To the Editor:
We want to thank Seth Daniels for recent article “ Woman suing BPD over her firing awaits call on the case; Question before the court: Did a confrontation take place, or not?” The article is a good synopsis of a fraction of what Brenda James, a Black woman, faced as a Boston police officer and her story is one of haphazardly applied departmental practices, petty power politics, and retribution, all grounded in racism, sexism, and the good old boys’ network.
This article, in addressing Ms. James’s case, also refers to the story of Officer Michael Cox, who was badly beaten by fellow police officers in 1994 and now, years later, has been hired by Mayor Wu as Boston’s new police commissioner. We applaud Ms. Wu for this hire and her commitment to ensure that the BPD, along with other city agencies will “reflect Boston’s neighborhoods and the residents we serve.” At the same time, it is imperative that we not lose sight of Ms. James’s individual case against the BPD, even though it has attracted much less attention than the story of Michael Cox.
Her brave and long battle for justice, has clearly shone the light on the inequities and injustices imposed against her personally as a Black female police officer, and have made clear that these inequities and injustices will continue to occur against others, unless awareness of, and change to, the racist and sexist culture that still exists within the BPD today, whether conscious or unconscious, is achieved.
Ms. James’ story, one which she personally recounted to us, and one which has now been written about by Seth Daniels here in the Dorchester Reporter and in a July 17, 2022, Boston Globe article by reporter Ivy Scott – “A police officer lost her job 10 years ago. She’s still fighting to get it back” – is both challenging and inspiring to hear and, while she can never be wholly recompensed for the harm she was caused, we strongly hope she receives the justice she deserves – both with the restitution of her good name and dignity as well as lost income/benefits.
Additionally, it is our hope that if and when this occurs, it will be, along with Mayor Wu’s commitment to create a more diverse police department, another step toward creating a culture within the BPD that not only provides an appearance of welcoming, supporting and protecting people of all color and gender, but also truly does so.
Sincerely,
Barbara Nelkin Rose
Kate and Mare Parker-O’Toole
Janet Schmidt
Gare Reed
Ellen Schoenfeld-Beeks
