POLICE NEED TO GAIN MINORITIES' CONFIDENCE

TRAGICALLY, THE life of a promising young man has been cut short. Jose
Colon, 20, was a serious college student who was involved in his schoolwork
at Briarcliffe College and dreamed of starting his own business one day.

The Suffolk County Police Department calls it a "tragic accident." Colon's
family calls it "cold-blooded murder." Why such opposite views of the same
incident? Why can't this family and the minority community accept the
version of the police department and move on?

Unfortunately, this is a tragic accident that happens all too often, and,
particularly, claims members of minority communities. Of course, a single
life lost as a result of a "tragic accident" is one too many, no matter
what community it comes from.

In the midst of their grief, outrage and anger, members of the Colon family
have shared concerns that are frightening in reference to police behavior
in Suffolk County. Some of it may be perception, some of it reality.

Nevertheless, once a community has formed an opinion, perception becomes
reality. An incident such as this - in which Colon was shot to death in
Bellport Friday night during a reportedly botched search for drugs - only
serves to confirm the minority community's suspicions and perceptions. In
the time I have spent with the relatives of Jose Colon, they've said that
"if the so-called elite unit of the Suffolk Police Department 'trips' over
their own feet and end up killing an innocent man, what can we expect from
the average officer on the street?" They view this incident as the worst
example of what they say they experience on a daily basis in their
neighborhoods.

Their perception is that Suffolk police have different ways of policing
different communities. In minority neighborhoods, they claim, the police
are more aggressive and tend to use more force. They want to know why. A
life has been lost. This is as serious an incident as any police department
can experience, and it must be dealt with in a serious and responsible
manner. In light of a minority community that sees itself as targeted by
the police, and the incident as an example of continuing alleged brutality,
this sad episode may provide an opportunity for a fresh start and a way to
regain the trust and confidence of the community, if treated seriously. But
this will never be achieved if the incident is lightly dismissed as a
"tragic accident."

"Ambushed" was Newsday's Monday morning headline about a Suffolk woman
killed by a jealous former boyfriend. Jose Colon's relatives say that
headline was just as appropriate for what happened to him. Serious
questions need to be raised if we are to achieve better understanding
between the police, whom we depend on to protect us and keep our
neighborhoods safe, and minority communities that feel marginalized.

The Colon family's request for an independent investigator has the
potential to serve all parties. The police can be cleared by an impartial
investigator, and at the same time reassure the minority community that its
concerns are heard. After all, District Attorney Thomas Spota made a point
of criticizing the former DA for a lack of ethics and sensitivity. This is
an opportunity for Spota to show that he is different, and the minority
community is watching and waiting to hear and see what he does.

While all of us are proud of the courageous work of many police officers,
an incident of this magnitude demands that we seriously reflect on current
policy. Is it possible that there may have been overreaction in this
instance? Was it necessary to send a SWAT team, helicopter, battering ram
and officers armed with semi-automatic weapons to a home where there was
apparently no more than a few ounces of marijuana? Some would say that, on
the average day, you could find more marijuana at a local high school. Yet,
we would never accept such a response in that setting.

Why here? If we are to expect communities to respect law enforcement and be
partners in our fight against crime, police must do their part to address
even what may be perception on the part of those communities. The police
department must make genuine outreach to minority communities. It must
begin to build communication - which apparently does not exist now. It
appears that the police and members of minority groups don't even know each
other. The police must address the perception minorities have that officers
treat them unfairly. As we have seen in this case, perception has turned
into a tragic reality.