Lessons from Ferguson

The news from Ferguson, Missouri, this week was tragic. An 18-year-old black man named Michael Brown was shot and killed by a police officer. Brown was unarmed.

The justice system will sort through this event. Understandably, there's been much anxiety over this incident, one that has stoked racial tension. It's become an international issue, with strong reactions, and few details have emerged yet from police other than that an alleged struggle took place, a version of events that has been disputed by witnesses of the shooting. Brown, according to media reports, had no criminal background and was soon to start post-secondary education. The FBI is helping with the investigation.

We certainly don't pretend to understand all the details. It's a complicated issue, and the prudent step is to let our justice system play out.

The reaction to the shooting sparked angry protests.

Following the shooting a series of riots unfolded in Ferguson and nearby towns. The anger led to looting and property destruction. It's been a serious public safety issue.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

Looting and property destruction are not helping the cause for justice.

But not all of the protests have been violent. And in some cases, police activity seems to be making matters worse.

On Wednedsday, police arrested and assaulted journalists as they worked inside a fast food restaurant. There have been incidents of police telling media members to stop reporting; video has shown police gassing television crews and then turning off their cameras once the journalists fled. The situation seems to be spiralling, and emotions -- not justice, freedom, peace or even public safety -- seem to be ruling the day.

Again, we know many people are frustrated. But behavior that destroys property, injures civilians or takes away Constitutional freedoms does not make things right.

There are lessons from this tragic case from which cities far beyond Ferguson can learn, including locally. Where is crime taking place? What are the factors? How do we respond as a community, and how can our police better facilitate communication and trust with the people living and working in these areas and elsewhere? All important questions to consider.

Cape Girardeau has had its share of crime. The four homicides in the city this year all have taken place in Ward 2, which is roughly outlined as south of Broadway and east of West End Boulevard.

Darrin Hickey, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, effectively described the dilemma.

"If there's a pothole on your street, you call the street department. If there's crime on your street, it's no different," Hickey told the Southeast Missourian in a story that appeared in Wednesday's newspaper. "You need to call the police department to get that resolved. Unfortunately, we can't just come in with a bucket truck and fix it. It's more complicated than a pothole."

Cape Girardeau police chief Wes Blair advocated for events such as the recent National Night Out to help bridge communication divides. Another event on the horizon would connect police with citizens over a cup of coffee. These are positive steps that we hope improve communication.

Are there things the police, here and beyond, could do to be better trained? We hope all police departments work to find opportunities for improvement, not just in tactical maneuvers, but in engaging with individuals and the masses. However, law enforcement works with a great deal of pressure, putting their lives on the line to help protect a community. It's not an easy job, and we believe most are acting in good faith.

What are the takeaways from Ferguson? Wounds are fresh, and both the Brown family and police need an extra measure of peace and grace. We offer our prayers for the family, community and law enforcement personnel.