis. One
black youth said he respects some police “cuz all police ain’t crooked. It’s just the
prejudice ones.” Another said,
There are a couple of cool cops on the force and they come over and sit
and talk with us about just friendly stuff and they talk to us like we are
people too. Every now and then they come by and check on us. Some
police have attitude problems, that badge went to their head. they think
that they are big shots.
He wishes that there were more of the nice ones.
Those who did not have respect for the police had a number of reasons for mistrusting
officers. Obviously, those blacks who thought the police force is biased had a difficult
time respecting the police. Others in both races could not respect the police because the
police never respect them. A black youth said, “Every time they say something to you
they just smart with you.” Some whites were upset because the police are always
harassing people or, as one white youth said, “because they were being assholes when I
got arrested.” A 13 year old white male feels that officers are stupid. He says, “I don’t
even like cops. They are big old pigs, porkers.” In the same vein, some whites just see
police as being lazy, doing what they want and abusing their power.