Dr. David Thomas is a Forensic Studies professor at FGCU, and was a Police Officer for 20 years.
He provides unique insight into the tension we're seeing in our country after the death of George Floyd.
AND THIRD-- FEWER NEW COVID-19CASES OR POSITIVE TESTS OVER 2WEEKS.THIS MORNING, I WANT TOINTRODUCE YOU TO A MAN WHOOFFERS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE INTOWHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRYRIGHT NOW.DR. DAVID THOMAS IS A PROFESSOROF FORENSIC STUDIES AT F-G-C-U.BUT BEFORE THAT, HE WAS A POLICEOFFICER FOR 20 YEARS, AND IWANTED HIS THOUGHTS ON THETENSION RIGHT NOW, AFTER GEORGEFLOYD’S DEATH.DR. DAVID THOMAS - FORMER POLICEOFFICER, FORENSICS PROFESSOR"there is a loyalty that thereis expected because you’re a lawenforcement officer.
And thenthere’s also that loyaltybecause you’re black.
And inthere, you have to find thathybrid" 14 SECTHERE’S BEEN A LOT OFCONVERSATIONS RECENTLY, ABOUT IFRACIAL BIAS EXISTS WITHIN POLICEDEPARTMENTS IN OUR COUNTRY.
DR.THOMAS HAS DONE SOME RESEARCH ONPOLICE ENCOUNTERS WITHIN THEBLACK COMMUNITY, AND TALKED TO100 DIFFERENT OFFICERS.
HESHARED SOME OF THAT INSIGHT WITHME.TAKE A LISTEN.DR. THOMAS "the officers werevery frank, and they talkedabout their heightened sense ofwhen they’re dealing with blacksubjects.
Race did play a rolein how they treated people racedid play a role and theirreadiness so to speak, so thatwhen they’re when they’re havingto interact with people, theirstance and posture was differentthan it was with somebody else"20 SECDR. THOMAS ALSO EXPLAINED ONEEXAMPLE, FROM WHEN HE WAS ANOFFICER IN GAINESVILLE -- WHENONE OF HIS FELLOW OFFICERSPULLED OVER AN AFRICAN AMERICANMAN.DR. THOMAS "a 65 year old mangot stopped and he’s crippled.He doesn’t have his driver’slicense on him.
So the officerhandcuffs him and searches him.And I’m sitting there thinking,Okay, would you want somebody todo that to your dad?
He’s 65years old, he’s crippled, hell,all you got to do is have themstand on the side of the roadand have me come and just sitand talk and talk to him whileyou go do whatever you’re gonnado.
And he had every right tosearch the car.
There wasnothing wrong search, but it’sthe idea that he felt compelledthat he had to handcuff him.
Ihave worked the west side of thetown where people are wanted onfelony armed robbery warrantsand the suspect is white.
Andthey will search the car, theywill arrest them.
They willsearch the car.
If there’s nocontraband in the car, thenwe’ll either leave it at thescene or they will have somebodyallow us To come pick up thecar, so the car doesn’t gettowed.
So, there is twodifferent perspectives" 53 SECI SPENT AN HOUR INTERVIEWING DR.THOMAS, ABOUT HIS PERSPECTIVE ONWHAT’S HAPPENING NOW IN OURCOUNTRY.I ASKED FOR YOU ON FACEBOOK,WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAD FOR HIM
As our country faces increased tension in the weeks after George Floyd's death, Fox 4 is taking a deeper look at racial bias in..
