Reflection 2 - Bobbie "Basketball Cop" White

When was the last time you read or heard of an article that began with the title "Cool Cop Responds"? I dont know about you but for me I'm not sure I have ever heard it, especially in the last couple of months. I give props to anyone that would want to be a Police Officer today with everything that has been going on, it seems that on a daily basis we are hearing about how a cop shot this person or beat up this person. They have been receiving such a negative rep that people are starting to become afraid of what Police Officers do and what they represent. Enter Bobbie "Basketball Cop" White.

For those that do not know the story, Officer Bobbie White responded to a call of kids playing basketball "loudly" in the streets. As Officer White arrived at the scene he noticed a bunch of boys playing basketball on the street. So being the super cop that he was he turned on his sirens and chased them off, right? wrong. Bobbie White knew exactly what to do: play a little basketball. Imagine having a cop pull up to you when you are playing a pickup game of basketball getting out of the car and start to approach you, where would your thoughts go? "What did I do?" "Is there something wrong?" Now imagine if this cop started playing basketball with you, how would your mind change towards the image of cops? Officer White played basketball for around 10 minutes. As he was leaving he mentioned he would bring some "backup" to get a game going.

The Gainesville Police Department uploaded the dash cam video to their Facebook page where it became an instant viral video, getting over 17 Million views. Imagine how one simple video can change the prospective of cops around the world. This would not have been possible 10 years ago, but because of social media millions of people have seen that not all Police Officers are bad. This story became so big that Shaquille O'Neal, a police officer himself, decided to come join in the "backup" game. "These kids will never forget the day Shaq rolled up to their house to play ball," the police department said. Now talk about the power of social media and how it can effect the outcome on something as simple as a game of basketball.

As I have been reading about this story, I have learned that its not all about how something looks or how you perceive something. I wonder what Officer White was thinking when he first got the call to check out a rowdy group of kids playing basketball, what do you think his state of mind was. I'm pretty sure it wasn't negative, but was more along the lines of how he could make a routine check, more meaningful. Always looking to see how you can improve a situation is not always the easiest thing to do. How easy could it have been for Officer White to drive up with his lights on, park under the basket and tell the kids to be quiet. Unfortunately, that is probably the normal way a police officer might handle those kinds of situations. Officer White has been known to do goo deeds such as this one. A few years ago Officer White suggested that the Police Department purchase footballs and basketballs to keep in the patrol room. Anytime they saw kids out that needed something to do, they would give them a ball to play with. Don't we wish more Police Departments were like that?

This story also makes me think of the power of the media. When the media wants to make someone look bad, they can do it, and very easily. As I mentioned earlier the only thing that we hear about in the news these days is how a Police Officer has shot and killed another person. This is ultimately destroying the way that we view all Police Officers. If you met Officer White without knowing his background and what kind of a person he is, you would probably judge him according to what you see on TV or read in a news article. Are all cops that way? The media wants us to think they are, but they are not. Any Police Officer that I have been able to meet and talk to have been some of the kindest most generous people. That is why I loved hearing about this story, its proof that not all Police Officers are bad and the media is not always the best place for information and news. Get out and meet your local Police Officers and see for yourself what they are like, I think after you do that your mind set and attitude will change about them.

Here's a question. When do you draw the line with media, when do you go find out the information for yourself instead of relying on them?







http://www.rollingstone.com/sports/news/cool-cop-responds-to-hoops-noise-complaint-with-savage-dunk-20160122

http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/24/us/florida-shaq-police-officers-game/

http://www.today.com/news/florida-police-officer-joins-basketball-game-kids-following-noise-complaint-t68521