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If you have never had a bad experience with law enforcement agencies, consider yourself fortunate. Those of us
who have had these encounters can testify of the emotional, financial and physical toll that these encounters
take on the individual, as well as their family. By now most of us understand the ramifications of racial
profiling thanks to the attention it has received from legislative bodies and the media. However, despite race
or national origin it is hard to predict when you might find yourself in a frightening situation. If you
haven't experienced this, then just for a moment imagine driving home from a day or night of work and the only
thing on your mind is getting home to see your loved ones and a nice meal. Then you notice flashing lights in
your rear view and wonder who the police are chasing. You look to your left and to your right, then pull over
so they can pass you. Instead of going around you, they pull up to your bumper, approach you with their guns
drawn and demand that you get out of the car. They proceed to frisk you and start asking you questions such as
"Where have you been? Where are you going? When is the last time you were arrested?" While this is happening
you are feeling a little dazed and confused because you can't figure out what prompted the stop. Next you are
looking down the barrel of a .357 magnum, while your car is being searched along with your personal belongings.
Then you're being asked a barrage of questions..........and you were just trying to get home from work. Now
back to being yourself; would you feel humiliated, embarrassed, or violated? I'm sure you would experience
some negative response. Nevertheless, what do you do now? Who do you call? Is there recourse?
My name is Gerald Frazier, Sr., current president of Citizens Alert. I became president of
Citizens Alert in 2005. I have been affliated with this organization for more than twenty years and
have probably heard 99% of every complaint and accusation against police departments that one could image.
I used the above example to illustrate, with a minimum amount of shock value, one of the average complaints
against police and how your life can be disrupted by law enforcement officers with their own agenda. The above
example could have turned into something more serious, such as a coerced confession to a crime that the person
did not commit or a police shooting because the driver unwittingly made a suspicious movement. You've seen the
stories in the news over the years; However, they only illustrate the need for police accountability. I am
grateful that Citizens Alert exists and for 40 years has been the vanguard for affecting change in the
Chicago police department's practices, policies and procedures. We are working with complainants, local and
national community based groups, attorneys and others to eliminate bad police as well as bad policy, because
ultimately, both will cost all of us as taxpayers and as Americans who care about human rights and civil
liberties. There is a tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done to make police departments
accountable to the communities they serve. Join us in our efforts to continue this mission. Visit our
Contributions page to donate now and keep
Citizens Alert empowered! Thank You. Sincerely,
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