2/9/2007
Dear Newsday,
I’m appalled and outraged that with all the news on Long Island and around the world you chose to publish an edition of Newsday (2-8-2007) with a full size cover photo of the illegal activity of one individual allegedly posing as a Police officer. The most disturbing part of the full page photo is that the heading reads “Wrong Arm of the Law”. While I certainly do not condone Mr. Terry’s behavior the photo does a great disservice to all of the men and women of color that have succeeded in becoming members of the various police departments that cover the areas of your Newsday circulation. At first glance, the photo perpetuates the bias and beliefs of many, that African American Males are criminals, and can’t possibly be the “Right arm of the law”
Being a twenty-five year proud member of a department, with less than 2% African American officers, I have experienced the unfortunate situation of having “911” called, requesting the validity of my status as a police officer. This has happened while in full uniform and driving a fully marked police vehicle. The dangers and risks of a police officer is high, however by publishing the full page photo and subsequent photo of Mr. Terry in the next day’s edition, in uniform, has done a great disservice and possibly increased the danger of the few officers of color that proudly serve the various communities, throughout the state.
Robert Reecks
Riverhead
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Robert Reeks is with the Bias Crimes Unit of the Suffolk County Police
